THE EARLY GRAPERY OR FORCING HOUSE. 83 



comparatively superior, besides the enabling the plants 

 to go through the various stages of development, and after 

 concentration, with less injury to the whole body. 



As stated above, it is generally conceded that a house 

 cannot be forced very early, for many years, without the 

 vines becoming weak and exhausted, consequently many 

 growers go on the plan of alternating from one house to 

 another, each, or every other season ; thereby, as they ac- 

 knowledge, resting the vines. Where all other requisites 

 are added to good culture, there is no necessity for this, 

 for, when once a plant has been induced by forcing to 

 break early, it is afterwards disposed to the same, and it 

 only requires half the amount of heat to start such a plant 

 that will be necessary for one that has not been brought 

 the season previous to the same condition. As to the weak 

 and slender bearing wood, it is quite reasonable that that 

 is a consequence of the tops being unduly excited while 

 the roots are confined in a cold base, and therefore have 

 not the power to supply the plant with the proper juices 

 in sufficient quantity for its own development. The best 

 cultivators are aware of this fact, and the adoption of the 

 above plan has resulted in the most marked success, and 

 we have known houses which were forced year after year, 

 produce heavy crops of fine fruit, when the borders were 

 covered as advised above. It is not to be expected that 

 as fine bunches or as large berries can be obtained from 

 the earliest forcing, but that a good quality may be had 

 uninterruptedly, is a fact that needs no further demon- 

 stration. 



For the first early crop, the vines ought to be pruned in 

 October, and if the leaves are not fallen at the time, let 

 what are still left remain on — for, until they become fully 

 ripe and change color the structure of the plant is receiv- 

 ing more matured body. Commence operations the latter 



