This section is from "The Horticulturist, And Journal Of Rural Art And Rural Taste", by P. Barry, A. J. Downing, J. Jay Smith, Peter B. Mead, F. W. Woodward, Henry T. Williams. Also available from Amazon: Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste.
Sir: I beg to claim your indulgence, while I trouble you with a few questions, an answer to which, either yourself or some of your able correspondents, will perhaps, kindly furnish through the Horticulturist. I entered a situation near this city, on the 2nd of August last; I have under my care three grape houses - the houses have a lean-to roof, and the vines planted some in the house and some out; the greater part of the vines are foreign; some Sweet Waters planted three or four years ago, bore a few bunches - but every leaf on the vines dies,scorched very much ; some young vines,also foreign, planted in the spring of 1851, were the most miserable things I ever saw, every leaf burned and scorched, and only made two or three feet of miserable poor wood. I have had vines under my care for twenty years in England, and never saw anything like this. I only arrived in this country last May, and consequently have not had any experience here. The border, I am told, is thoroughly drained and made of rotten manure, and light sandy peat; I am told by my predecessor, that the vines have been liberally supplied with water j I have no thermometer, but I am sure the heat must be above 100° often, and my impression is that the sun is too powerful for them; in this, my predecessor does not agree.
I may say the Isabella and Catawba grapes, are in a flourish-ing state by the side of these vines; the vines have been pruned on the spur system. I should be glad to know of a radical cure for this. I should be glad to know if any of your correspondents have had any experience with canvass for a shade for foreign vines. The situation is near the lake shore; the sorts of foreign vines are Muscat, Black Hamburg, St. Albans, Frontignan, etc. I see no difference in the sorts. The vines arc trained some on rafters and some on the back wall. I am,sir,your obedient servant, C. Chicago, III.
 
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