POLLINATING THE FLOWERS. 8 1 



inside the house, injures the plants which are within a 

 few feet of it, and tends to make all plants within reach 

 of its rays run too quickly to seed. The use of a clear 

 glass globe, however, overcomes all injury. The best 

 results are to be obtained by placing the light either 

 naked or surrounded by a clear globe a few feet above 

 the roof. An ordinary 2, coo-candle-power arc light such 

 as is commonly used for street lighting will exert a 

 marked effect upon lettuce for a radius of 75 to 100 feet, 

 if the roof is clean and the framework of the house is 

 light. The light may be allowed to burn all night. In- 

 candescent lamps have the same influence as arc lights, 

 but to a less degree. It will be found profitable to use 

 the electric light for plant-growing, if at all, only in the 

 three or four months of midwinter. 



POLLINATION. 



It is generally necessary to transfer the pollen by nand 

 in fruit-bearing forced vegetables. The methods are fully 

 explained under the discussions of the various vegetables. 

 In order to secure the pollen, the house should be dry 

 and warm. Upon a bright morning, when the flowers need 

 pollinating, the gardener should withhold water and let 

 the foliage and walks become thoroughly dried off, and 

 before midday the pollen will usually discharge readily. 



Bees may sometimes be utilized as pollen-carriers in 

 spring and fall, when they can forage in and out of the 

 house as they choose, but they are impracticable in the 

 winter time in houses of ordinary size. In very large 

 houses, in which there is abundant room for the bees to 

 work, and where ventilators do not need to be opened so 

 much, bees may sometimes be used to advantage. Three 

 or four swarms should pollinate a house 40x400 ft. The 

 bees will have to be fed. In general, however, bees are 

 found to be unsatisfactory. The following account of an 



