310 



THE GRAPE. 



In 1838 they bore a few bunches of grapes, and made fine wood 

 for the following year, when the date of the diary commences. 



13 



14 



18 

 19 



20 



21 



22 

 24 



Feb. 1839. 



Tempera. 



fare. 



51 



57 



57 



DIARY OF THE VINERY. 



Commenced fire heat in the vinery. [The ther- 

 mometrical observations are taken at 6 o'clock 

 in the morning, at noon, and 10 o'clock at 

 night.] 



50 80 60 Placed horse manure in the house to warm the 

 border. Washed the house. Took up the vines, 

 (which had been covered to protect them from 

 the frost,) and washed them with warm soap 

 suds ; raised as much moisture as possible. Wea- 

 ther moderate and cloudy. 



50 70 58 Weather quite moderate and thawy. Sleet. 



48 60 55 Covered inside border with sand for sprinkling. 

 Thaw. Whitewashed the vinery. 



50 55 58 Earthen pans on the flues kept filled with water, 

 but syringing suspended on account of the mois- 

 ture in the atmosphere, it having been damp for 

 three days. Cloudy. 



6760 Washed vines with soap suds. Weather moderate : 

 a slight snow last night. 



40 75 60 Pans kept full of water for the sake of steam, and 

 vines syringed twice a day in sunny weather. 

 Weather changed suddenly last night ; cold, and 

 temperature fell 10 below minimum point. 

 70 61 A Sweetwater vine in a pot, taken from the cellar 

 on the 18th, and pruned at that time, is now 

 bleeding profusely. At this season of the year, 

 in order to economize with fuel, the furnace 

 should be managed carefully. We found it a 

 good plan about 10 o'clock at night to close the 

 door of the ash-pit and furnace, and push the 

 damper in the chimney as far in as possible. No 

 air is then admitted, except through the crevices 

 of the iron work. The thermometer fell only 4 

 during the night. Watered vines with soap 

 suds. 

 75 61 The last seven days have been very mild for the 



season : to-day appears like an April day. 

 64 63 Weather became cold during the night. 

 63 64 Weather cloudy and thawy for the last three days. 



