THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 333 



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CALENDAK OE OPERATIONS, g) 



Written by Practical Gardeners, for the Philadelphia Florist. \ 



FRUIT. 



Gropes. — Having previously alluded to the formation of a border 

 for growing grapes, a few remarks upon the kind of structure adapted 

 for the growth of the vine, and setting out the plants may not be in- 

 apropriate. With regard to the structure, experience proves that a 

 span, or curvilinear-roofed house set north and south, is best suited to 

 this latitude. Single-roofed houses with their fronts facing the south 

 are much more difficult to manage. The intensity of the sun's rays 

 on a summer day, striking directly on a large sheet of glass, raises 

 the temperature and evaporates moisture to such an extent, as to len- 

 der it a matter of extreme difficulty to secure a proper atmosphere 

 for vegetable existence. A prevailing error also, in lean-to houses, is 

 in having the roof too flat, so that the rays of the sun strike perpen- 

 dicularly upon it. These objections are^'obviated in a great measure 

 in double-roofed houses, iwhen the end of the structure faces the 

 south. It is not necessary, however, to use a compass in laying out 

 the site,* as a few degrees east or west is practically unimportant. 

 Many would-be-gardeners endeavor to throw an air of mystery and 

 intricacy over everything connected with horticulture, and we cannot 

 forbear a smile, (in our shirt sleeves) when we see one of these ar- 

 chitects laying off a grapery, with all the appurtenances of a land 

 surveyor. Unless for external effect, the less parapet wall the bet- 

 ter ; indeed, it would be preferable for the plants if the glass em- 

 braced the ground. We would like to see some improvement in 

 structures devoted exclusively to the culture of the foreign grape. 

 We are of opinion that training the vines close up to the glass, and 

 allowing the fruit to hang down clear of the foliage, is not the most 

 natural method, exposing as it does the fruit to all the vicissitudes of 

 temperature. It is an established fact that mildew is the greatest 

 enemy to the growth of the foreign grape in this climate. Also, that 

 this disease arises chiefly if not entirely from aridity in the atmo- 

 sphere. The grape is a hardy plant, at least we have seen them en- 

 dure a cold of 8° below zero of Fahrenheit's scale, and grow as 

 well the following summer as those protected in houses. In fact, the 

 principal necessity for growing them under glass is to secure facili- 

 ties for giving them a sufficiency moist atmosphere. Perhaps there 

 are some kinds, such as the Muscats, that would not ripen properly 

 without a little artificial aid, but in favorable localities out of doors 

 I we have seen many varieties, such as, Zinfindal, Black Hamburgh, 

 A White Frontignan, Tokay, Sw T eetwater, and Golden Chasselas, ripen A 

 l\y perfectly. So that it is neither from the intensity of the cold in win- CS 



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