46 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [JAN. 



strong and well-ripened canes, it becomes necessary that the shoots 

 should have every advantage afforded them. This may readily be 

 effected by causing all the former year's canes to be cut down to the 

 ground as soon as they have produced their crop, instead of allowing 

 them to stand till the winter or spring; this removes an unnecessary 

 incumbrance, and, at a season when sun and air are of infinite im- 

 portance to the young canes, and, consequently, to the succeeding 

 crop. 



In autumn, or the early part of winter, the young canes should be 

 shortened to about four-fifths of their original height, or to the place 

 where the growth of the upper part of the shoot forms a sort of bend- 

 ing or twisting. They may then be either tied to stakes or arched, 

 by tying their tips to those of the adjoining plant. When a late 

 succession of fruit is desired, some plants may have all their shoots 

 cut back to within a few inches of the ground. 



FORCING EARLY STRAWBERRIES. 



Now is a proper time, about the latter end of this month, to begin 

 to make a hot-bed to raise a few early strawberries; those which are 

 planted now in a hot-bed will produce fruit fit to gather in March or 

 April. 



About the middle or end of this month, provide for that purpose 

 as much new horse-dung as will make a hot-bed about four feet high, 

 for one or more three-light frames. 



Let the dung be thrown in a heap, and let it lie about eight or 

 ten days : in that time it will be in good condition to make the hot- 

 bed. 



But in this business, a tan-bark hot-bed, made in a bark-pit, de- 

 fended with a proper frame and glasses, would generally be more 

 successful in fruiting these plants early. 



But, previous to this, there should be a proper quantity of straw- 

 berry-plants potted, ready to place on the said hot-bed, as directed in 

 September. 



Having, however, prepared the dung for the hot-bed, make it for 

 one or more frames, about three feet high, and directly set on the 

 frame and lights, to protect it from wet, and draw up the heat sooner j 

 and when the violent heat is over, lay therein either some dry light 

 earth, or some waste tanner's bark of a decayed bark-bed, four or five 

 inches thick ; then bring in the plants and plunge the pots into the 

 earth or tan, up to the rims, and close together as can be, filling up 

 also all the interstices between with earth, &c. 



When all the pots are plunged, put on the glasses, and keep them 

 close till the steam arises in the bed, when it will be necessary to 

 raise them a little behind, to let the steam pass off. 



When the plants begin to push, let them have air at all opportu- 

 nities, when the weather is favorable; for if kept too close, they will 

 draw up weak, and not blossom well, and the blossoms would drop 

 off, without being succeeded by fruit : you should frequently refresh 

 them with a little water, and cover the glasses every night with 

 mats, and support the heat of the bed by linings of hot dung. 



