140 TIIK CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



The boiler and pipe to circulate hot water around the 

 house, on the level principle, together with the furnace 

 and flue, are recommended as the best and safest heating 

 apparatus. A furnace and flue will not heat more than 

 twentj-five feet of a grapery that is forced in the winter 

 months, and, for any additional- length of the house, 

 other furnaces must be added, in the like proportion, or 

 the hot water apparatus substituted.* 



The following is a memorandum of the regulation of 

 the heat, with the dates on which the different operations 

 were performed, in a house forced in the winter. 



ISTovember. — The vines were pruned ; every alternate 

 spur was cut at one eye to fruit ; the others were cut 

 close, as there were more spurs than the strength of the 

 vine would admit of fruiting the coming season. 



When the vines were not of sufficient length for the 

 rafters, we retained as much of the new cane as was re- 

 quired, or as the strength of the vine would allow. 



The loose bark was rubbed off, and the vines painted 

 over with the composition of soap and sulphur. 



The border was covered with litter. 



The first of December, the vines were placed in a 

 horizontal position, near the front of the house, and cov- 

 ered with Russia mats ; those on the back of the house 

 were laid down and covered in the same manner. From 

 this date it is not unusual for the cold to be occasionally 

 severe, the mercury falling to near zero ; when this is the 

 case, sufficient fires must be made to keep a temperature 

 of 28° to 32° by night. 



* The Polmaise System, and the manner of building the furnace, are 

 described under the head of Furnaces, &c. 



