THE GRAPE HOUSE. 7 



the case. This house is on a scale of one^sixteenth of 

 an inch to a foot, and at an angle of 45 . 



These bottom openings in the front wall can be 

 safely left open almost constantly during the ripening 

 of the grapes in cases of early forcing, for no chilly air 

 can come to the tender growth of the vine. The air 

 coming in direct contact with the hot pipes gets 

 warmed, made lighter, and quickened. The heat of 

 the pipes gives vitality to the air which is admitted ; 

 it ascends with rapidity to the fruit and branches, 



FIG. 4. END SECTION. 

 Scale ^th inch to 1 foot. 



and, there being a constant and fresh supply from the 

 outside, it is well supplied with colouring matter, 

 oxygen, which must be admitted or the grapes cannot 

 possibly colour. The more of this you can safely admit 

 combined with heat, the deeper will be the colour of 

 the fruit, and the sweeter also. F, pit, 5 feet wide, the 

 whole length of the house, to be filled with some 

 fermenting material, such as leaves, stable manure, &c., 

 to cause a damp and warm heat, which will materially 

 facilitate the development of the vines and the fruit, in 

 its first stage. E (fig. 4), root protection lights over the 

 border, to be used through the winter and cold spring 



