92 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



February, they may this season be started three 

 weeks earlier with fire-heat, having previously, in 

 gardening phrase, shut up the house for fourteen days — 

 which means that the vinery be kept close without fire- 

 heat unless the weather be frosty, when during that fort- 

 night the temperature should be kept ranging from 40° 

 to 45° at night. Vines started at the 1st of January 

 generally ripen their crop from the middle to the end of 

 June. The following year forcing may commence three 

 weeks earlier, and so on, till, if required, the forcing may 

 begin in November, to ripen the crop in April. 



In starting young strong canes early, there is much 

 more difficulty in getting them to break regularly than 

 there is with weaker or older vines ; and to prevent 

 their breaking and growing at the top before the bottom 

 buds start, fix the vines to the lower wires only, and 

 bring down their tops semicircle form to near the floor 

 of the hoiise, where the temperature is lowest. In this 

 position allow them to remain till they have burst into 

 growth over their whole length. 



The good old system of putting a bed of leaves on 

 the inside border is a great assistance in getting the 

 vines to break regularly and strong. By turning a 

 portion of the warm leaves over at intervals, they give 

 heat and moisture sufficient to the air for the first fort- 

 night, and throw some warmth into the soil besides. 

 There is much difference of opinion as to the utility of 

 heating vine-borders from beneath by means of hot- 

 water pipes, but for very early forcing there can be no 

 doubt it is of great service when judiciously applied. That 

 vines started in November or any of the winter months 

 start earlier and more strongly in borders heated from 

 beneath, has been abundantly proved ; and where such 



