THE GROUND VINERY. 471 



had their fruit removed and wood ripened in autumn if it be desired 

 to do any of these things with the ground vinery. Strawberries may 

 be nicely advanced by placing one or more ground vineries over the 

 rows, which their size just adapts them to fit. They seem, in fact, as 

 well adapted for gently forwarding the strawberry as for the sure 

 fruiting of good grapes without artificial heat ; and the longer we can 

 prolong the season of the strawberry the better. Lettuce, and endive 

 too, in winter will be very thankful for the protection, and with the 

 aid of the ground vinery (by keeping snails and such vermin from 

 devouring them) we may enjoy salad, which in winter is usually only 

 for those who have pits and frame to spare, and who, moreover, 

 manage them well. The engraving represents two ground vineries, 



Fig. 347. 



The barless ground vinery. 



each seven feet long, two feet six inches wide at base, and the glass 

 twenty inches deep at each side. The open aperture at each end pro- 

 vides, with the wide openings all round between the bricks, quite 

 sufficient ventilation at all times. When the structures are placed in 

 twos in this way, only one end of each need be filled, and this is likely 

 frequently to be the case, as the vine which fills one will soon fill two, 

 or even more, if it be desired. 



One thing would be a considerable improvement in the arrangement 

 of ground vineries though it is not practised by any of those who use 

 them and that is to place the frame on complete rows of the common 

 drilled or perforated brick (fig. 347), instead of on isolated bricks. The 

 floor of the vinery should also be covered with large slates. Sufficient 

 ventilation would flow through the holes in the bricks, and rats, birds, 

 &c. would be effectually excluded. As we have seen the vineries 

 arranged, these vermin have full opportunity to do as they like. We 

 have seen rats climb up straight trellises against a back wall, and cut 

 down fine bunches of grapes as readily as monkeys ; and it is not to be 

 hoped that they will spare the grapes when once they discover them in 

 one of these simple structures. The following are the prices: No. 1 (the 

 usual size) 7 ft. long, 2 ft. 6 in. wide, 1 ft. 3 in. high inside; woodwork, 

 5s. 6d. each; 21 oz. glass and putty, packed, 7s. 6d. each. No. 2 (large 

 size for two vines) 7 ft. long, 3 ft. wide, 1 ft. 6 in. high inside; wood- 

 work, 6s. 6d. each; 21 oz. glass and putty, packed, 9s. 6d. each. 

 Painting, Is. 6J. each ; closed ends, Is. each. It should be added that 

 these ground vineries are so simply made that any village carpenter 

 should be able to construct them. 



