362 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



occurs in early forcing. The third year, the first 

 Vinery here was got in readiness in December, by 

 having the interior pits filled with leaves, which pro- 

 duce a beneficial heat, and steam for the breaking 

 of the buds, when in a fermenting state. About the 

 first of January, fire was commenced, but the tempe- 

 rature kept about 50 degrees during the first eight 

 days, and plenty of air daily admitted, to prevent 

 the atmosphere rising above 60 degrees in the day ; 

 the Vines were syringed every evening, and laid in a 

 horizontal position, in order to induce the luxuriant 

 shoots to burst freely, which, by keeping the house 

 in a humid state by frequent syringing, and steaming 

 from the water thrown morning and evening on the 

 hot-water pipes, the buds soon began to swell, and to 

 push regularly from the top to the bottom of the Vine, 

 when the shoots were replaced under the rafter, as 

 before. The temperature of the house was kept 

 about 60 degrees until the buds had all expanded, 

 when it was gradually increased to 65 degrees, and 

 regulated to this heat every evening, until the buds 

 were all fully developed, allowing about 12 degrees 

 of an advance, with sun-heat, in the middle of the 

 day. The temperature was now daily raised a degree, 

 in order to have the atmosphere of the Vinery about 

 70 degrees, by the time the bunches were be- 

 ginning to expand into flower, at which period a 

 close moist heat was kept up, and the thermometer 

 regulated, as near as possible to 73 degrees in the 

 evenings, and from 80 degrees to 85 degrees in the 

 day. The humidity of the house was sustained by 

 pouring water on the pipes and footpaths every 



