OF THE VINE. 



99 



At the next winter's pruning, all the Vines that 

 produced a full crop of fruit should be cut down 



lowing information on this subject may be of use to many of 

 my readers. 



When grapes are intended to be conveyed by water, they 

 may safely be packed in boxes with sand. First, put a quan- 

 tity of sand sufficient to cover the bottom of the box about one 

 inch ; upon this lay your bunches in a course, or layer, almost 

 close together, only take care that none of the berries touch 

 the sides of the box. Upon this layer of bunches pour in dry 

 sand, till the grapes are covered about half an inch ; then lay 

 in more grapes and sand alternately, till the box is filled. 



Grapes, thus packed, will travel safe, and by being almost 

 excluded from the air, will keep fresh and good a long time. 

 Grapes are constantly thus brought into this country from Por- 

 tugal, and they often arrive in pretty good perfection. But 

 now, considering the expence from weight in this mode of 

 packing, it would be extravagant to use it when this fruit re- 

 quires to be sent a considerable distance by land carriage. 



Grapes will also travel with great safety, by being packed in 

 a box with any small bright seed. Clover seed is very proper 

 for this purpose ; but the expence attending this mode of con- 

 veyance is also very considerable, both on account of the great 

 value of the seed, and also in respect of its weight. I would 

 therefore recommend the packing grapes in oat-chafF, as the 

 most eligible in all respects. 



Grapes have sometimes been packed in tow, wool, cotton, 

 and paper shavings ; but I find, by experience, that oat-chaffis 

 greatly preferable. Oat-chafF is not only exceedingly light in 

 its nature, but is also possessed of a kind of elastic force. 



Please to observe, that when oat-chafF is used, it ought not 

 to have any disagreeable smell ; it should also be cleansed of 

 all impure matter ; and the grapes should be perfectly dry at 

 the time of packing, and the bunches well examined, that if 



H % 



