288 CULTIVATION OF VINES IN GREENHOUSES. 



Black Hamburgh, 

 Black Prince, 

 Black Prince, Hamburgh, 

 White Sweetwater. 



Temperature of the Border. 



In No. 112 of Loudon's Gardener's Magazine I have directed 

 the vine border to be covered a fortnight previous to the com- 

 mencement of forcing with horsedung of the best quality to the 

 depth of ten or twelve inches. I would still recommend the 

 same method or something similar in every case in which the 

 border has been uncovered or insufficiently covered during 

 winter. But as the successful cultivation of all plants, especially 

 exotics, depends so much on terrestrial climate, I now prefer to 

 have the border covered in the autumn, so as to prevent the 

 escape of the heat contained in it at that season. It fortunately 

 happens that I have now sound data to proceed upon in giving 

 directions in this matter. The following returns are taken from 

 Mr. Thompson's Tables of Ground Temperature at Chiswick, 

 which will apply with little variation to the greater part of 

 Britain and Ireland : — 



August . . 



September . . 

 October 



November . 



I would advise, therefore, that the border should be covered 

 with a light covering of dry leaves about the end of September, 

 for the temperature of the border will fall considerably in 

 October, as will be seen from the above table. A covering of 

 waterproof canvas should also be applied to carry off heavy 

 rains. As soon as a sufficient quantity of leaves can be collected, 

 they should be laid on about eighteen inches thick. Where 

 leaves cannot be had sufficiently long, dung or fern might be 

 used instead. But whatever material is applied, it must not be 

 forgotten that protection from the rain is indispensable, or the 

 heat of the border will be exceedingly variable. 



The covering should be removed about the middle of May, 

 when the border should be forked over. It should be frequently 

 stirred with the Dutch hoe during summer, but especially after 

 heavy rains. If the border is managed in this manner, it will 

 seldom require any watering if situated in the western part of 

 Britain or Ireland. In the eastern part of this island the 

 watering of the border should be attended to when necessary, 

 but especially at the commencement of the last swelling of the 



