HOTHOUSE CULTURE OP VINES. 313 



made shoots more than eight to ten feet long, it will be best to 

 prune all of them down to two, three, or four eyes, in order 

 that the vine may form stronger growths the ensuing year. 

 The principal object to be considered in pruning is to keep 

 each of the rafters furnished with a vigorous shoot, every other 

 one of which is for fruit bearing, and the intervening ones to 

 form wood for a successive crop. Young vines are only al- 

 iQwed to furnish one bearing shoot, but those of large size and 

 ;great vigour may be made to cover a number of rafters in 

 proportion to their strength. In general cases however, but 

 two fruit-bearing branches are left, which in pruning are often 

 allowed twenty, thirty, and forty buds to each. Where it is 

 desirable to have a fruit bearing branch to each rafter, the 

 shoots intended to form wood can be trained in the interme- 

 diate space, if that is sufficient for the purpose, or in any other 

 direction not otherwise occupied. The houses are generally 

 warmed by flues of the usual construction, but they may be 

 very eligibly heated by steam without increasing the expense. 

 Genera] Derby, of Salem, has his house heated by hot water 

 after the manner recommended by Loudon. 



There is much less expense attendant on erecting houses 

 for this object than is generally supposed, as they may be built 

 upon a very cheap construction, and they will serve at the 

 same time for the protection of pots of greenhouse plants 

 which can occupy the ground floor. In the sequel of the 

 work, I shall insert different plans for their construction, 

 with the comparative expense of each, and especially of one 

 of the cheapest description, which is much in use around 

 Boston. 



In relation to any other points necessary to be understood 

 in this species of culture, the reader is referred to the several 

 heads, where they are amply discussed. 



The numerous grapehouses and the extent of the. garden 

 culture of the vine in the vicinity of Boston, far surpass the 

 advances made in any other locality of the union. These 

 not only form the means of private supply to their owners, but 

 afford a great abundance for the public markets, and during a 



40 



