^o The Fruit Garden. [Jan*. 



continued every night. See the Fruit Garden for next 

 month. 



"Forcing early StrawLcrries, 



Now is a proper time, about the latter end of this month, 

 to begin to make a hot-bed to raife a few early flrawber- 

 ries ; thofe which are planted now in a hot- bed will pro- 

 duce fruit fit to gather in March and April. 



About the middle or end of this month, provide for that 

 purpofe as much new horfe-dung as will make a hot-bed 

 about a yard high, for one or more three-light frames. 



Let the dung be thrown in a heap, and let it He about 

 eight or ten days ; in that time it will be in good condition 

 to make the hot-bed. 



But previous to this, there Ihould be a proper quantity 

 of ft rawberry- plants potted, ready to place on the faid hot- 

 bed ; and if this was done in autumn before, in September 

 or October, &c. it will be of particular advantage : the 

 alpine and fcarlet kinds are the bell: forts for this purpofe, 

 and fnould be plants of two years old, of a full bearing 

 ftate. The method is this : provide as many pots, then^ 

 as the frame intended for your bed will conveniently con- 

 tain, when fet clofe together; at the fame time get fome 

 jtVefli and good earth; if it is loamy, it will be the better ; 

 and let it be well broken with the fpade. Having brought 

 the ])Ots and the earth near to the place where the plants 

 are growing, put fome of the earth into each pot, to the 

 thicknefs of three or four inches ; then take up the plants 

 with a ball of earth to their roots, pare the ball neatly 

 rouad with a knite, and clear the plant from all withered 

 «r rotten leaves, and from every thing that appears difa- 

 grceable ; then place it in the por, and fill the fpace be- 

 tween the ball and the fides of the pot, with the above earth, 

 and cover the furface of the ball with the fiime. Let 

 them be" watered as foon as you have finifiied planting, and 

 remove the pots to a warm fituation, there to remain till 

 the bed is ready to receive them : but if the weather {hould 

 prove bad before the hot-bed is ready, let the plants be pro- 

 tefted by covering them, or rerhoving them into fome (hel- 

 tered place. 



Having, however, prepared the dung for the hot-bed, 

 make it for one or more frames, about three feet high, and 

 direClly fet on the frame and lights, to proteft it from wet, 

 and draw up the heal fooner; and v/ lien the vk>lcnt heat is 



over, 



