THE EARLY GRAPERY OR FORGING HOUSE. 79 



forcing of the same stock weakens, and eventually wears 

 out the plant, in consequence of which it is best to alter- 

 nate ; to a certain extent we may admit, that there is some 

 truth in this, but not so much as some would seem to 

 think ; if the borders were to be kept warm, and the roots 

 attended to with the same care as the tops, there would 

 not be so many examples of early imbecility to complain 

 of. True, all may be done that ingenuity can invent, and 

 yet the exact growing temperature of summer will not 

 be obtained artificial heat is not so stimulating as that of 

 the sun, but in our ^cloudless clime, even in the winter 

 time, there is much bright and clear weather, which con- 

 siderably assists our action, and if not quite so favorable 

 as we could wish, it is sufficiently so to enable us, with 

 good management and proper conveniences, to so far suc- 

 ceed that a house of vines will admit of being uninter- 

 ruptedly forced for many years in succession, and with 

 far more certainty than the exploded notion of resting. 

 It is more reasonable, and much more consistent with 

 nature, that the same periodical action should be allowed 

 to go on, provided it is not opposed to the peculiar consti- 

 tution of any particular plant, and in the case before us, 

 there does not seem to be anything unnatural, unless the 

 allowing of a greater length of time for the full concentra- 

 tion of the juices can be called such, and it is well known 

 that the finest grapes, and most prosperous vines, are to 

 be found in those countries which have longer and steadier 

 summers than our own. So that, if all is well done that 

 ought to be done during the earlier stages of development, 

 the plants have all the remainder of the summer to mature 

 their wood from the embryo fruit buds, and prepare for 

 the more willing start the next season. Of course we may 

 over-do this like most other things ; as the grape vine, 

 with the great amount of heat that we have through the 



