THE GRAPE, 123 



much depend on its being properly managed at first. 

 The house may be of almost any construction ; but 

 that of a moderate size is the best one of about 

 forty feet long and fourteen feet wide, in the clear, 

 built in such a manner as to admit of glass three 

 feet in front, and the back, which should be of brick, 

 of a height to allow an elevation of 45 degrees, 

 when the roof is put on, which should be all glass. 

 In the inside of the house a pit may be built of brick, 

 six feet wide and four feet deep. The pit may be 

 in the centre of the house which will admit a walk, 

 each side, of four feet wide, and the same may be 

 allowed in the end. A pit of this kind may be turn- 

 ed to good advantage in the winter for preserving 

 lettuce, celery, and other vegetables which require 

 the frost only to be kept away from them. About 

 the beginning of March the pit may be cleaned out 

 and a quantity of hot manure put in to make a mod- 

 erate hot-bed, which, when the heat begins to rise, 

 may be earthed with good soil for the purpose of 

 sowing on it' radish, cabbage, lettuce and such early 

 ^salads and plants as are wanted for family use. A 

 part of the pit may also be used for forcing of aspa- 

 ragus, tart rhubarb or pie-plant, and any kind of 

 perennial herbs, as mint, taragon, and the like ; in- 

 deed, a bed of the kind may be made generally use- 

 ful. The culture and heat requisite for such plants 

 will also be congenial to starting the vines in a strong, 

 vigorous manner. A few green-house plants may 

 be accommodated in the vinery, placed on the curb 

 of the pit and back of the house ; but I cannot 

 by any means recommend it to be entirely appro- 

 priated as a green-house to winter plants, which in 

 the spring must be much injured by being shaded 



