JAN.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 49 



proper construction of a dung-heat forcing-frame, which you may im- 

 prove as you shall see convenient. 



This kind of frame may be used with good success where dung is 

 plenty, and easily obtained; particularly for forcing roses or any 

 other small flowering plants, whose flowers have merit in beauty or 

 fragrance ; you may also try pots of dwarf cherries, peaches, &c. ; 

 also pots of gooseberries, currants, and strawberries, carnations, pinks, 

 and the like; having all the sorts in pots separately, and in which 

 they are to be placed in the frame. 



The season to begin to work this frame is January and February, 

 and may be continued occasionally till May; but for any kind of 

 fruit-trees, the beginning of February is time enough, though those 

 plants of any kind that are designed to be forced may be placed in 

 the frame a month or two before forcing time, to be occasionally pro- 

 tected with the glasses in hard frosts; but at other times let them 

 enjoy the full air till you begin forcing. 



The method of working this frame is thus : after having placed 

 the pots of plants in regular order, the tallest behind, and the lowest 

 in front, &c., then put on the lights, and having sufficient quantity 

 of fresh stable-dung, full of heat, prepared as for common dung hot- 

 beds, let it be piled up close against the outside of the back and ends 

 a yard wide at bottom, drawing it gradually into a foot width at the 

 top of the frame, finishing it somewhat sloping, to throw off wet; 

 observing, that according as the dung settles or sinks down, a fresh 

 supply must be added at the top to maintain the lining to the full 

 height of the frame. 



The lining will effectually throw in a fine growing heat, and soon 

 set all the plants in motion; observing to give air in the middle of 

 fine days by sliding one or more of the lights a little down, especially 

 when the plants begin to push ; give also moderate watering occa- 

 sionally in mild sunny weather, and cover the glasses in cold nights 

 with mats. 



In three or four weeks, when the heat begins to decrease consider- 

 ably, it must be renewed, either by entire fresh dung, or if new 

 dung is scarce, by shaking up the old, taking the worst away, and 

 mix the remainder with a due quantity of new, working the whole 

 again in a pile close againsl the back and ends as before, which 

 work must be repeated every three weeks or month, or as often as 

 you shall see occasion, for the heat must be constantly preserved to 

 a regular brisk temperature. 



A frame of the above construction may be appropriated entirely 

 for fruit-trees, planting them in a border prepared within the frame 

 against the back part, and trained in the manner of wall-trees to a 

 trellis, ranged five or six inches from the back erection, in which 

 may be planted early dwarf cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, 

 grapes, figs, currants, &c., so may be worked by dung-heat against 

 the back of the frame as above directed; beginning in February, 

 and continuing the glasses on, as well as support the dung-heat until 

 May, and there is no doubt, with good management, but that the dif- 

 ferent sorts of fruit may be brought to perfection early. 



But a dung-heat forcing-frame may be constructed of more capa- 



