CULTURE OF THE VINE. 31 



the sun, &c. They will produce a fair crop very early the 

 following season, but certainly not equal to what they do the 

 first year, either in quantity or quality, hut whether they are 

 intended for bearing or otherwise, the sooner they are taken 

 out of the house after the crop is cut the better, that the 

 succeeding young ones may be put in their places. 



Before concluding this small treatise, I wish to add a few 

 words in proof of the advantages I have myself derived from a 

 house similar to the one figured in Plates VIII. and IX. I 

 therefore can recommend it with confidence as being most 

 useful for manifold purposes, not only where other vineries are 

 employed, but also to the amateur and nurseryman. The 

 centre part is admirably adapted for growing a stock of young 

 vines for sale or otherwise; and it can also be used as a 

 propagating bed for flowers or early vegetables, more particu- 

 larly if a hot- water pipe were carried through the centre of it. 

 But the most valuable use to which the house can be applied 

 is the opportunity afforded of growing Muscat grapes in 

 conjunction with others in troughs, and I am convinced that 

 one trial would be sufficient to prove to the grower the 

 immense advantage gained by transplanting the vines from the 

 pots to mature their fruit. The trough system might justly be 

 said to possess all the requisites of a vine border, viz., drained, 

 heated, and covered with glass. With these advantages the 

 grower is enabled to produce Muscats with as great success as 

 any other kind, and by commencing forcing them in the 

 beginning of December, ripe fruit of this much esteemed 

 variety can be had by the first week in May. Another most 

 material point is gained by producing the Muscat in the 

 troughs. You are thus enabled to keep a constant supply of 

 fruit for the table without forcing the permanently planted 

 vines, which is an object of great importance, as it enables 

 the gardener to give them a longer season of rest ; and by so 

 doing the vines will become stronger and better every year, 

 and consequently the fruit will be of a superior quality, and 



