92 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



throw off rain and snow ; and a fortnight before forc- 

 ing is commenced, a bed of leaves, as recommended 

 for the inside border, should be laid on it, to be also 

 protected from rains, that would wash the heat out 

 of it. 



Temperature. — Apply fire-heat sparingly for the first 

 fortnight ; give just sufficient in conjunction with the 

 heat which escapes from the bed of leaves, to keep the 

 night temperature at 45° in cold frosty weather, and 

 at 50° when the weather is mUd. After the first 

 fortnight raise it by degrees to from 50° to 55°. As 

 soon as the buds have fairly started, give 5° more by 

 degrees, making a point of rising to 60° when the 

 young shoots are showing their bunches. By the 

 time they are in bloom it should be raised, to 65°, 

 which is sufficiently high as a night temperature in 

 the earlier months of the year. Eange the day tem- 

 perature with sun-heat from 1 0° higher than the night 

 in the early part of the season, to 15° as the natural 

 heat increases and less fire -heat is needed to keep 

 it up. 



The temperatures which are here recommended 

 are sufficiently high for the early months, when 

 mostly dependent on fire-heat. But further on in 

 summer, especially after the grapes are thinned and 

 stoned, and a higher temperature can be kept up with 

 a minimum of fire-heat, the night temperature may be 

 kept at 75° till late at night. Muscats, from the time 

 they show their bunches onwards, require 5° more 

 than the general run of other varieties; and to set 

 Muscats well in the months of April and May, the 

 night temperature should be 70°. As soon as the 

 grapes begin to colour, a slight and gradual decrease 

 of temperature should take place ; and in the case 



