West London Gardeners' Association. 389 



a state of rest, as he found roots of plants turgid, and elongating themselves, 

 in the depth of winter. 



Mr. Caie entered into an elaborate description of the different structures 

 erected for forcing, and showed the inconsistency of having them erected by 

 individuals who considered them merely as objects of architectural taste, 

 rather than of adapting them to the end in view. He then adverted to the 

 form of roofs, and the materials of which they were composed ; considered 

 the curvilineal the best for the transmission of light, and did not think that 

 metallic roofs, if kept well painted, were prejudicial from their power of con- 

 ducting heat J but, as the light was greatly increased, the plants ought to be 

 farther from the glass than in wooden houses. He also defended shallow 

 borders, by stating some examples of their beneficial tendency in improving 

 the flavour of fruit, &c. He alluded to a fact mentioned by Mr. Fish, that 

 plants would not thrive at a distance from the glass, and considered it arose 

 from the sun not shining vertically upon them, as, when it did, there would 

 be less difference ; and drew from this the inference, that plants should stand 

 at a distance from the glass corresponding to its slope and the season of the 

 year. With respect to the modes of heating, he approved of that by which 

 an equilibrium of temperature could be most easily kept up ; and con- 

 tended that this simple principle was departed from in several modes of 

 heating by hot water j as, where small pipes were used, they were speedily 

 heated, and as speedily cooled. — Mr. Russel had seen the rafters of 

 houses made of metal, the sides and ends of the sashes of wood, and the 

 centre bars of block tin, which answered extremely well. — Mr. Fish con- 

 sidered that, to giving air, too much importance had been attached ; and 

 contended that, though particularity in giving air to keep down the tempera- 

 ture by day, when a high temperature was kept up at night, was required, 

 it was not so necessary when the temperature of the house was allowed to 

 fall at night. In a viner}', for instance, he was quite satisfied if the temper- 

 ature did not fall below 60° at night ; but, when the roots were in full opera- 

 tion, he would let the thermometer range from 80° to 100° in sunshine, 

 provided the moisture in the house was proportionate to its temperature. 

 — Mr. Ayres contended that, for securing all the advantages of light, the 

 houses ought to be kept clean, and the walls coloured white. He objected to 

 curvilineal houses, on account of the air being stagnated in the curve, and 

 the'liability of every thing being burned there in consequence. He agreed with 

 Mr. Fish as to temperature j and considered it of such great importance to 

 have the atmosphere well supplied with moisture, that, in fact, a hygrometer 

 was as necessary in a forcing-house as a thermometer. As to air-giving, the 

 best melons he ever saw were planted, watered, shut up, and the sashes never 

 moved, till the fruit was to be cut j and he knew an eminent pine-grower who 

 gave little or no air to his pines. — Mr. Judd laid great stress upon the con- 

 struction of the houses ; and considered that, if plants were well grown, there 

 was no danger of the fruit colouring well. — Mr. Fish had had a part of the 

 back wall, near the top of some of his houses, coloured black, as, when 

 white, the reflection of heat was so powerful as to scorch the leaves. — Mr. 

 Massey was aware of the importance of metallic-roofed houses for the 

 transmission of light, but was doubtful if so much light was necessary for 

 forcing-houses, as he had seen the best crops produced in comparatively dark- 

 roofed houses; was rather at issue with Mr. Fish in respect to shallow 

 borders ; contended that the depth of the border should be determined by 

 the high or low, dry or wet, nature of the situation ; that still he was de- 

 cidedly opposed to deep borders ; and mentioned instances where crops had 

 never been obtained owing to this circumstance alone. — Mr. Fish stated 

 that grapes would not colour, if the bunches were completely exposed to 

 the sun ; and mentioned facts to show that the direct influence of light 

 upon fruit was often prejudicial to their colouring, but that the direct action 

 of light upon the leaves was necessary to the maturing, and consequent fruit- 

 fulness, of the buds in their axils. 



c c 3 



