FORCING STRAWBERRIES. 297 



FORCING STRAWBERRIES IN HOT- BEDS, WITH 

 USEFUL REMARKS. 



Par. 65. In the absence of the convenience 

 of hot-houses for producing early strawberries 

 they may be forced by hotbeds under frames 

 and lights, and they will come to tolerable per- 

 fection about April; these hotbeds may be 

 made of stable dung, or of tanner's bark ; if 

 convenient to make them of the latter, they are 

 to be preferred, as the heat is more steady, 

 kind; and durable, and generally proves more 

 successful; but the bark hotbed must have a 

 bricked pit, or a case of post and planking, to 

 contain the bark in, otherwise its loose texture 

 will make it inconvenient to form it into a bed. 

 The beds should be about three feet deep, width 

 according to the size of the frames, and length 

 to what extent may be required. 



But a well constructed pit of brick- work, 

 about four feet deep in front, by five to six feet 

 behind, to admit of hot water pipes, or a flue 

 along the upper part at the back, or continued 

 all round above the top of the bark-bed, will 



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