104 THE CULTUKE OF THE GRAPE. 



plants wliich are too tender to live in the open air of the 

 country in which it is employed. A forcing-house may be 

 defined to be an artificial garden for plants which will grow in 

 the open air, by its aid to obtain a crop sooner than the nat- 

 ural operation of the seasons will mature ; the former is a 

 substitute for a given hot climate ; the latter is an anticipation 

 of the local summer. The heat of the former is permanent 

 and more uniform, resembling the steady elevation of temper- 

 ature which prevails in the regions nearest the line ; that of 

 the latter fluctuates farther from a common medium ; but, 

 whether raised or reduced, it is equally directed to an imita- 

 tion of nature's course in some climate. The forcing-house, 

 however, is frequently so assimilated in its construction and 

 economy to the hothouse, on account of the culture requisite 

 for plants of a mixed nature that the difference vanishes. 

 But both the separation and the interchange may be accounted 

 for by the nature of any given plant. Thus the cherry will 

 ripen its fruit perfectly in the open air ; the forcing-house, 

 for the cherry, is far removed from the hothouse. Few kinds 

 of the grape, however favored by aspect and shelter, come to 

 maturity under the influence of our natural summer (the cli- 

 mate of England) ; and most of the sorts which are forced 

 would never ripen under it ; the grape forcing-house and the 

 hothouse are, therefore, convertible things." — Eneyclopcedia. 



If it be intended to winter-force, you must not commence 

 the process, the first year, before the fii'st of March ; the 

 second year, you may begin the middle of February ; the 

 third year, the first of February, and so on, fifteen days ear- 

 lier every year, until you reach the first of December ; be- 

 yond this you can hardly go, as this alloAvs only time to prune 

 and clean the vine after it has gone into rest. 



The first of March is recommended as the best time to 

 commence fire-heat for the main crop of grapes ; this can 

 hardly be considered as forcing ; it is a simple protection and 

 aid to the natural growth, and as heavy crops can be matured 

 as in a cold house. 



