Two Crops of Grapes t?i Otie Year. , 5S7 



Art. IX. A Mode of producing Two Crops of Grapes, in One 

 House, in 0?ie Year. By Y. 



I HAND you the mode that I have adopted for producing two 

 distinct crops of grapes, in one house, in one year; and in no 

 instance have I lost a crop for the last five years. I can only 

 regret that I have a limited quantity of glass for that purpose, 

 and that, too, of the worst sort, being over pine pits. To detail 

 vi^hat has occurred since the middle of May, 1835, to the middle 

 of May this year, will show at once both the simplicity and the 

 expediency of this mode, without going into further particulars. 

 I have one house 30 ft. long, 16 ft. rafters, SO in. front glass, 

 with eleven vines planted outside; five of which are excited for 

 the spring crop, and six for the autumn crop. The five vines 

 were turned out of the house in the middle of May, 1835. 

 When the six vines for the late crop were introduced, those 

 turning out were laid upon a flat trellis in front of the house, 

 the wood being ripe by the end of July, at which lime 

 they were pruned upon the spur system, as I consider that it 

 shades the pines much less, and the buds break more evenly. 

 Each vine is divided at the entrance into the house, and formed 

 into two principals, which are the full length of each rafter. In a 

 week or so after pruning, the vines are covered, to keep them 

 both cool and dark, until Oct. 26., when they are introduced into 

 the house, and the six others placed in their situation. These 

 six had been introduced in the middle of May, 1835, and had ma- 

 tured their crops and ripened their wood. The other five had 

 sprung their buds above an inch when put into the house, and 

 were pruned upon Mr. Speechly's system, with two stems ; one 

 vine being divided at its entrance into the house, and made into 

 two principals, so that the rafters were completely furnished. I 

 consider this mode superior to any, when the buds can burst in 

 a cool atmosphere. The crop was 180 lbs., and 1 sold them 

 for 25. 6d. per lb., independently of what 1 cut for my own 

 table ; and this year, at the present time, they have the ap- 

 pearance of a still larger crop. The five vines taken in on 

 Oct. 26. were immediately wrapt with coarse sacking, and well 

 moistened with cold spring water. The house was kept as low 

 as the pines would admit, until every bud had sprung or swelled, 

 when the sacking was released, and in a few daj's taken off. 

 The buds all pushed vigorously, and were in full bloom by the 

 Christmas morning, a thing that 1 am very particular in, as I 

 always find every thing set better in the gloomy months by this 

 caution than any other. The usual rules were followed after- 

 wards ; only keeping the house cool in the evenings. Instead 

 .of a high moist heat for this forcing, a cool dry atmosphere 

 is necessary. In March the heat was cooling fast, and on 



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