268 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



house, for, if desired, two crops can easily be raised in 

 succession. The first plants should be placed in the 

 forcing-house about November loth. These will produce 

 ripe fruit by January or February. Plants put in in 

 February will be ready by March or April. Of course p 

 it will be necessary to keep the reserve plants of Straw< 

 berries in a dormant state, which is best done in cold 

 frames or pits, or even in a light or cold cellar, the pots 

 being plunged up to the rims in dry leaves. 



Tho best rule to follow in forcing any plant is to keep 

 as near as possible to its natural condition. "We know 

 that, as the Strawberry plant develops its leaves and 

 flowers throughout May in this latitude in the open 

 ground, the night temperature will average, perhaps, 

 forty degrees for the first two weeks in May and fifty 

 degrees for the last weeks, while for the first two weeks 

 in June it will be about sixty degrees at night, and in all 

 cases from ten to fifteen degrees higher in the day. This, 

 then, is our rule for the forcing houses : Start slowly, 

 increasing the temperature as the plant develops and 

 ripens its fruit, just as Nature does in the field. 



Like Cucumbers, artificial impregnation is necessary 

 for the Strawberry in the dull winter months. This is 

 best done by using a camel's hair pencil, twirling it from 

 one flower to another (particularly from the perfect to 

 the pistillate flowers, if such varieties are forced) on clear 

 days, and allowing all possible ventilation. Sometimes 

 hives of bees are kept in Strawberry and Cucumber 

 forcing houses, to assist in the impregnation. 



Seme judgment is necessary in watering until there are 

 indications of vigorous growth. Water at the roots spar- 

 ingly; but, at the same time, do not allow the soil to get 

 too dry, and be careful not to water the plants overhead 

 when in bloom, as that will check the impregnation. 

 When the fruit has " set," give water freely whenever 

 necessary, and throughout the whole season of growth 



