250 , Bulletin 231. 



this time, water but little, giving the plant the same general ripening 

 period it has in the field, thus insuring a large "fat" cro-wn filled with 

 buds. On the approach of winter, protect from the first few sharp 

 frosts; and when the plants become dormant, protect from snow 

 until they are wanted in the house. Other things being equal, a 

 plant that has a long period of rest and has been frozen hard will give 

 better results when forced, although it is possible to obtain some 

 good fruit from plants that have but a short rest. Only in the 

 matter of one shift in place of three has economy in handling been 

 found. Each successive stage needs great care and close attention. 



Forcing the Plants. 



Care regarding temperature is of first importance through the 

 entire growing season whether the plants are in beds or in pots. 

 Starting with dormant plants taken from the cold frame, heat should 

 be raised gradually from thirty to forty-five degrees by the end of the 

 first week, increasing the heat until the plants are in bloom, when 

 they should be growing in a temperature of from sixty to sixty-five 

 degrees. From the time pollination begins, the house should range 

 from sixty-five to seventy; and while the fruit is swelling, the heat 

 should never be allowed to fall below seventy degrees. One of the 

 accompanying cuts, Fig. 6, shows very clearly the necessity of heat to 

 insure a crop. 



The Maturing Period. 



As to the length of time required to mature a crop of strawberries, 

 the work carried on here leads to the conclusion that from eight to 

 ten weeks are necessary for the best results, although the season may 

 be hastened by hard forcing (pushing the crop) during the last four 

 weeks. It is absolutely essential that the plants be grown slowly 

 during the first half of the forcing period, allowing new roots and tops 

 to form in about the same manner that they do throughout the 

 spring weeks in the open. After root growth is well established, 

 heat may be gradually increased and forcing hastened. If rapid 

 forcing is the order, great care is necessary in the application of liquid 

 manure, as the combined stimulus of excessive heat and quick-acting 

 plant food has a tendency to develop soft, flavorless fruits. Heavy 

 firing calls for high temperature and means danger of red spider, the 

 one dreaded trouble of the forced strawberry. Daily syringing of 

 the plants and frequent wetting of the walks must be resorted to in 

 order to hold this enemy in check. It is always safer on this account 



