54 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [JAN. 



forcing time is nearly arrived ; or may occasionally have trained bear- 

 ing trees of small sizes in pots, which is the best for this speciality, 

 if they have been in good growth for one season at least, and so re- 

 moved in their said pots into the frame at the proper season as above. 



In both the above kinds of forcing-frames, you msfy also plant some 

 grape-vines on the inside of the front glasses in the full ground, and 

 conduct the shoots along up towards the glass-work to a sort of slight 

 trellis, keeping the branches quite thin; and they will ripen early 

 fruit in great perfection. 



The season for beginning to make the fires for forcing the trees in 

 either of the above described fire-heat frames, is any time in Janu- 

 ary, though about the middle or towards the latter end of that month, 

 or beginning of February, is, for the general part, rather the most 

 successful time to begin the general forcing to have a good crop ; for 

 if the trees are forced very early, there will be some danger of their 

 miscarrying ; as, if they should come into blossom when severe wea- 

 ther prevails, that air cannot be freely admitted at intervals, they 

 seldom set any tolerable crop of fruit ; more particularly, cherries, 

 peaches, nectarines and apricots ; therefore, by beginning to make the 

 fires about the time above directed, the trees will be in blossom about 

 the middle o{ February, when we may expect some fine sunny days 

 for the admission of a moderate portion of fresh air, which is essen- 

 tially necessary to promote the natural impregnation of the fruit, and 

 improve its free growth ; for if kept too close they are apt to drop off 

 in their infant state. 



The fires are to be lighted in the furnace every afternoon about four 

 or five o'clock, and if kept burning till ten or twelve, it will sufficiently 

 heat the flues to warm the internal air of the house till next morn- 

 ing, when, if very cold, frosty, or cloudy damp weather, a moderate 

 fire may also be made occasionally ; and by no means force the trees 

 too much, for a moderate warmth will prove the most successful;* 

 and thus continue the fires occasionally till towards the latter end of 

 April, but less in proportion as the weather grows warmer. 



Fresh air must be occasionally admitted in fine days, by sliding 

 some of the glasses a little open, and, as the trees advance to blos- 

 som and fruit, the days grow longer, and the power of the sun greater, 

 allow a greater proportion of air accordingly. Likewise give fre- 

 quent waterings to the borders. 



Thus your trees will be in full blossom in February, and some will 

 ripen fruit in April, particularly cherries and strawberries ; you may 

 also expect early apricots, peaches and nectarines, in May, and plums 

 and early grapes in June. 



After the fruits of the different sorts are all gathered, the glasses 

 should be taken entirely away, that the trees may have the full air 

 during summer ; and in December they should be placed upon the 

 frame again ready for forcing in January. 



* In forwarding all stone fruit the thermometer ought to range from 45O 

 to 500 at night, and 6(P to 7(P in the day while in, and for a short time 

 after the blossoms are expanded. Grapes will be the better with an 

 average of 10 higher. 



