Vi 
FORCING 
HIS is a process by which hardy plants are brought 
into flower by means of artificial heat and moisture 
in a close green-house or other place, during the 
winter months. Hardy perennial plants and shrubs 
4| are very suitable for this purpose, even some of 
our native wild flowers make admirable subjects. ‘The way 
to proceed is simplicity itself. The plants should be taken 
up with as good roots as possible; the clump must be care- 
fully reduced and potted firmly in as small pots as possible. 
They should then be thoroughly watered and placed in a shady 
frame, and covered with soil or leaves until rooted. Some 
species, in fact most hardy ones, must be allowed to freeze 
before forcing. After this they should be introduced for a 
few days into brisk heat, when they can be grown naturally 
until flowering. Where there is a greenhouse or pit, forcing 
can be done admirably without any extra outlay. If it be — 
desired to grow a few hardy plants for winter bloom where 
there is no such convenience, the problem is more difficult, and 
should not be attempted on any large scale. Hardy Ferns, 
however, taken from the wood need no special care in forcing, 
and can simply be grown in an ordinary window. So also 
plants that naturally bloom during the winter months or in 
very early spring, as the Christmas Rose, the Eranthis, and 
