JAN.] STRAWBERRIES. 329 



desirable till next month, or ratiier till about the 

 first of March. 



Of forcing Strawberries. 



Strawberries are brought to early perfection in 

 different forcing compartments, such as the pinery, 

 grape-house, or peach-house. I think the climate 

 of the cherry-house, however, more suitable to the 

 nature of strawberries. They will also do very well 

 in a hfTt-bed ; but perhaps the best method is to 

 force them, if by themselves, in fined pits, such as 

 that for nursing pine-apple plants, described at 

 page 277. In such a compartment, the pots could 

 be plunged in a mild bark heat, and by aid of the 

 flues, the temperature being kept at 50, and about 

 55 or 60 in sunshine, the plants would thrive, 

 and the fruit set freely *. 



But in whatever way strawberries are forced, they 

 should have air freely admitted to them in good 

 weather, and be plentifully supplied with water at 

 all times, until the fruit begin to ripen off; which 

 should then be very much withheld, lest the flavour 

 be rendered insipid. If forced in a stove, grape- 

 house, or the like, they should be placed on shelves, 

 near to the glass, as, if placed at a great distance 

 from it, the foliage would be much drawn up, and 

 the fruit would be apt to drop off in setting. 



Those who force strawberries to a considerable 

 extent, perhaps a thousand pots, bring them in, in 



* When the season of forcing strawberries is past, the pit 

 could be occupied in producing a late crop of melons. 



