Oct.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



7C9 



be admitted in a regular manner, so that every part of the 

 house or pit may derive an equal benefit from it. A constant 

 circulation of pure air is always necessary to plants confined 

 in an artificial atmosphere, whether they be growing fast or 

 remaining almost stationary, excepting on particular occasions 

 when it is less necessary, as when the plants are forming roots 

 or immediately after shifting, when they are to be kept more 

 close and shaded. 



Water should now also be gradually diminished, as well at 

 the roots as over their heads. It is, however, better to give 

 it rather frequently, but gradually in a less quantity, and some 

 of the plants will probably not require any for some length of 

 time. This must be left to the good judgment of the operator, 

 who should examine the pots frequently. It is better that the 

 plants be kept now rather dry than too damp. 



VlNERlf FORCED EARLY THIS SEASON. 



The vinery forced early this season, will by this time have 

 its wood sufficiently ripened to admit of the operation of 

 pruning being performed, preparatory to its being put in order 

 for forcing early next year. As soon, therefore, as the leaves 

 fell, or are falling, the wood may be then considered as fully 

 ripened, and this will be the case towards the middle, if not 

 towards the end of the month. The advantages of early 

 pruning, that is, pruning some considerable time previously 

 to the plants being again set in motion, are too obvious to 

 require any comment, more particularly with those which are 

 intended for hard forcing. Plants become habituated, by cer- 

 tain treatments, to change their natural seasons of coming into 

 vegetation, cither in respect to their being forwarded or re- 

 tarded. Thus this vinery, which was begun to be forced in 

 February, may the year following be forced with safety in 

 January, if required. In order, then, to prepare them for 

 thus early coming into vegetation, it is necessary to prune 

 them at or about this time, for, by so doing, the wounds will 

 be completely healed, and no danger arise from bleeding, 

 which would be extremely detrimental to their springing vi- 

 gorously ; and when once begun to bleed, it is not readily 



