THE rOKCING GARDEN. 



659 



FORCING VINES. 



The vinery being put in readiness for forcing, as directed 

 last month, the fires by the first of this month may be begun 

 to be regularly made, but so moderate that the temperature 

 may not exceed 50° or 52° for the first week, and afterwards 

 55°, until every bud in the house has begun to swell. This 

 is matter of vast importance in the forcing of all fruits, and 

 particularly that of the vine ; for if the temperature were be- 

 gun and kept up to a high point, the consequence would be, 

 that only a few of the leading and strongest buds would start ; 

 the greater part, particularly such as are situated next the 

 bottom of the shoots, would not spring at all, and conse- 

 quently the crop would be proportionably scanty. It is, there- 

 fore, a leading feature of good management, that every bud 

 on the vines break; not that all will probably be ultimately 

 allowed to remain, but it is much easier to take off a shoot, or 

 a fruit, than put one on. From the time the house is first 

 shut up, the syringe should be freely used upon the branches, 

 for the same purpose as hinted at in the peach-house ; namely, 

 to soften the shoots and buds, and enable the latter to push 

 more freely. The stems and larger branches, which were di- 

 rected last month to be enveloped with rnoss or haybands, 

 should be kept well and regularly moistened, by pouring water 

 in a sufficient quantity upon them, for if they be kept con- 

 tinually moist, the rise of the sap will be facilitated, and the 

 strength and breaking of the buds greatly promoted. After 

 all .the buds have evidently begun to push, or shown signs of 

 vegetation, which will be observed by the loosening of that 

 brownish cotton-like envelope, with which they have hitherto 

 been protected, and the rudiments of the young shoot bursting 

 through it, the temperature should be raised to G0°, 65°, and 

 70°. This rise of temperature must not, however, be sudden, 

 or the same evils which have been hitherto guarded against 

 would follow, that is, the shoots would push weakly, and 

 many of tlicm would not show fruit. If the rise of tempera- 

 ture be cHectcd in the course of the month progressively, it 

 will be good management. The borders within the house 

 should be supplied with water, occasionally giving good water- 



