224 THE CULTURE OP THE GRAPE. 



not essentially differ in the treatment of the vine. I agree 

 with the maxims laid down in his book, with one exception, 

 viz., the carrion. For a border, I like fresh sods, and duno; 



" Both houses were planted in March, 184G. The vines grew finely the first sea- 

 son, making- strong wood, short-jointed, and well ripened ; they were pruned to 

 about half the length of each rafter. Forcing was commenced in both houses, on 

 the tenth of February, 1847. I saw them in August following, and a finer crop, or 

 better fruit, I never witnessed, as far as they were pruned. The bunches were large, 

 the berries well swelled, and all a good color, not one of them being shanked. The 

 greatest number of bunches on one vine, was twentj'-six, the least number, fourteen. 

 The weight of the bunches was from one pound to two and a half pounds each ; the 

 entire weight being neai'ly three hundred weight, from the thirty vines, with which 

 the houses were planted. This, your readers will say, was a surprising crop for the 

 second year after planting, and so, no doubt, it was ; and now comes a very impor- 

 tant question. Was it prudent, on the part of Mr. Gerrie, to allow so many to re- 

 main on the first season ? and was he justified iu so doing ? The result showed tliat 

 he \\as. The vines did their duty nobly. He was aware that the material in which 

 they grew was good ; the wood was strong and well matured ; and he judged, there- 

 fore, that he might allow them to produce the above quantity." 



Upon the propriety of fruiting vines thus early, I have expressed my opinion, 

 under the proper head. It will be noticed, that this writer states, that the greatest 

 number of bunches on a vine was twenty-six, the least number fourteen, and that 

 the bunches weighed from one pound to two and a half pounds each. He then adds, 

 the entire weight being nearly three hundred weight, from the tliirty vines ; thirty 

 vines, at twenty-six bunches each, would give a total of seven hundred and eighty 

 bunches, and the mean of the weight, per bunch, he gives, (one pound to two and a 

 half pounds each,) is one and three quarter pounds, or, a total of thirteen hundred 

 and sixty-five pounds. Again, thirty vines, at fourteen bunches each, would give 

 four himdred and twenty bunches, which, at the mean weight of one and three quarter 

 pounds each bunch, would give a total of seven hundred and thirty-five pounds; show- 

 ing the crop of fruit, according to his o\mi statement, as ranging betvveen seven hun- 

 dred and thirty-five and thirteen hundred and sixty-five pounds ; and yet he says, the 

 entire weight was about three hundred pounds, or ten pomids per \\ne, instead of 

 from twenty-four and a half to forty-five and a half pounds, as by the statement of 

 bunches and their weight. If the number of bimches on each vine, was correctlj- 

 stated, instead of weighing from one pound to two and a half pounds, they only 

 weighed from six to twelve ounces, or the average weight of abont half a pound 

 each. Very small bunches indeed. As to the vines maturing this ten pounds of fruit, 

 the second year, there is no improbability iu that, and it is not unlikely that they 

 may have borne respectable crops of fruit for several 3"ears, but I do not thijik tliey 

 would compare with vines differently treated, after tlicy were five or six years old. 



If any one should prefer to plant but one vine in a grapery, and train it after llie 

 manner of the Hampton Court vine, he should proceed upon the principle, that he 

 was establishing a tree, to remain for centuries, and should not allow it to fruit until 

 it had been planted five or six years, and had become well established. I believe, 

 however, that the amount of fruit obtained, would be less, annually, after waiting 

 thus long, than by the mode of planting many vines. 



