178 ON PLANTING AND MANAGING 



so as to form a bed for the roots of vines, remains now 

 to be explained. 



One general rule must be first laid down, and that 

 is, that whether they be deposited in an open border, or 

 in the interior of a vinery, they must be enclosed on 

 all sides within solid brick-work. This is necessary to 

 prevent the roots from penetrating into the adjacent 

 cold soil, and also to keep the materials always in a 

 moist state, for which purpose brick-work is admirably 

 adapted, on account of the porosity or power of suc- 

 tion or absorption of moisture which bricks are well 

 known to possess. If, therefore, any quantity of the 

 above-mentioned materials be enclosed in brick- work, 

 and placed compactly together, and in close contact 

 with the internal surface of the brick- work, 

 the whole body of those materials will in a short time 

 after they are so placed become moist, and, once moist, 

 they can never again, at any time afterwards, become 

 dry. They will, therefore, always be in that state 

 which is more suitable to the roots of the vine than any 

 other, namely, always moist, but never wet. 



Another general rule also remains now to be men- 

 tioned, which must never be departed from. All vines 

 intended for early forcing should be planted inside of 

 the vinery. 



The roots of vines so planted, being enclosed in 

 brick-work as before directed, are then protected from 

 all the cold agencies of the atmosphere, and are, more- 

 over, in the enjoyment of a much higher temperature, 

 in addition to which they receive the benefit of the 

 heated atmosphere of the vinery ; and these are ad- 

 vantages that cannot be estimated too highly. They 

 form, in fact, an integral part of the routine of early 

 forcing, the successful issue of which cannot be de- 

 pended upon without them. 



This point being settled, the first step to be taken is 



