200 Preserving Grapes through Winter and Spring. 



early, and would be ripe before the fruit of the previous year had 

 lost its virtues in the least degree. And in our comparatively small 

 gardens, containing perhaps a vinery or two, how many bunches 

 of grapes are left after the consumption of the winter months ? 



To be able to clear the vineries of grapes for two months before 

 the ordinary time would be a decided gain to thousands of gardeners 

 in this country. Of course the practical grape-grower knows this 

 well, but as the gentlemen above-named have so decidedly opposed 

 the method, I make no apology for adducing fuller and more 

 minute proofs that we are badly in want of a better system of 

 keeping grapes, and that the method I advocate is thoroughly 

 sound. " About the 15th of April," says Mr. Thompson, " the sap 

 began to rise in the vines, and some of the berries that were a little 

 shrivelled suddenly got plump, while others tliat had shown no 

 signs of shrivelling burst their skins, and the sap of the vine that 

 bad forced itself into them began to drip from them !" Surely in 

 such a case as this it would be a gain to the grape-grower to cut 

 his grapes a few weeks before any danger of such a case existed, 

 and thereby keep them a little longer from bursting their skins 

 and giving forth what cannot be rich in sugar ! The expense and 

 care required to keep grapes during the dull and cold months of 

 winter in the ordinary way is very considerable, and the incon- 

 venience and loss of space great. Here is an extract from " A Prac- 

 tical Treatise on the Grape Vine" — the latest book on the subject. 

 After giving directions as to the heating of the house, its ventila- 

 tion, &c., and how to exclude foggy damp air (no easy matter in a 

 glass house, by the way), the writer says, "The surface of the 

 interna] border is allowed to get perfectly dry, and to remain so all 

 the winter, care being taken that as little sweeping or raking take 

 place as possible, for by this means dust is raised which settles on 

 the bunches." Practically speaking, houses treated in this way 

 are nearly useless for anything except keeping the grapes, con- 

 suming fire heat, and wasting labour. Remove the necessity of 

 keeping grapes on the vines long after they are thoroughly ripe, and 

 the houses will be ready to be filled with plants in every nook at a 



