458 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



cultivation in France dates as far back as the second century. Its in- 

 troduction into Britain has been attributed to the Phoenicians, as early 

 as the days of Solomon, when trading for tin to the southern coast of 

 England ; others ascribe its entrance into this country to a short time 

 after the Christian era, when the Romans had full possession of the 

 country. 



There is no doubt that it was at one time cultivated in the south 

 of England for wine -making with very considerable success. It is 

 authentically recorded that at Arundel Castle, in Sussex, great quanti- 

 ties of wine were made from the produce of a vineyard there, and that 

 in 1763 there were 70 pipes of wine in the castle cellars, all produced 

 from Grapes grown in the Arundel vineyard. The first mention of 

 artificial heat being applied to the Vine is in 1718, when the Duke of 

 Rutland, at Belvoir Castle, forced it by means of heated walls. In 

 Switzer's ' Practical Fruit Grower ' there is to be found the first plan 

 of a vinery, with directions for forcing Grapes under glass. As a 

 branch of horticulture Grape-growing under glass has certainly more 

 than kept pace with any other, both in its general diffusion and its 

 improvement, until it may be looked upon as of national importance. 



SITE FOR VINERIES. 



There are two extremes of circumstances which are inimical to the 

 most successful culture of the Grape Vine, and these are considerably 

 dependent on^ the site where vineries are erected. A low damp 

 position, into which the water in its immediate vicinity finds its way, 

 and from which it cannot be drained to the depth of at least 3 feet, 

 should be avoided; for stagnant water is ruinous to Vines, and such a site 

 may be regarded as the very worst. An elevated, excessively dry site, 

 with a gravelly subsoil which suffers very soon and severely from 

 drought, should also be avoided if possible, as excessive drought is also 

 very unfavourable to the production of fine Grapes. A site sloping 

 gently to the south, from which water can be effectually drained, is 

 the best, and should always be chosen when available. Shelter from 

 north and east winds is also of importance. But the sheltering objects 

 should never be so near the vinery as to prove injurious by their shade. 

 When Vine-borders have from necessity to be made near large growing 

 trees, an effectual barrier — such as a brick and cement wall — should 

 be provided against the inroads of the tree-roots. 



VINERY FOR EARLY FORCING. 



What I intend to be understood by the term *' early forcing," is that 

 which produces ripe Grapes in March, April, and May, and which 

 necessitates the commencement of forcing in October, l!^ovember, and 



