65 



and consequent hardening, will be in proportion to 

 the intensity of the light they receive. If, then, they 

 are compelled to grow in the dark, they are filled with 

 undigested sap, and their wood becomes watery and 

 soft. Even where they can be excited each day by 

 very powerful light, it would seem that nature exposes 

 them to no such risks, although one might suppose 

 that beneath a southern sun the mischief caused at 

 night might be repaired during the day. How much 

 more, then, in these dull, northern regions, where we 

 never behold the sun in all his brightness, and for 

 weeks together in the spring, only as he struggles 

 through clouds, how much more ought we to avoid 

 that nightly growth for which our daylight can bring 

 no help ! (Gard. Chron. 1844. 35) 



Quite coincident with this reasoning is the con- 

 firmed practice of our best vine forcers, as is thus 

 detailed by Mr J. Roberts, gardener at Eshton Hall, 

 in Yorkshire. He says the temperature must not 

 exceed 55 by day, and may be allowed to fall to 45 

 in the night, until the buds are in motion. They 

 will then require a little more heat, raising the tem- 

 perature gradually until it attains 53 by night by the 

 time the first leaves are fully expanded; always allow- 

 ing them 10 or 15 degs. more by day, or sun heat, 

 keeping a moist temperature, syringing and shutting 

 up early in the afternoon. As they advance raise the 

 temperature by day to 80, 85, or 90 degs. by sun 



F 



