APRIL. 15T 



would have been difficult to attempt such a new and hazard- 

 ous system of culture. 



Anxious to witness tliu condition of the vines and the char- 

 acter of the present crop, by invitation of Mr. Simpson we 

 visited his grapery in the early part of March. It is unne- 

 cessary to say that we were perfectly surprised at the vigror, 

 health and beauty of the viues, and the abundance of the 

 crop ; a port ion of which, among the earliest kinds, was already 

 approaching maturity, though little more than two months 

 had elapsed since forcing was commenced. The canes 

 were broken as evenly as any that we ever saw ; the wood 

 was small, short jointed and round ; the foliage rich deep 

 green, thick and ample, the largest measuring fourteen inches 

 across ; the bunches large and finely shouldered, and the 

 berries, though not yet all thinned, large and well set, prom- 

 i.*;ing clusters weighing from one to two pounds each of the 

 Black Hamburgh and other heavy kinds. The house is span 

 roofed, with about forty vines, and the bunches, which average 

 about twenty-five to each vine, will probably Aveigh, when 

 mature, a pound each. Is not this a successful condition of 

 the vines after the growth of two crops in eighteen months? 



Of the expediency of pursuing such a course of culture, 

 there will be different views: the same results may, no doubt, 

 be obtained in other ways, and perhaps at less expense, for 

 Mr. Simpson does not pretend that his plan is unattended 

 with considerable cost ; those who wish fresh grapes in the 

 winter months must expect to pay for such luxuries: but 

 that he has established the theory that it can be done, there 

 is very little doubt. His grapery is about seventy feet long, 

 and divided by a partition in the centre. By the aid of this 

 division, he will have three crops a year, — in January, April, 

 and September, — viz. : 



North house started Dec, 1855. Ripe crop in April, 1856. 

 South house started April, 1856. Ripe crop in Sept., 1856. 

 North house starts Aug., 1856. Ripe crop in Jan., 1857. 

 South liouse starts Dec, 1856. Ripe crop in April, 1857. 

 North house starts April, 1857. Ripe crop in Sept., 1857. 

 South house starts Aug., 1857. Ripe crop in Jan., 1858. 



