reh.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



667 



the depth of the frame, either for the hot-bed or for the in- 

 dined plane of earth, should not be less than eighteen inches. 

 The holes in the sides of the frame, through which the young 

 shoots are to pass, should of course be closed during the 

 spring, and till wanted ; and if the weather be cold, it will be 

 necessary to cover the frames during night. When the grapes 

 are nearly full grown, and begin to ripen, it will also be 

 highly advantageous to draw off' the glasses during the day 

 in fine weather, by which means the fruit will be exposed to 

 the full influence of the sun without the intervention of the 

 glass, and will attain a degree of perfection, that it rarely 

 acquires in the vinery or hot-house." 



Grapes are obtained in bad seasons by covering the estab- 

 lished plants upon the wall with a temporary frame of rafters, 

 upon which are placed any spare lights, that by that time may 

 have been removed from the early peach-houses, or other 

 houses where the crops may have been gathered ; sometimes 

 a temporary flue is built, to give an additional warmth, and to 

 counteract the effects of damp, as well as to ensure the ripen- 

 ing of the fruit, and their preservation afterwards for almost 

 any length of time. In other cases, the glasses alone are 

 found sufficient for the purpose of ripening the crop. 



A market-gardener near Bath, some years ago ripened 

 grapes under hand-lights. In this case, the fruit remained 

 within the glasses, and enjoyed the protection of the glass, 

 while the shoots were allowed to extend themselves in the 

 open air, by being let out of the glass on removing one of the 

 panes near its top. 



A succession of ripe grapes (as described by several writers 

 in the Hort. Trans.) is to be obtained by gi'owing the plants 

 in pots, in very rich mould, and watered with liquid manure. 

 The plants to be placed in any of the forcing-houses of suit- 

 able temperature, and when ripe, removing the fruit upon the 

 plants into a dry airy apartment, of a regular temperature. 

 They are said to keep in this way longer in a perfect state 

 than any other. Vines grown in pots have a curious appear- 

 ance when loaded with fruit, and are not only useful for pro- 

 longing the season of this excellent fruit, but are highly 



