CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 139 



positions, will cause considerable washing of the soil. A 

 mulch of litter along the edge where the water drops 

 will generally prevent this evil from being serious. In 

 the fall, the sashes can be removed for winter and spring 

 use on houses or frames. 



This plan is not suggested as a perfect glass structure, 

 but only as a cheap and a double use of glass at a season 

 when it is not wanted for other purposes. I cannot speak 

 from experience of the practical working of this form ; 

 but I do not now see any reason to doubt its merit. 

 Such a roof of glass over at least one-half the surface of 

 the vineyard, with space sufficient for ventilation, so ar- 

 ranged as to check rather than encourage draughts of air, 

 such a roof must, to a considerable degree, secure the 

 warmth and humidity and geniality of the glass grapery. 

 I have a good deal of confidence in my preparations to 

 use my idle sashes the coming summer in this way ; and 

 with the same confidence I suggest it to the judgment of 

 others for trial. 



I may here say, that, in my thoughts, the horizontal- 

 branch system of training, ancf the use of movable 

 sashes, grew out of each other. One thing is certain, that 

 a much more general use of glass in some cheap form, 

 requiring little care, will be adopted for the early ripening 



