CULTURE OF THE VINE, &C. 



137 



least five times the length of the frame, in order 

 to furnish a succession of well-perfected wood. 



After the crop is over, the Vines, in the course 

 of the ensuing winter, must be cut down nearly 

 to the bottom, and they require a term of four 

 or five years to recover themselves for another 

 early crop. 



The frame described would certainly admit of 

 improvement, and flued walls would also be of 

 further advantage, by co-operating with the flue 

 on the inside of the frame. But still, this mode 

 of forcing is by no means to be recommended in 

 this country. On the Continent, the sky is, for 

 the most part, clear. There is almost daily sun- 

 shine, and the weather is regular and settled during 

 the winter season. There nothing is required but 

 attention to guard against the severity of the frosts ; 

 but in a climate so subject to variation as ours, the 

 same method of forcing can never be approved, 

 because no means have yet been discovered to 

 counteract the sad effects of the frequent cloudy 

 dull days which we experience, and in which a 

 strong fire-heat, such as would necessarily destroy 

 all future hopes, must be applied. In short, vege- 

 tation cannot be carried on to any good purpose 

 without the aid of the sun's heat ; and, therefore, 

 though in forcing, it be easy to guard against the 

 severity of the nights, yet there is no security 

 against long-continued dull days, but by a strong 

 fire-heat, which, at such a season, would undo alL 



