Sept.] THE VINEYARD. 489 
a step towards the ascertaining of the relative degrees of heat and 
cold, &c. in the various climates of the United States, which in 
practical horticulture and agriculture, is of considerable moment, 
and the want of such information to me, in the writing of this trea- 
tise, is a loss which I greatly deplore- Without well authenticated 
information in this respect, there is no knovy^ing what allowance to 
make for the difference of season in one climate from that of an- 
other, and consequently the gardener or farmer, in a distant state 
of the Union, will not know how to avail himself of the practical 
experiments made in another, without running a hazard that may 
prove unsuccessful, and ultimately deter him from the further pur- 
suit of an object, perhaps, of the first importance, merely for want 
of a due knowledge of the proper allowance to be made for the dif- 
ference of season. Therefore it would be of serious advantage, 
were such observations to be made in every state of the Union, and 
confined principally to such perennial and permanent vegetable 
productions, as are common to all, or to the greater number. I 
would propose some of these, but as there are so many Agricultural 
Societies established, I am apprehensive that it might be deemed 
presumptive in an individual. However I shall make observations 
on various plants in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, as to the 
progress of vegetation, and with pleasure communicate the result 
to those whom a desire for public utility, or a reciprocity of advan- 
tages, may stimulate to similar exertions. 
The annexed table is the result of many years experience at the 
observatory in Paris, and at other places, by the most correct me- 
teorologists. 
Protecting the Fruit. 
Your early varieties of grapes will now be ripening very fast, and 
will sometimes be subject to the annoyance of birds, which are 
more apt to attack the fruit a little before sun rising and about the 
time of its setting, than in any other part of the day; it will be, 
therefore, prudent to have boys with rattles to frighten them away, 
particularly about those hours. 
You should also destroy poke, wild cherries, and any other un- 
cultivated productions growing near the vineyard, the fruit of 
which might invite a resort of birds. Should you observe an ex- 
traordinary resort of wasps in any quarter, and that they are 
destructive to the fruit, hang up phials of honeyed or sugared water 
in such places, in which numbers of them will be caught and 
destroyed. 
The ground between your vines must now be kept perfectly 
free from weeds, and all the branches tied up neatly, in order to 
afford the fruit the full advantage of air and sun for its due perfec- 
tion. 
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