SORTS PROPER FOR FORCING. 221 



season, it would take seven years to bring it 

 into a proper state of bearing again ; and although 

 I may not go the whole length of that assertion, 

 this much I can add, that the knife is the life 

 and spirit of fruit trees, when well handled, but 

 their greatest enemy, in the hands of one not 

 capable of using it properly. 



Whether in a general forcing house or in 

 different forcing houses, either constructed on the 

 same plan or otherwise, the sorts of fruit trees 

 chiefly selected for forcing, consists of peaches, 

 nectarines, apricots, cherries, plums, figs, and 

 grapes. 



Although I would wish to refer generally to 

 the explanatory lists in the Fruit Grower's In- 

 structor for more full particulars, yet I think it 

 will not be out of place here to name some of the 

 best sorts for forcing, such as I would choose 

 myself. I should therefore select them thus, 

 according to the number required : take the sorts 

 as they stand on the lists. At the same time I 

 am not intending by this to prejudice any other 

 valuable and esteemed kinds, but only recom- 



