14 



and for which your Committee awarded a special premium of the Society's 

 Silver medal. 



Saturday, Dec. 30. — M. H. Simpson, Saxonville, made a fine display of 

 grapes, well grown and ripened. They were the White Nice, White 

 Frontignan, Muscat of Alexandria, Syrian, Chasselas Musque and Black 

 Hamburg, being from vines from which a good crop was taken in March 

 last. This we believe is the first instance here of two crops having been 

 produced in one year. It is not presumed that this process could be con- 

 tinued without certain destruction of the vines, and the fact is not men- 

 tioned on that account only ; but, Mr. Simpson's object has been to change 

 the time of the ripening of his grapes, so as to give his entire crop in one of 

 his grapehouses, about the last of December, or by the first of January — at 

 a season when grapes have not been procurable at market. These grapes 

 commanded only $2 50 per pound at retail, not an advance on what they 

 would sell for in the month of March ; while in England we notice quota- 

 tions of grapes (last December) so high as two pounds, (#10,) while the 

 same grapes were quoted in March, at one pound ten, ($7 50,) per pound. 

 We understand Mr. Simpson has just sent out by steamer to England some 

 of this crop of grapes, to show what can be done in our climate with the 

 aid of glass. 



Believing the manner of the growing of the grape, as practiced by Mr. 

 Simpson, would prove valuable, we solicited a communication on the sub- 

 ject from him, and, he having cheerfully given the article, we have the 

 pleasure herewith to add it : — 



Boston, January 8, 1855. 

 To the Chairman of the Fruit Committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. 

 Dear Sir, — In accordance with your request I herewith give you the 

 modus operandi of growing grapes under glass, to ripen them by the De- 

 cember sun. My former practice, to ripen grapes about the 1st of April, 

 was the same as is practiced by others, say warming the roots by hot 

 manure, in the middle of November, and continuing the heat in the border 

 by fresh supplies of manure, until the grapes ripened. I notice the roots 

 are injured from this practice, and the expense is very great, not only for 

 the manure but also for the labor of looking after the border, and replen- 

 ishing it. Not being satisfied 1 concluded to try the following plan, which 

 has proved quite successful, and gives me the grapes earlier. We will sup- 

 pose the vines were started in November of last year, — to get them in this 

 state their habits have been changed from the natural time of starting. 

 Now we will encroach still further, and start them in August, say the first. 

 You will find no delay in the pushing of the bud after pruning, as the roots 

 are warmed by the summer sun, and no danger of killing the young rootlets 

 from hot manure. The progress of the vines will surprise you ; in a week 

 they will require tying up to the rafters, and very soon after you will be 

 assured of a good crop of grapes, from the fragrance of the bloom. It is 

 now of the utmost importance to attend in season to keep the heat in the 

 border, which the sun has so generously supplied, and a plan suggested 



