66 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



STRAWBERRY FORCING. 



" About the first of March, collect a 

 quantity of fermenting leaves and 

 dung, and with these, form a bed of 

 about two feet in thickness, upon 

 which a garden-frame is to be placed. 

 If the frame is deep enough, it is as 

 well to put this heating material into 

 it ; but, if otherwise, place the frame 

 on the prepared bed. In either case, 

 it is desirable to choose a warm situa- 

 tion for the bed, and to have the frame 

 set at a sharp angle, or pitch, facing 

 the south. Into this bed, when pro- 

 perly sweetened, the pots are to be 

 plunged to the rim, keeping them 

 about nine inches from the glass. The 

 fermenting material must not exceed a 

 milk-warm heat. The chink, to 

 admit a little air by night, and still 

 more by day, must not be forgotten. 

 By about the middle of April, the 

 plants will be in bloom, and during 

 that period, if mild, the lights should 

 be tilted alternately at front and back, 

 to cause a circulation. On fine daj's, 

 they will even be better drawn quite 

 off. After the setting period is passed, 

 increase the beat, by admitting a less 

 volume of fresh air; and, when the 

 ripening process is going on, treat 

 them with more air, as when in bloom. 

 It will be found that for late forcing, 

 this is a more excellent way than 

 having the plants set upon stages, in 

 the most approved fashion, in the most 

 beautiful house. This plan also suits 

 admirably for supplying a succession 

 for the forcing-pits at all seasons. 

 " The general treatment for forcing 



forcing. " In dry weather, and always 

 when there is fire-heat, the plants are 

 syringed every night and morning, 

 except when in bloom, and when the 

 fruit is ripening. In the dull early- 

 months, and the period of short days, 

 to water the soil once a day is too 

 often; while in the sunny and long 

 daj's, a good soaking of water is re- 

 quired every day. It is even necessary 

 sometimes to water twice a day in very 

 dry weather ; but this is not general. 

 It is a rule never to let a leaf flag, nor 

 have the soil saturated." The author 

 also recommends clear liquid manure 

 to be given twice a week, to the plants 

 being forced, from the time the fruit 

 is set, till it begins to change colour. 

 The following is a brief, but compre- 

 hensive code of 



OPEN AIR CULTURE. 



" The best soil for the Strawberry is a 

 deep, heavy, unctuous loam, enriched 

 with manure. If, therefore, the soil 

 is light, add greasy clay, or marl, with 

 manure. Trench or fork the ground 

 from eighteen inches to two feet deep, 

 placing the most strawy of the manure 

 at the bottom of the trench, where it 

 serves to enrich and drain, as well as 

 to keep the soil open to the influences 

 of the atmosphere. The most decayed 

 part of the manure is worked in near 

 the surface, not in layers, but incor- 

 porated with the soil as the work pro- 

 ceeds. The ground should be well 

 drained. 



" I have planted at all seasons. A 

 good time is in August, or as early as 



may be summed up thus : — The plants j good strong plants can be had. My 

 are kept in the airy situation when in i practice is to select the stout knotty 

 blossom ; and in the warm and moist runners, and to lay them in pots, as 

 situation, even to 100 degs., when the for pot culture. Another good way is 

 fruit is swelling and colouring ; they ' to lay them around the old plants, first 

 are again subjected, or removed to a loosening the old surface soil, and 

 cooler, yet mild atmosphere, and, if adding some newly prepared soil, but 

 possible, to were a soft warm air will ' avoid making ' a hole,' as recom- 

 play among the foliage, when ripe and I mended by some ; steady the layers by 

 ripening." i pegs, or slightly thrust them in the 



For pot culture, a soil consisting of j soil, but do not plant layers deep, 

 three-fourths turf and loam, one- These will lift with good balls. Once 

 fourth decayed night soil, three years [ watering, at planting time, will suffice, 

 old, with a little sand and leaf-mould j unless the weather is very dry, when 

 is recommended ; rather heavy soil for l the operation may be repeated. The 

 the late sorts and late forcing, and great aim should be to have the plants 

 lighter soil for the early sorts and early ] thoroughly established before winter, 



