and top lights, and thus the breaking of the vines is 

 considerably retarded; in fact, it is rendered later 

 than upon the open walls. In general the vines do 

 not begin to push until the latter part of April, and 

 it is only in the first week of May that the houses 

 are closed at night. Air is then admitted less freely 

 during the day ; the vines are frequently syringed, 

 and abundance of water is thrown down upon the 

 floors, to keep up a constant supply of moisture in 

 the atmosphere. When the vines are in bloom, the 

 houses are closed earlier in the afternoon, and the 

 syringe is of course dispensed with, but is again 

 made use of a few times after the grapes are thinned, 

 to wash off the remains of dead flowers and dust, as 

 well as to assist in restoring the leaves to their proper 

 position. Air is then given more freely during the 

 day, in wet as well as in dry weather ; for, it is the 

 opinion of Mr. Crawshay that the spots upon the 

 grapes, commonly called " pitting," are caused by 

 the stagnation of the atmosphere, which is consequent 

 upon keeping a vinery closed for several days during 

 wet weather. As we before stated, no water is ad- 

 mitted into the house after the colouring process has 

 commenced, but abundance of air is left on through 

 the night as well as during the day. Through the 

 whole period of their growth no fire-heat is applied ; 

 but when the grapes are perfectly ripe, and the au- 

 tumn frosts commence, an Arnott's stove is used to 



