122 The Cultivation of the Grape Vine. 



too busy to attend to them,) and the bulk of the crop ripened 

 well ; some 50 bunches being slightly reddish, or having 

 reddish berries intermixed. One half were gathered October 

 18th and 21st, and the other half were frozen stiff as bullets, 

 night of October 25th, thermometer 16*^. These were im- 

 mediately gathered, scalded, and the clear juice turned into 

 "currant shrub," with sugar, and bottled, (Liquor Law not- 

 withstanding.) This vine grows up straight 10 feet, and 

 then bends on a frame over my kitchen door, running 10 

 feet to the adjacent house ; canes average 22 feet long, 6 in 

 number. 



A few of the frozen bunches remained, a few days, on the 

 vine. 1 was surprised to find them very good October 28th. 

 Took them off, and laid 20 bunches of them in cotton. We 

 ate them December 10th and thereabouts. I insist upon it 

 that they could not he told from the others, except by a 

 slightly roughish taste, and lack of clear, fine juice. They 

 were not shrunken, and no man living could have told that 

 they had been frosted by their appearance, or by handling. 

 I insist furthermore, that all the white frosts from September 

 to October 20th improve this grape. I invite all doubters to 

 come and see. They will find five bushels of this fruit 

 boldly exposed to the weather till, certainly, October 15th. 

 I use no awnings or covers, as they are expensive. Hundreds 

 of people come to see my vines every year, and they are all 

 surprised, with one accord. There they hang, in rich clus- 

 ters, frost or no frost, till October 10th to 25th, if need be ; 

 and three months afterward, they are passed around " to try," 

 and all are satisfied. 



Don't overload your vines. Prune loith moderation. Plant 

 in a good sunny aspect, and always against a house or wall, 

 sheltered from the winds. Let your fruit hang till it's ripe. 

 Feed your vine reasonably. Don't grow nervous, and never 

 get scared. 



Wiscasset, Feb. 7th, 1853. 



Many thanks, Mr. J., for this codicil to your former excellent 

 articles on the grape, (Vols. XVI and XVIL) We know very 



