No. 133.] 145 



Experiments to naturalise the foreign grape in about 38 to 43 

 degrees of north latitude, have ascertained that our summers 

 cannot be relied upon as exempt from frost, beyond June, July 

 and August. Frost oftentimes comes in the last of May and earlj 

 in September. But say we have a summer, at most of three and 

 a half months, without frost. Experience has established that 

 the foreign vine requires a season of from four to five and a half 

 months to ripen its fruit into its luscious and natural flavor and 

 sweetness. Upon such facts, all hope to naturalise the foreign 

 Tine to our northern latitude, is given up. But experiments on 

 this matter have since established that the foreign grape vine, 

 planted in a cold glass vinery (without fire or artificial heat), de- 

 pendant upon the sunshine alone, will be entirely successful. 

 The culd and frosts of April will not penetrate within the glass, 

 and overcome the natural heat within, to hurt the growing vine j 

 nor the cold and frosts of September and October, and sometimes 

 November, will not penetrate. to hurt the ripening fruit. Thus a 

 summer is provided of from 7 to 8 months continuance, and free 

 from frost, with a climate to be regulated by a thermometer, and 

 at any degree of heat desired, day and night, above the climate 

 of tlie place of the nativity of the grape, the forcing power and 

 growth of the vine and fruit thus matured, can only be credited 

 by actual observation. 



"When the vines have performed their functions, and the crop 

 is gathered, the vinery is to be opened to the season, that the 

 vines may cast their foliage, be trimmed, and laid down for their 

 winter rest. They are thus kept in health, and escape diseases 

 liable to befall vines in the heated house with exotic plants, con- 

 tinually growing and without rest for a series of years. 



The entire success of this new system of the cold vinery for the 

 grape, has been made certain by specimens of fruit, large and 

 fine beyond example, and exhibited at the fairs of the American 

 Institute, the two years past. In October last, at the fair of the 

 American Institute, at Castle Garden, New- York, and also at the 

 agricultural fair at Albany, gratifying specimens of the culture 

 of the grape in a cold vinery, and without fire, were exhibited 

 from tlie gardens of different gentlemen. Some were from the 



[Assembly, No. 133.] 10 



