•354 FORCING GARDEN. 



ing, and comme.ndable ambition to enterprising and 

 wealthy horticulturists. 



The Cherry-House, in its general arrangements, re- 

 semblesthe peach-house, with the exception of the front 

 trellis, .the place of which is commonly occupied by a 

 stage for pots of early strawberries or kidney-beans. 

 The cherry-trees are trained against the, back wall; the 

 house should therofore be narrow, 'and the roof steep. 

 The operation of forcing generally <jommences early in 

 January, with a very , moderate temperature. Air is 

 admitted freely till the flowers begin to expand, when . 

 great caution becomes necessary. When the fruit is 

 setting, the temperature is kept as steadily as possible 

 at 50°; after ^t is set, abundance of water is applied to 

 the roots and foliage of the trees. When the fruit is 

 coloring, water is almost entirely withheld, and air 

 freely admitted. During the whole process of forcing 

 cherries, any excessive he"at from the sun's rarys fnust 

 be carefully guarded against by shading or by admit- 

 ting of air. The kind of cherry usually -preferred "for 

 forcing in the common May-duke. A cherry-house 

 ought to f(3rm a part of every large garden establish- 

 ment; for nothing more signally distinguishes the tables 

 of the opulent, in March and April, than ripe cherries 

 appearing along with strawberries in the dessert at that 

 season of the year. 



The Fig-House scarcely differs in form and manage- 

 ment from the Cherry-house, the trees being trained to 

 a back trellis, with the addition, however, of dwarf 

 standard trees in front. The second crop is often the 

 most productive^ In 1810, we are told the royal tables 



