Xovember 4, 1869. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOBTICXJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



36$ 



for large subjects, and for those growing in borders, snch as tropical 

 plants, Vines, &c.. and it is in their case, when the heat has not been 

 properly applied, that the abnse hag been. 



There has been a good deal of controrersy lately about growing 

 early Grapes without bottom heat ; now, I maintain, that to have a 

 good crop you cannot strike cuttings of the Vine without it, neither 

 can you grow good early pot Vines without it ; then why should Vines 

 planted out in borders islike it ? My opinion is they do not, and for 

 forcing Vines year after year very early it is positively wanted, other- 

 wise the Vines will wear themselves out. My experience tells me that 

 it is from the want of sufficient water that mischief arises from the 

 use of bottom heat. I have been a victim owing to this canse, and it 

 is scarcely possible to make men of ordinary practice believe the quan- 

 tity of water that is wanted to supply a border where there is bottom 

 heat, and in which the plants are planted out. I hive now adopted 



the plan of measuring the water. I maintain that plants in-d<wr5, 

 and especially where the heat is greater, require quite as much vai^r 

 as out of doors ; therefore I am giving 24 inches per annum, or aboct 

 twelve gallons to tlie square foot, giving the greatest quautitj whea 

 the Vines are in a growing state. I do not mean to say that even this 

 would insure safety with badiy applied bottom heat, such as from hot- 

 water pipes amongst the drainage or in the border ; there wooid b« 

 failures, for as regards extremes of heat and cold, and of dryness, wo 

 should be at the mercy of the stoker and waterer. In applying bottom 

 heat to borders, it should be perfectly under control, and capable of 

 being conveyed to the roots of the plants at will ; also so that the heatia;; 

 medium can be extended by degrees to any distance required. 



I have paid a good deal of attention to this subject, and I think tbs 

 perfection of an early Grape house would be oue bnUt after the follow- 

 ing plan : — It should have a snan roof IS feet or more wide, with arches 



Jtn 



' ' I 



in theonter walJs, so as to extend the borders from the inside when 

 wanted, and also to let oat the bottom heat to the cater border ; in 

 fact, to extend the roots to any distance wanted. There shoald be an 

 arch in the centre, a, and extending the whole length of the border ; the 

 npper part pigeon-holed, to let np the heat from beneath the arch as 

 qnickly as possible to the chambers b, b, to be conveyed into the earthen- 

 ware socket distribating pipes c, c, which should be laid quite level, 

 otherwise the heat will not be regular. These pipes I recommend to be 

 placed at intervals of 2 feet throughout the length of the house, on a 

 concrete bottom, with 1*2 inches of brick rubbish over them. I have a 

 great opinion of aerating borders for forced plants — in fact, for all kinds 



of plants ; therefore, in a house .50 or GO feet long I put three pipe* oa 

 each side of the house, f/, in communication with the heating chambers, 

 so that air in winter can pass from the inside of the house iaio»^£t 

 the roots of the plants ; and when the borders are formed outside, pit>- 

 vision can be made so that in summer they can be at-rated from the 

 outside. I think with this provision for bottom heat, air, and water, 

 we shall hear no more of failures in forcing early Grapes. — Jobtc 

 Stan-dish, Royal Nursery, Ascot, Berks. 



^The foregoing is one of the papers read at the Horticultural Coc- 

 gress at Manchester, but its publication has teen delayed owing f« the 

 drawing not having been received with it. — Eds.] 



WOKK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEU GARDES. 



Tkench, dig, and ridge-np every spare piece of ground when- 

 eyer the weather will permit. This is particularly to be ob- 

 served in gardens, the soil of which is of a clayey nature. It 

 is time to think of forcing a little Asparagus to come in early. 

 The principles applied to the forcing of Sea-kale, &c., are in 

 the main applicable to Asparagus, except that it requires 

 abundance of air when pushing through the soil. Let all 

 Carrots be taken up and stored ; likewise Beet. A few Parstiips 

 for present use may be taken up ; they will, however, keep well 

 in the gronnd, and thus circumistanced they may have a coat 



of manure spread over them for the next crop, and be treneheiJ- 

 out as wanted. It is a good plan to cut the head of the Carrots 

 completely off below the neck, thus checking their tendency So 

 grow. They may then be placed in pits like Potatoes, raisin? 

 a sharp ridge over them to throw oft wet. Prepare a plot ot 

 ground at once for the earliest Peas, by thoroughly digging and 

 manuring it ; they may be sown now while the weather ia 

 favourable. A few Mazagan Beans may also be planted at tha 

 same time. Sea-kale should now be introduced into bottom 

 heat for the earliest supply. Those who force it where it grows 

 may apply some hot manure round a few pots. Endeavonr ss 



