CHERRY FORCING IN BRITISH GARDENS. 483 



The culture of the nectarine varies in no degree from that of the 

 peach, and it may be grown with equal ease and success either in the 

 peach-house or the or chard -ho use, or in pots in any other glass-house 

 or large pit. 



Succession Crops. Where peach-forcing begins in December, a 

 second house ought to be started in February, and a third in March, 

 to keep up the supply of peaches, until those grown on the walls come 

 in. Where there is only one house, it will be best not to start it till 

 the middle of January, or there will be a long season in summer or 

 early autumn without fruit. Besides, the later the forcing begins the 

 greater the probability of complete success. By planting early and 

 late sorts, peaches may, however, be gathered from one house for six 

 weeks or two months. 



Culture of the Cherry under Glass. 



The cherry in its wild state being indigenous to Britain, and as a 

 cultivated fruit brought to as high a degree of perfection in our climate 

 as in any other, very little requires to be said on the subject of natural 

 data for culture. The cherry is cultivated in Italy and the fruit attains 

 a large size, but in point of flavour it is inferior to the fruit of the same 

 varieties grown in England or in central Germany. The cherry is forced 

 in all the northern countries of Europe, and as it matures fruit in the 

 open air in three months from the time of blossoming, it is ripened 

 earlier in forcing-houses than the fruit of any other tree. The tempe- 

 rature and moisture to be imitated are those of April, May, and June. 

 The general practice in British gardens is to begin at 40, and through- 

 out the first week to let the minimum be 40, and the maximum 45, 

 giving plenty of air. By gradual advances in the second, third, and 

 fourth weeks, raise the heat to 45 min. 50 max. In strong sun- 

 shine, admit air freely, rather than have the temperature above 60 

 by confining the warm air. In the fifth and sixth weeks, the artificial 

 minimum may be gradually extended to 50, but the maximum should 

 be limited to 55 from fire-heat, and to 60 from sun-heat, until the 

 plants are in flower. It is safest not to exceed these temperatures, 

 though five degrees more may be allowed in the finishing stage, say 

 60 minimum and 65 maximum. 



The practice of forcing cherries has now become general, and is 

 carried to a high degree of perfection in many gardens. 



The practice of Cherry Forcing in British Gardens, 



When cherries are required at the earliest period at which they can 

 be produced in a forcing-house, which is about the middle of March, 

 it is desirable to have a stock of plants in pots ; because the entire 

 plant being under the command of the forcer, can be excited much 

 more effectually than if its roots were in the cold soil, and only its 

 head exposed to the action of the warmth of the house. 



The cherry -house may be thirty feet long, fourteen feet wide, twelve 



i i 2 



