90 On the Ciiltication of Grapes 



borders, therefore, remains of the greatest importance, 

 when either the situation or the natural soil is unfavorable.] 



But what is more at variance, in Mr. Crawshay's prac- 

 tice, with the opinion of many writers is, that the laps be- 

 tween the squares of glass, instead of being either close to 

 each other, or filled with putty, are so far apart, that in 

 many places we could insert our fingers between the panes. 

 Attention to the latter point, and having the floor of the 

 vinery paved with common red flags or tiles, Mr. Craw- 

 shay considers to be most essential to growing grapes to 

 perfection without the assistance of fire-heat. 



Although few will doubt the propriety of having closely- 

 glazed houses for early forcing, because severe frosts or 

 piercing winds, penetrating through the apertures, would 

 be destructive to the tender shoots, yet, in the present case, 

 we perfectly agree with Mr. Crawshay. Every one is 

 aware of the oppressive sensation felt upon entering a 

 closely-glazed house, more especially if shut up for the 

 evening; whereas, in a house glazed after the above man- 

 ner, no disagreeable effect is at any time produced, because 

 there is always a free circulation of air between the 

 squares of the glass; and Mr. Crawshay contends that this 

 purity of atmosphere is as essential to the welfare of the 

 vine, as it is beneficial to a human being. On entering one 

 of his vineries with a south-west aspect, when the sun is 

 shining full upon it, a refreshing air meets you, with the 

 thermometer indicating a temperature of only 75 degrees. 



The use of the paved floor is this : in the early stage of 

 the vines' growth, water is liberally thrown down on the 

 floor to create vapor, and this treatment is continued until 

 the berries are supposed to be stoned ; after which it is 

 gradually withheld ; and when the coloring process com- 

 mences, it is altogether discontinued: so that, by the time 

 the grapes approach maturity, the floor becomes dry, and 

 during the cool nights of autumn, continues to give off 

 slowly to the interior of the house the heat which it ab- 

 sorbs during the day. 



But there are other points in which Mr. Crawshay's treat- 

 ment is peculiar. The stems of the vines are trained up 

 the rafters about a yard apart. Every season the young 

 wood is pruned back nearly close to the original stem, so 

 that, even upon minute inspection, scarcely a bud is visi- 

 ble. This may be one reason why the wood is of such 



