272 , THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



rion. For a border, I like fresh sods, and dung in a 

 fresh state, say six cart-loads of good sods, one cart-load 

 of leaf mould, and one cart-load of horse-droppings. 



balance, and will show to the inexperienced in these matteis, how easily 

 people may be deceived, when they do not calculate for themsels^es, ami 

 how readily such a statement, after once being in print, is circulated with- 

 out examination, — I shaU quote a large part of it here : — 



' Both houses were planted in March, 1846. The vines grew finely the 

 firat season, making strong wood, short-joined, and well- ripened ; they were 

 pruned to about half the length of each rafter. Forcing was commenced 

 in both houses, on the tenth of February, 1847. I saw them in August 

 following, and a finer crop, or better fruit, I never witnessed, as far as they 

 were pruned. The bunches were large, the berries well swelled, and all a 

 good color, not one of them being shanked. The greatest number of 

 bunches on one vine, was twenty-six, the least number, fourteen. The 

 weight of the bunches was from one pound to two and a half pounds 

 each ; the entire weight being nearly three hundred weight, from the tliirty 

 vines, with which the houses were planted. This, your readers will say, 

 was a surprising crop for the second year after planting, and so, no doubt, 

 it was ; and now comes a very important-question. Was it prudent, on the 

 part of Jlr. G errie, to allow so many to remain on the first season ? and was 

 he justified in so doing? The result showed that he was. The vines did 

 their duty nobly. He was aware that the material in whicli they grew was 

 good ; the wood was strong and well matured ; and he judged, therefore, 

 that he might allow them to produce the above quantity." 



Upon the propriety of fruiting vines thus early, I have expressed my 

 opinion, \mder the proper head. It will be noticed, that this writer states, 

 that the greatest number of bunches on a vine was twenty-six, the least 

 number fourteen, and that the bunches weighed from one pound to two and 

 a half pounds each. Tie then adds, the entire weight being nearly three 

 hundred weight, from the thirty vines ; thirty vines, at twenty-six bunches 

 each, would give a total of seven hundred and eighty bunches, and tlio 

 me.in weight, per bunch, he gives, (one pound to two and a half pounds 

 each,) is' one and three quarter pounds, or, a total of thirteen hundred and 

 sixty-five pounds. Again, thirty vines, at fourteen bunches each, would 

 give four hundred and twenty bunches, which, at the mean weight of one 

 and three quarter pounds each bunch, would give a total of seven hundred 

 and thirty-five pounds ; showing the crop of fruit, according to his own 

 statement, as ranging between seven hundred and thiirty-five and thirteen 

 hundred and sixty-five pounds ; and yet he says, the entire weight was 



