70 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



original bulk of the manure in the summer for other uses, 

 but much of the strength of it will have escaped by evapora- 

 tion, or have been -washed into the earth ; and, where labor 

 is so high as it is with us, the cost of working and making this 

 heat, and removing it after the fruit has ripened, will be very 

 nearly equal to its value. 



The cost of this manure at Salem, Mass., is $4.50 the 

 cord ; the expense of carting, from 50 cents to $1.00 per 

 cord, according to the distance it has to be carried ; making 

 the whole cost of the quantity required as above, in round 

 numbers, $700. 



On the rafters of a house of this length of border, which 

 is to be winter-forced, eight hundred pounds of grapes would 



be a VERY LARGE AVERAGE CROP. On the 



back wall of the house, but which would not be ^^^ pounds. 



affected by this heat on the border, one third 



of this quantity would be as much as could be i ng^ rounds 



relied upon, and this is more than is usually 



produced in most graperies ; but my experience warrants me 



in placing it at about this amount. 



To judge of the practicability of the plan, a short calcula- 

 tion will be necessary : — 



Cost of manure for the border, . . . $700 00 



Interest* on the forcing-house, at a cost of $15 

 the running foot, 100 feet, cost $1500, at six 



per cent., 90 00 



Annual breakage of glass and other wear, fur- 

 naces, &c., 4, . . . . . . 60 00 



Cost of fuel, 70 00 



Labor on fires, watering, manuring, trimming, 



and thinning grapes, . . . . . 200 00 



"VMiole cost of the crop of grapes, . . . $1120 00 



* The cost of a winter forcing-house is much greater, by necessity, in a very cold 

 climate than that of a house which only requires a slight artificial heat in spring. 

 The extra heating apparatus alone is a great additional cost. 



