On the Forcing of the Stratcberry. 49 



The plants are to be inserted in the pots with a dibble, in 

 the usual method of planting, one, two or three in a pot. 

 The number to be inserted depends on the time and streng-th 

 of the plants, the object being- to fill the pot with roots and a 

 good crown, before wintering- the plants ; therefore in early- 

 planting, one in the centre of the pot, is best for the 

 strong growing varieties, as Keen's seedling, Wilmot's su- 

 perb, and the like ; and two plants in a pot of the smaller 

 varieties, as the Early scarlet, Roseberry, and so on. In 

 late setting out, they may be put accordingly thick, as 

 two plants of the larger varieties, and three of the smaller 

 in a triangular manner. When they are thus planted, they 

 will require a good watering every evening, until their 

 roots begin to be well established, when they may have ev- 

 ery attention, to render them vigorous plants ; and in the 

 month of October, if one or two waterings of manure water 

 are applied, they will be greatly benefited, in the process of 

 forcing, by the soil in which they grow being of a richer 

 quality. 



Shading the plants is, by many, recommended, and in 

 many cases, perhaps, very judiciously, although I must pre- 

 caution the young forcer that it weakens the plants, and 

 therefore should be as much as possible evaded. 



Protecting the Plants in the Winter. When the winter com- 

 mences, the pots are to be taken from the beds, and protect- 

 ed in cold frames, pits, sheds, or the like, in such a manner 

 that they will not be too severely frozen, which will not only 

 break the pots, but also injure the plants. 



OPERATION OF FORCING THE STRAWBERRY. 



Before I proceed to detail the manner of forcing the straw- 

 berry, it will be proper to make a few cursory remarks on 

 the subject. The strawberry, in all cases of forcing, re- 

 quires to be placed near the glass, in its first stage particu- 

 larly. The process, at the first commencement, requires a 

 very moderate temperature. The plants, when in bloom, 

 need much water ; but care must be taken not to wet the 

 flowers. Shading is also requisite to the plants, when in 

 flower, from eleven to one o'clock of every sunny day. At 

 the time of swelling and ripening the fruit, air and heat are 

 also requisite, in order to forward and give it color and fla- 

 vor. In contradiction to the above remarks, if the straw- 

 berry is placed far from the glass, it will grow slender, and 

 throw up but few trusses of flowers, and those weak and 

 puny. Rapid forcing at the first commencement, will pro- 

 duce the same effect ; keeping the pots dry when the plants 

 are in flower, retards and destroys the blossoms from setting 

 their fruit ; and wetting the blossoms, in the act of watering 



VOL. II. NO. II. 7 



