168 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



drawn into the flue it ignites the gas that has been there gene- 

 rated, and causes an explosion ; this ought to be particularly 

 attended to, as an explosion of gas in the flue may destroy a 

 valuable collection of plants in a moment." P. 469. 



It is a common practice with gardeners and others, in sup- 

 plying fuel to furnaces, to draw the live coals to the front of 

 the fire-place, and apply the fresh fuel beyond; the proper 

 practice, it will be observed, is directly the reverse. 



Applying the cold fuel next the door, tends to prevent the 

 door from warping with the heat of the fire. When not in use, 

 all the external parts of a furnace ought to be cleaned and 

 oiled to prevent rust. Apply your own hands to the handles in 

 opening and shutting, and not the spade or shovel as is fre- 

 quently practised, and very injurious. A short spade, and a 

 short rake wholly of iron, are all the tools requisite for the 

 garden furnace. 



72. On Forcing Grapes, as practised in Denmark. In a Letter to 

 the Secretary. By Mr. Peter Lindegaard, Gardener to His 

 Majesty the King of Denmark, at the Palace of Rosenburgh, 

 Corresponding Member of the Horticultural Society. Read 

 July 17, 1823. 



The object of this paper seems to be, to prove that fine and 

 well-flavored grapes may be produced by means of horse- 

 dunff and tan without the assistance of fire ; and that when 

 grapes are forced slowly in this way so as to ripen about the 

 middle or latter end of September, they possess the property of 

 keeping till March or April following. The sorts Mr. Linde- 

 gaard prefers are the white Chasselas, and the Frankendal. 

 In his soil he introduces old rubbish, farriers' parings of hoofs, 

 horns, bones, &c. and oyster-shells. A pit within the house is 

 filled with fresh horse-dung ; sufficient air is given to allow 

 the steam to escape, and after some time when the dung has 

 settled, it is covered with tan about a foot thick, and the 

 house shut night and day, excepting during sunshine. 

 Nothing is said about fresh supplies of dung, but these, we 

 conclude, must be added as circumstances require. In 1822, 

 Mr. Lindegaard commenced forcing in this way on the 19th 

 of February, and on the 14th of July some of the Frankendal 

 berries turned black, and, by the beginning of September, 

 they were fully ripe. Such as were intended for winter use 

 he kept on the branches till the 20th of October : some of 

 the bunches, weighing two pounds, were fit for use on the 

 8th of April 1823, the date of his paper. 



Mr. Lindegaard has observed, that grapes forced in large 

 houses seldom attain so dark a colour as those which are ripened 



