VARIOUS METHODS OF HEATING DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. 229 



sufficient light upon the nature of the endless variety of means 

 and methods that are before us, which, however defective they 

 may seem in the hands of the inexperienced, may be safe and 

 certain in the hands of the skilful practitioner. 



It cannot be admitted, however, that in carrying out this 

 principle it is unnecessary to scrutinize, with the utmost exact- 

 ness, the facts for or against any particular system, which the 

 fancy of gardeners or amateurs may choose to follow. The very 

 fact that there are so many systems of warming hot-houses, 

 gives increased force to the call for minute record of experi- 

 ments. Upon no safer principle can our knowledge of horticul- 

 ture be based, so that those who are its patrons and votaries 

 may follow principles, founded upon facts, and not upon specula- 

 tions. Hence they would not have to endure the inconvenience 

 and risk of being dependants upon plausible theories, which 

 practice may prove to be absurd. 



A great deal that might be said on vineries, in regard to heat- 

 ing them, can have but a local application ; and, in some places, 

 no application at all, inasmuch as the diversity of climate in the 

 different states would render the erection of an apparatus at one 

 place necessary, which would be absolute folly in another. The 

 erection of a powerful and expensive heating-apparatus is only 

 required where the forcing of the vine is desired in winter, under 

 difficulties of intense cold and long-continued frost, as in New 

 England. To these latter circumstances the following method 

 will chiefly apply. 



Figure 48 shows the plan of a winter vinery, i. e., one for 

 forcing in winter; a is the border, underneath which is an 

 arch of brick, forming a chamber, through which the hot- 

 water pipes are made to travel, after going round the house 

 inside for atmospheric heat. The cold water returns again into 

 the boiler at b. 



As far as I can learn and I have made many inquiries 

 this system of applying heat, in connection with vine-growing, 

 has not yet been adopted in this country ; still, it may be in 

 use, since the obvious utility of it must have been apparent to 

 those who are engaged in the culture of hot-house grapes. To 

 recommend such an expensive system as this, for all occasions 



