General Notices. 553 



raised in the open air. There are still some branches hang- 

 ing there uninjured, although every leaf has fallen, and 

 water in a barrel has frozen four tenths of an inch thick. 

 My thermometer has, several times, stood at 22° this season 

 at sunrise, (or rather the mercury in it,) showing that a de- 

 gree of cold which will freeze the ground and common 

 vegetables, leaves the grape harmless. I never shall fear 

 again the frost, until every dahlia is gone, and the very 

 leaves of the vine which bears the grapes are nipped and 

 killed. October 20th is plenty soon enough to talk about 

 gathering grapes. 



I shall prune this vine the middle of this week, 22d inst.. 

 " spurring" it in my fashion, and leaving this year's growth 

 of cane smooth, as before. I had nearly forgotten to name 

 that every gill of soap suds made " washing day," goes to 

 the roots of my vines, " express." They are bountifully 

 supplied with water during the season. The well is close 

 by, and I own a syringe and small copper force pump, and I 

 don't forget to use them freely everywhere, on my premises. 

 The foliage and fruit are kept in much fairer condition by 

 frequent showering with a syringe ; besides, the moths and 

 insects are routed ; the^'' cannot stay where, once a week, 

 they are subject to a general deluge. 



I have a variety of vines, of which I shall speak by and 

 by. In the mean time I will say, that every one in the 

 State can raise this fine fruit, if they can completely shelter 

 their vines from the northeast, north and northwest winds. 

 Begin right, and there is no " witch-work" about it. More 

 anon. A. J., Jr. 



Wiscasset, November 18. 1850. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General JVotices. 



Plums. — I have long been a cultivator of fruits, and have seen them in 

 many sites and soils, in every part of England, and in many on the con- 

 tinent, and I now feel more than ever the extreme caution required in pub- 

 VOL. XVI. NO. XTT. 70 



