6 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



end of February may safely be subjected to a temperature of 55°, by 

 fire-heat. For ordinary crops, January is quite early enough to com- 

 mence operations ; and where there is but one crop to force, February 

 is better still. The later in the season the plants are forced, the 

 greater is the certainty of a good crop ; and it is for preferable to 

 have a good crop late than a poor one early. The plants should be 

 cautiously watered until they get into full growth, for very little 

 will be required up to that time, and plenty of air must be admitted. 

 From the time the plants are first started, until the fruit is set, the 

 temperature must be very carefully regulated, and a rise of about 

 five degrees by fire-heat allowed beyond the point mentioned above. 

 But the thermometer may be allowed to run up ten degrees higher 

 than usual, during sunshine, and with a liberal supply of air. Ven- 

 tilation is a very important matter in strawberry forcing, and 

 requires very carefully regulating, so that the plants have sufficient air 

 without taking cold thereby, particularly during the time they are 

 in flower. It is impossible for me to say how much is to be admitted, 

 for that depends entirely upon the weather. It must also be remem- 

 bered, that unless there is a free circulation of air going on when 

 the fruit is ripening off, the flavour will be poor and insipid, and 

 tainted with too large a proportion of acidity to render it agreeable 

 to the palate. It is to this cause, and the too liberal supplies of 

 water, that we are indebted for so much badly-flavoured fruit. 



Directly as many fruit are set as it is thought the plants will 

 carry comfortably all the smallest fruit, and remaining flowers should 

 be clipped off, for they only weaken the plants, aud rob the fruit 

 intended to reach maturity. After the young fruit begins to swell, 

 the temperature should be gradually raised until it reaches G5°, with 

 an additional ten degrees during sunshine. Weak manure-water 

 every other day throughout the swelling process will be of immense 

 advantage in helping them along. The watering must not on any 

 account be neglected ; for, when that happens, the fruit receives an 

 amount of injury from which they never recover. It is a very 

 good plan to place a layer of leaf-mould, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, 

 on the shelves upon which the plants are placed, as it prevents the 

 soil drying up so quickly. After the plants go out of flower, they 

 should be syringed frequently, say twice a-day, unless the weather 

 is unusually damp and dull. Unless the syringe is kept steadily at 

 work, and a genial atmospheric moisture maintained, red spider will 

 soon take possession ; and when once that pest gets ahead, the crop 

 is as good as ruined ; for, without clean, healthy foliage, the fruit 

 will certainly be small and deficient in flavour. As the fruit begins 

 to colour, the manure-water must be withheld, the s} r ringe be used 

 very sparingly indeed, and only sufficient clear water applied to keep 

 the foliage from flagging. The golden rules in strawberry forcing- 

 are, to start slow and steadily, to keep the plants close to the glass, 

 with plenty of air ; to keep the foliage clean and healthy ; and never 

 to allow the plants to suffer for the want of water at any time, but 

 without giving too much, particularly as the fruit is ripening. 



