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XXI. On a Method of Retarding the Ripening of Grapes in 

 Hot-houses, so as to obtain a Siipply of Fruit in the Winter 

 Season. In a Letter to the Secretary. By Richard 

 Arkwright, Esq. F. H. S. 



Read February 3, 1818. 



Sir, 



In compliance with your wishes, I send you a short state- 

 ment of the treatment of the vines, which produced the fruit 

 you met with at Sir Joseph Banks's table, and of which you 

 are pleased to speak so highly. 



The house applied to the purpose of growing late grapes 

 is, for about nine months in the year, used also as a succession 

 house for pines, having a pit within it. The state of the 

 house, at this time (January) is this : The pit is full of pine 

 plants, and there are other exotics in it. The heat is generally 

 about 60°. There are still about fifty bunches of grapes in a 

 plump and perfect state. The sap is evidently flowing freely, 

 as is evinced by the leaves, which are, on the latest kinds, as 

 fresh and green as at midsummer. The sorts of vines culti- 

 vated in my house, for this late crop, are, the White Muscat of 

 Alexandria, the Black Damascus, the Black TenerifFe, the 

 St. Peter's, the Black Raisin, the Syrian, and the White 

 Nice. 



About the second week in February, the pine plants are 

 always removed into another vinery. The grapes, which re- 

 main on the vines, are all cut, and the house thrown open, 



