42 THE STRAWBERRY CULTURIST. 



W. Johnson) in referring to that subject in a work pub- 

 lished some forty years ago, very truly says that " no 

 plant is more certain of producing a good crop, when 

 forced, than is the Strawberry, if properly treated ; and 

 none will more assuredly disappoint the gardener's hope, 

 after a fair promise, if he adopts the too common error 

 of forcing too fast." The Strawberry naturally blooms 

 in the spring when the nights are cool and the day tem- 

 perature far lower than later in the season ; consequently, 

 a high temperature is neither required nor beneficial to 

 plants when first placed in the forcing house. Air 

 should be admitted freely during the night, and the tem- 

 perature kept low until the plants come into bloom, then 

 an increase of several degrees is admissible, but at no 

 time is a very high temperature required. 



The larger varieties, such as Sharpless, Miner's Pro- 

 lific, Seth Boyden, Cumberland Triumph, and American 

 Agriculturist, are all excellent sorts for forcing, espe- 

 cially when extra size berries are an object. 



In Europe forcing the Strawberry is practised more 

 extensively than in this country, but the demand for 

 this fruit out of its natural season is constantly increas- 

 ing, and will, no doubt, continue to increase for many 

 years to come. Twenty-five years ago the Strawberry 

 season in our large cities scarcely extended beyond a 

 period of six weeks, but now it is nearly six months, for 

 ripe Strawberries come North from the Gulf States before 

 the frost has left the ground in the Northern, and before 

 these two early berries reach us from the South, those 

 raised by forcing houses may be found in limited quan- 

 tities in our fruit stores. Of course, this early or forced 

 fruit commands a high price, but those who are able and 

 willing to pay for such luxuries should be, and are 

 usually, accommodated. 



