FORCING STRAWBERRIES IN THE PINERY. 295 



February, is a better time to bring in a plentiful 

 supply* as they generally prove much more suc- 

 cessful than those brought in earlier ; some may 

 be placed over the flues, (if heated by them,) 

 near the front and end glasses, on the front wall 

 of the bark-bed, or if room, some may be 

 plunged in the fore part of the bark-bed, which 

 will considerably assist in forwarding the fruit, 

 and also in any other convenient parts of the 

 house near the glass, and the different succes- 

 sions may be brought in at two or three weeks 

 interval, till the middle or end of April ; the 

 principal culture being, during the time they are 

 in the forcing-house, to give them frequent wa- 

 terings, not letting the earth get very dry, but 

 while in bloom apply the water to the earth only, 

 as watering over the blossom before the main 

 crop of fruit is set, may prove injurious to the 

 farina or pollen of the male, by which its fruc- 

 tifying properties may lose their proper effect in 

 impregnating the pistils of the female. 



As the plants put forth their runners, cut them 

 off, in order to throw strength into the bloom 

 and fruit, some of which may be expected to 



