88 On the Cultivation of Grapes 



particularly such as are found in our markets, are of the 

 former character. Cultivators only need to exert their 

 skill, to produce fruit whicli shall, in all respects, equal that 

 of the most distinguished cultivators abroad. 



The cultivation of foreign grapes in the open air, is near- 

 ly, or quite given up, except in cities, where the vines 

 yet produce good crops of excellent quality. But in the 

 country the tendency of the berries as well as the vines to 

 mildew, and the severe cold of our winters, which renders 

 it necessary to protect the vines from injury, has nearly 

 driven them from cultivation, and their place is now sup- 

 plied by the Isabella, Catawba, and other native varieties, 

 which require but little care, and, except in very adverse 

 and backward seasons, produce abundant crops of excel- 

 lent fruit. 



The cultivation of the grape is rapidly extending, both of 

 the foreign kinds by artificial means, and the native vari- 

 eties in the open air ; and we doubt not but that, in a few 

 years, we shall find the grapery a necessary appendage to 

 the garden of every gentleman of wealth who prides him- 

 self upon the cultivation of the choicest fruit. By the 

 means of houses in which artificial heat may be applied, 

 grapes of the finest quality may be produced the year 

 round ; or at least, with scarcely any expense of fire-heat, 

 and but little troulale, from June to January. 



We make these remarks prefatory to the introduction 

 of an article, or the substance of one, which we find in 

 a late number of the Gardener'' s Chronicle upon the culti- 

 vation of the grape under glass. And as the system pur- 

 sued by the cultivator, who has been highly successful, is 

 somewhat at variance with the mode generally adopted, we 

 are induced to give greater weight to the article than we 

 otherwise should, and to recommend it to the particular 

 attention of amateur and practical cultivators. It is well 

 known that too many of our grape-growers do not give 

 sufficient attention to those important requisites of the 

 grape, color a.nd Jlavor ; but lavish all their skill in endeav- 

 ors to produce a heavy crop of large berries and bunches. 

 A fal.se estimate is put upon the size of the cluster, and all 

 the good qualities of the grape are too often sacrificed to 

 this. We believe, however, that with its more extended 

 growth, and the judicious award of premiums, by our hor- 

 ticultural societies, to those specimens which possess all the 



