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XVI. A Description of a Forcing House for Grapes; with 

 Observations on the best Method of constructing Houses 

 for other Fruits. By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. 

 F. R. $ r $c. 



Read May 3, 1808. 



So much difference of opinion prevails amongst gardeners 

 respecting the proper forms of Forcing Houses, that two are 

 rarely constructed quite alike, though intended for the same 

 purposes ; and every gardener is prepared to contend that 

 the form he prefers is the best, and to appeal to the test 

 of successful experiment, in support of his opinion. And 

 this he is generally enabled in some degree to do, because 

 plants, when properly supplied with food and water and 

 heat, will succeed in houses, the forms of which are very 

 defective ; and proper attention is not often paid by the 

 gardener, when his prejudices satisfy him that his labours can 

 not be successful. It is, however, sufficiently evident, that, 

 when the same Fruit is to be ripened in the same climate 

 and season of the year, one peculiar form must be superior 

 to every other, and that in our climate, where sunshine and 

 natural heat do not abound, that form, which admits the 

 greatest quantity of light through the least breadth of glass, 

 and which affords the greatest regular heat with the least 

 expenditure of fuel, must generally be the best: and if the 

 truth of this position be admitted, it will be very easy to 

 prove that few of our Forcing Houses are at present even 

 moderately well constructed. I therefore think that if plans 



