38 On forcing Cherries. 



The art of forcing cherries is, however, carried on with great 

 spirit in the Royal Gardens at Kew, and at Hampton Court; 

 and, as I was some time under Mr. Padley, at the latter place, I 

 propose to lay before your readers some account of his practice. 



Forced cherries can be produced at an earlier season than 

 any other stone fruit, and also in a shorter time. The very 

 earliest crops forced at Hampton Court were ripened within 

 three months from the time of commencing fires in the early 

 houses ; and the latest successional crop was generally ripened 

 in eight weeks from the time of applying artificial heat to the 

 late houses. When a regular supply of this fruit is required 

 for the earliest period at which it can be ripened in a forcing- 

 house (which is about the middle of March), till it ripens on 

 the open walls, it is necessary either to have four forcing-houses, 

 or to have two houses and a large stock of plants in pots. The 

 trees in pots answer much better for early forcing, than those 

 planted in the ground ; because the entire plant is then under 

 the command of the forcer, and it can be excited into vegetation 

 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. It is almost needless to observe, that strawberries and 

 other articles may be forced in the same house as cherries. 



Construction of the Houses. — These may be 30 ft. long, 14 ft. 

 wide, 12 ft. high at the back, and 7 ft. high in front. The ends 

 should be of glass, and both ends and front should be placed on 

 brick walls 2 ft. high, supported by arches. The front sashes 

 may either be hung on hinges at the tops, or at the sides, to 

 open outwards ; or they may be made to slide in grooves. The 

 roof sashes should be in two lengths : the lower one to pull up, 

 and the upper one to let down. As cherries require a great 

 deal of air, and this often during wet weather, above the upper 

 sashes there should be a projecting flashing of lead, to exclude 

 the rain when the sashes are let down an inch or two. The 

 houses at Hampton Court, when I was there, were heated by 

 smoke flues ; but the new system of heating by hot water is, 

 without doubt, a preferable mode. 



Kinds of Cherries for forcing, potting Plants, SjX. — The May 

 duke is decidedly the best cherry for forcing. The morello 

 forces well, but requires more time to bring it to maturity ; and, 

 though it looks well in the dessert, is not so agreeable to eat. 

 The plants for potting should have been three or four years 

 grafted, and should be such as are well furnished with blossom 

 buds. The soil used in potting may be loam, such as that in 

 which melons are grown ; to which one fifth part of thoroughly 

 rotten dung may be added. Trees will do very well for forcing 

 that have been forced before, provided they have been properly 

 taken care of, and are well furnished with buds. The season for 



