1869.] BOTTOM -HEAT. 571 



rubble under the roots of the Vines. The plan has been in operation for two 

 winters; and now for the result. The great difficulty with No. 1 has always been 

 the getting the Vines to start easily, and with hard forcing to have the Grapes 

 ripe by the middle or end of May, owing, no doubt, to the deep undrained border 

 into which the roots have penetrated. In November 1867 the border of No. 1 

 was covered with about 18 inches of leaves and litter, and the house started at 

 the same time. The border of No. 2 was covered the same way a month later, 

 the air-di'ain turned on, and the house started. Forcing was conducted in both 

 at the same rate, but the Grapes in No. 2 were only a week behind No. 1 in being 

 ripe, and we were cutting from both houses at the same time to send to London. 

 Again, No. 1 was last autumn started at the beginning of October and No. 2 at 

 the beginniog of November ; the latter broke readily, and was in bloom before 

 No. 1, which has in consequence been held back as second house, and I fully 

 expect we will be able to cut from No. 2 by the end of April. I need not say that 

 the crop in No. 2 is always by far the best, and there is never either shanking 

 or red-spider. I may state that the current of warm air from the pine-stoves is 

 generally moist, and a mulching is left on the border all the summer. 



Assuming, therefore, the necessity of bottom-heat for early vineries, the only 

 question to be solved is, what is the safest and most economical method of 

 applying it? Hot-water pipes are most convenient, and, in judicious hands, are 

 no doubt safe enough. I am very far from thinking that the failures which have 

 attended their use in the hands of a few experimentalists are to be taken as an 

 argument against them. Nevertheless, I believe, if all the Vine-borders in the 

 country were heated with pipes in the ordinary way, there would be such 

 destruction of Vines as was never before heard of, and a universal wail from 

 John o' Groats to the Land's End. People's discretion and good sense are not 

 always equal to their faith in some receipts, and I have strong suspicion that this 

 is the case with some in the matter of bottom-heat. I have in my mind's eye 

 a case where, after much sagacious deliberatiou, it was determined to introduce 

 pipes under the border of a late vinery. The house was erected, the border 

 made, and the Vines planted ; forcing top and bottom was commenced, and 

 evidently carried on at a rattling rate, in sanguine anticipation of the result, 

 which was soon apparent. But "the best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft 

 agley : " the Vines, instead of making the expected rush to the top of the house 

 in rampant vigour, made a feeble attempt to get hold of the bottom wire, and 

 then perished. After much wonder and comment it was eventually concluded 

 that the soil must be bad, or the Vines had some hereditary disease; at all 

 events, it was clear that they were exceedingly stupid and ungrateful, and did 

 uot; appreciate the advantageous start in life which they had had ; and so fresh 

 soil was procured, and fresh Vines of a different variety, which were planted and 

 another start made. The plants struggled through the summer, but looked as 

 if another season would terminate their existence. They were, however, rescued 

 in time, and as the bottom-heat pipes were arranged in an unsatisfactory manner 

 in connection with the top-heat, they were plugged up, and their use discon- 

 tinued. In careless or unskilful hands there are the elements of danger about 

 pipes when they are placed in proximity to the roots ; if used continually, as 

 some seem to imagine they ought to be, they exert a dx-ying influence in the 

 wrong place, and arrest all capillary action from beneath. If they were sunk, 

 say, 18 inches in the subsoil, instead of being laid among the drainage, all danger 

 would probably be averted, provided the box'der was always well watered, suffi- 

 ciently to soak even the subsoil if it was dry. This plan would entail a little 

 more expense in fuel, but it would be safe and not impracticable. Fire-heat 



