Mar.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



GD3 



FORCING VINES. 



The directions laid down for the management of this de- 

 partment last month being adhered to, the same should be 

 continued until the vines come into bloom. After that time, 

 the temperature should be increased to 75° ; and the process 

 of watering the borders and steaming the house, by pouring 

 water upon the warm flues, should now be particularly at- 

 tended to, so as to keep the house in rather a damp than a 

 dry state. As vines are found to set their fruit best in a high 

 temperature and moist atmosphere, the steaming becomes 

 therefore the more necessary, particularly at this time, as it 

 would be dangerous to use the syringe upon their branches 

 until the fruit be set. The parts of fructification in vines arc 

 so small, that to an inattentive observer they are out of flower, 

 and their fruit set before they are remarked ; the applica- 

 tion, therefore, of water by a syringe, or in any other manner 

 than by a process of steaming, would be liable to injure, if 

 not totally destroy the tender parts of the blossom. 



Air need not be so freely admitted now as formerly, nor as 

 will be necessary at a future period ; a moderate circulation 

 by the sashes or by the ventilators will be quite sufficient, 

 observing to admit it only by small openings in cold windy 

 v»eather. Ventilation is not best effected by opening the sashes 

 or ventilators at any time, to any great extent, for if tlio top part 

 of the sashes or top ventilators be only opened a few inches, 

 and the lower ones in about the same proportion, the heated 

 air, which is confined chiefly to the top of the house, will ra- 

 pidly escape, as, in consequence of its being heated, it is much 

 lighter than that of the atmosphere, and the atmospheric air 

 will rush in from the front or lower ventilators, to fill up the 

 vacuum produced by the escape of that which is lighter, and 

 which has escaped at the top of the houses. Thus a sufficient 

 change of air is effected without opening the house at any time 

 to any great extent. 



As the young shoots advance, they must be regularly ex- 

 amined and pruned ; those which have pushed a few joints, 

 and have shown one or two bunches, should be stopped at 



