[ 454 3 



LII. Account of a Plan for Forcing Grapes in Borders 

 under Glass. In a Letter to Sir George Thomas 

 Staunton, Bart. F. H. S. By the Rev. Blakley 

 Cooper, A. M. Communicated by Sir George Thomas 

 Staunton. 



Read May 16, 1826. 

 My dear Sir George, 



My reason for troubling you on the present occasion is in 

 consequence of your intimation, that you propose commu- 

 nicating to the Horticultural Society the hints I gave you of 

 the plan I have adopted in forcing Grapes. If you deem 

 those hints of any value, I cannot for one moment object to 

 your making use of them, in any way you please ; but per- 

 haps a more detailed account of the whole of my practice 

 will be better calculated for the intended communication. 



I have many years forced Grapes trained under glass, 

 resembling Melon or Cucumber lights, with the aid of stable 

 dung only: the dung having been deposited in pits, over 

 which a layer of slate was supported by iron joists, and 

 covered with coal ashes, three inches thick. In this way I 

 have succeeded in raising abundant crops; but as it was 

 impossible to walk under the vines to thin the bunches, and 

 manage the luxuriant branches, I last year raised my glass 

 several feet higher, to get head room ; and in fact converted 

 the pits into a common forcing house, with this difference, 



