FORCING GRAPES. 
13 
ARTICLE VI. 
ON FORCING GRAPES BY MANURE. 
BY MR. REYNOLDS. 
In the middle of March a hotbed is prepared, five feet thick for a three 
light frame, sinking the bed one foot into the border, if the roots of 
the vine will allow it, if not, come within four or five inches of the 
roots, for they will receive much benefit from the heat of the bed, 
likewise from the drainings of the manure. The bed is placed one 
foot from the vine on the wall, and is composed of one half beech or 
other leaves, well mixed with stable dung, it is then allowed to re¬ 
main ten days to settle without the frame. Then take the exact di¬ 
mensions of the frame, and being provided with four strong stakes 
of five inches diameter, drive them through the hot bed, at each cor¬ 
ner for the frame to rest upon; the bed is then covered to the depth 
of four inches with soil, slates are placed on the top of the soil, and 
pressed firmly to keep the steam of the manure down, as much as 
possible. The vine is then unloosed from the wall and rested on the 
prepared bed. The frame is then placed on the four stakes to pre¬ 
vent its settling with the manure, and the vine is secured to a trellis, 
ten inches from the glass. Nothing more is now required but plenty 
of air for the first ten days, then gradually raise the thermometer to 
sixty-five or seventy degrees, keeping that heat as near as possible 
until the fruit is set, which is easily attained by additional linings. 
The back part of the frame should be secured from cold with straw 
and mats, to keep the remaining part of the vine outside, dry and 
warm. By no means suffer the stem of the vine to rest on the hot¬ 
bed, as they might be scalced, or otherwise injured. The kinds I 
have tried are the Black Hamburgh, and Black Frontinac, each do 
equally well by this treatment, and swell their fruit amazingly. I 
conceive the reason is that they receive a constant supply of steam 
from the manure, with a sprinkling of water on the slates at times to 
assist. The size of my frame is nine feet by six feet, number of 
bunches 148. 
Having sent you the full particulars of this simple mode, I hope 
some one of more experience, will not object to practice forcing vines 
with mannre, and give the result through the channel of your 
Register. 
M. Reynolds. 
Campsmonut, November 3rd. 1832. 
