Jan.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 35 



which are planted now in a hot-bed will produce fruit fit to gather 

 in March or April. 



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

 as much new horse-dung as will make a hot-bed about four feet 

 high, for one or more three-light frames. 



Let the dung be thrown in a heap, and let it lie about eight or 

 ten days: in that time it will be in good condition to make the 

 hot-bed. 



But in this business, a tan-bark hot-bed, made in a bark-pit, de- 

 fended with a proper frame and glasses, would generally be more 

 successful in fruiting these plants early. 



But, previous to this, there should be a proper quantity of straw- 

 berry-plants potted, ready to place on the said hot-bed, as directed 

 in September. 



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

 one or more frames, about three feet high, and directly set on the 

 frame and lights, to protect it from wet, and draw up the heat soon- 

 er; and when the violent heat is over, lay therein either some dry 

 light earth, or some waste tanner's bark of a decayed bark-bed, four 

 or five inches thick; then bring in the plants and plunge the pots 

 into the earth or tan, up to the rims, and close together as can be, 

 filling up also all the interstices between with earth, &c. 



When all the pots are plunged, put on the glasses, and keep 

 them close till the steam arises in the bed, when it will be necessary 

 to raise them a little behind, to let the steam pass oft". 



When the plants begin to push, let them have air at all opportu- 

 nities, when the weather is favourable; for if kept too close, they 

 will draw up weak, and not blossom well, and the blossoms would 

 drop off", without being succeeded by fruit: you should frequently 

 refresh them with a little water, and cover the glasses every night 

 with mats, and support the heat of the bed by linings of hot 

 dung. 



N. B. In forcing strawberries, the plants may be taken up out of 

 the natural ground with balls of earth, if not prevented by too hard 

 a frost, and placed immediately in the earth of the hot-bed without 

 potting them. However, when it is intended to force strawberries, 

 either in a common hot-bed, or in a hot-house, it would be the 

 best method to plant some bearing plants in pots, in September or 

 October, and so place the pots close together in a garden frame, 

 till the time they are to be placed in the hot-bed. 



But where there is the convenience of a pine-apple stove, or any 

 kind of fruit forcing-house or hot- wall, &c, may raise plenty of 

 early strawberries in great perfection, with but very little trouble: 

 having some bearing plants ready in pots, place them in the hot- 

 house, any where near the glasses, giving frequent light waterings; 

 they will fruit early in great abundance. 



Forcing Frames. 



The great convenience of forcing-frames, either to force fruits 

 or flowers into early perfection, or to preserve during winter, 



