68 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ing them a greater development of foliage than would otherwise 

 have been possible. 



Bottom heat, although of considerable assistance to the vines, 

 is by no means indispensable. It doubtless hastens the maturity of 

 the cropj and helps the vines immensely ; but good crops are an- 

 nually produced without it. 



The borders of the Muscat house at Ealing Park, from which 

 Mr. Cole obtains the grand samples he exhibits at the principal 

 autumn fruit shows, are not heated ; and other gardens could be 

 mentioned in which good crops are produced without bottom heat. 

 It is mainly a question of money ; but speaking in a general way, I 

 should not recommend the amateur to heat the borders. The 

 accompanying diagram illustrates the best system of heating vine- 

 borders yet adopted. The border is twelve feet in width, and is 

 supported with brick walls, and a platform of stone. The walls are 

 nine inches in thickness, and "pigeon holed," that is, a number of 

 openings are left in the wall to enable the heat from the pipes to 

 circulate freely underneath the border. The stone slabs, which may 

 be of the roughest description, are laid across, with the ends rest- 

 ing on the walls. The drainage is then laid on the platform and 

 the compost filled in, in the manner advised when speaking of the for- 

 mation of ordinary borders. 



For maintaining the proper temperature inside the house, four 

 rows of four-inch pipes will be required, and these must be carried 

 round each end as well as along the front, as iudicated in the 

 diagram. In large gardens, it is all very well to start Muscats early, 

 to have them ripe in summer ; but in small gardens, no attempt 

 ehould be made to force them. They commence to grow naturally 

 in March, and when they once make signs of growth, they must be 

 assisted with artificial heat whenever required. From the time the 

 vines start until the bunches are visible, the day temperature must 

 be maintained at (JO'^. From the time the bunches can be seen until 

 the shoots are about four inches in length, the temperature must be 

 increased to 10^. This heat will suffice until the vines are in bloom, 

 when it must be increased ten degrees. After the berries are set, 

 and until the crop is ripe, a temperature of 85° will be necessary. 

 The above are day temperatures ; the night temperature to be in 

 every case five degrees lower ; but in sunny weather an increase of 

 five degrees in the daytime may be allowed with advantage. 



EXHIBITION FEEN CASES. 



IINCE fern cases have had a place in competitive exhi- 

 bitions, a number of elegant constructions, with a few 

 decidedly inelegant, have been brought forward, not 

 only to compete for prizes at exhibitions, but to share, 

 if possible, in the favour of the general public. Of all 

 the many forms and plans of construction, none ever satisfied us so 

 s those with curvilinear tops manufactured and furnished by 

 well ^s. Barr and Sugden. These are so extremely elegant that, if 



