GGO THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. \ Feb. 



ings with liquid manure. The syringe must continue to be 

 used mornings and evenings freely during the whole month, 

 and the house regularly filled with steam every morning by 

 eight o'clock, and in the evenings soon after the fires are 

 lighted, and when the flues will be sufficiently warm. When 

 the fires are made up for the night, a few pot-fuls of water 

 may be sprinkled over the flues, this will keep up a moist 

 steam during the night. There need be no fear of overdoing 

 this operation, for vines are found to break or push their buds 

 best and most regularly in a humid atmosphere : indeed, 

 some good gardeners introduce a quantity of unfermented 

 horse-dung, or leaves, into the vinery, which they build up in 

 a ridge, and by continual turning, watering, and adding to it, 

 keep up a steam in their houses. This steam is of the utmost 

 importance where the vines are infected with insects, as the 

 steam thus produced contains a large portion of ammoniacal 

 gas, which is well known to be destructive to all insects, while 

 it does not injure the vines, at least before their leaves expand. 

 This practice is highly conducive to the health of the plants ; 

 but where neatness and order are a consideration, it may bo 

 objected to, as having no very agreeable appearance, and a 

 much less })leasant smell ; a substitute, however, has been 

 pointed out by an eminent horticulturist and chemist, and may 

 be with fewer objections applied. This substitute is formed 

 by pouring a solution of crude muriate of ammonia upon quick 

 lime, and the gas thus obtained may be applied with a pair of 

 bellows to the plants. The gi'cat use of steam in forcing the 

 vine seems to be, (no matter whether the steam be that of pure 

 water, or of that combined with any of the other gases,) first 

 to soften the wood and eyes, and enable them to break more 

 freely ; and secondly, the destruction or prevention of insects. 

 These powerful and useful eflects being produced by such 

 simple means, arc not to be neglected. 



Air should be admitted freely, to strengthen the young buds 

 as they are developed, and also to keep the temperature at an 

 equal height. Changing the air thus daily is of the utmost 

 use ; the confined air, particularly when charged with the rank 

 vapour from the dung, where it is used, or that of the confhied 

 air in the house where that is not even used, will soon stagnate 



