1871 



THE POMOLOGIST AND GARDENER. 



Fig. 1. 



287 



graceful without a load of so called architectural 

 ornaments. 



With these examples to introduce the subject, the 

 (luestion may be asked : What is the best grapery? 

 Or, to begin at tlie foundation. How can one best 

 build a grapery ? The reply is not difficult. 



Select a spot, which, while pleasing to the taste, 

 has the best sunshine, with as good a defence from 

 the prevailing cold winds as can be commanded. 

 At the extreme South this rule may possibly need 

 to be reversed and the action of winds sought, for 

 the good of the vines. Let there be an open space 

 about the site, free from trees, dampness, or cold 

 currents of air descending a ravine, or any other 

 source of cold or mildew. Let there be no tree 

 within one hundred feet of the house. If trees can- 

 not be avoided let them be on the North side of the 

 site, and let there be at least ten feet from the ends 

 of the branches to the house. On all other sides 

 let not even a favorite shrub remaii), as experience 

 has shown mildew may come from it when least ex- 

 pected. Select the dryest, sandy loam, a sheltered 

 hillock or top of a roll or swell of land, a few feet 

 higher than the ordinary level ; reference being 

 had also to the conveniences of an abundant sup- 

 ply of water, which if possible should be from a 



to secure perfect drainage for the'border or soil, and 

 if necessary, make a drain from the bottom of the 

 excavation to any point that will keep the stone 

 drainage free from water. If the excavated earth 

 is not fit to use as soil for the inside of the grapery, 

 pile it outside of the excavation as a raised mound ; 

 but if it is good enough for the border or soil in- 

 .side of the house, then, mixing it with lime, ma- 

 nure, and compost, pile it on top of the loose stone, 

 with which your excavation is filled, making the 

 inside soil as you want it to be. This will be more 

 perfectly under-stood by the outline sketch, fig. 2. 



In this the excavation is seen to extend both with - 

 in and without the house, as far as the mound to be 

 raised reaches, taking for granted that the soil 

 needs only the special fertilizers to make the bor- 

 der ; so that the stone, coarse gravel, or sand, bro- 

 ken brick or other drainage material, are filled in 

 to the level of the natural surface of the ground, 

 or a little above it, and the replaced earth is put 

 over the stone or other filling mingled with the fer- 

 tilizers, the work being done by sections for the 

 sake of economy. But if the soil of the site be not 

 suitable for the border, then pile the earth outside 

 of the house for the mound, and do not dig so deep 

 nor so large an excavation, as earth will be needed 



Fig; 3. 



Tuaaiag, never failhig spring, requiring no pump- 

 ing or artificial manual elevation. Do not, on any 

 account, take the old plan of digging in the hill- 

 side and putting the vines in a sort of cellar, unless 

 it is designed to force the vines bv artificial heat 

 through the winter months, nor then if the forcing 

 does not commence before the first of February. 

 From November till March the cellar excavation 

 and cold stone wall, that can never be heated, may 

 absorb less heat than the zero air and North- 

 westers through the glass. Having selected the 

 most suitable spot, commence by digging down a 

 certain space, say two feet, and filling in loose stone 



only for the outside mound, filling in draining ma- 

 terial as before, and bringing decayed turf or other 

 good soil from elsewhere to fill the inside of the 

 house, composted with rich manures. By this 

 plan it will be seen, there is the dry mound above 

 the general surface level, thus insuring dryness and 

 sweetness to the soil, elevation into a better sun- 

 light, with conspicuity of the house, and also a well 

 worked, rich border, entirely under command. 



This plan further gives the choice of making the 

 outside mound a part of the border or not as de- 

 sired, though it more than hints that such outside 

 border had better not be made, under all circum- 



