396 



Dutch Maimer of Forcings 



November the baskets are filled with roots, which protrude 

 several inches "on every side. The layer is now cut off, and 

 the plant and basket with all its roots removed, and planted 

 where it is finally to remain without taking off the basket. 

 Plants so obtained will bear an excellent crop the first year, 

 and unless the blossoms have been pinched off will have borne 

 several bunches as a layer, so that no fruit has been lost, and 

 plants such as could not be purchased obtained. Mr. Nieman 

 was at this time removing some plants so produced ; and we 

 must confess, the quantity and vigour of their roots far sur- 

 passed any thing we had ever seen. When young plants are 

 not wanted, the stock trees are trained to bear fruit in the 

 usual manner, and the fruit is generally ripened by placing 

 sashes against the wall, by protecting with reed mats at night, 

 or by bringing down the branches, and training them under 

 the glass of a common hot-bed frame. 



Raspberries. — The Red Antwerp is found more suitable for 

 forcing than the White, the fruit of the latter being tender, 

 and apt to -break in handling. A very good plan is, to have 

 a narrow pit on purpose for raspberries ; to plant the first 

 division in January, which will produce ripe fruit in the first 

 week of April, and the rest in succession. No paper frames 

 are required, and no water is given but once after planting. 



Cherries are not forced at Hylands, but there is a cherry 

 garden, of about a quarter of an acre, which deserves notice. 

 The form is nearly a parallelogram {Jig. 146.), about twice as 

 long as it is broad ; it is surrounded 

 by a wire fence 1 ft. high, the tex- 

 ture being such as will exclude small 

 birds; that is, each mesh is c 2 in. 

 high by 1 in. broad. The trees are 

 standards, planted in the angles of 

 squares, and their branches are kept 

 in a horizontal position by being tied 

 down to stakes. A gravel walk enters 

 at one end, passes up the middle, and 

 goes out at the other end. Perhaps 

 a* winding walk [a, a, a) would have a 

 better effect. In the intervals among 

 the trees are planted gooseberries, 

 currants, raspberries, and strawber- 

 ries, of different sorts. The cherries 

 are of various kinds, but chiefly May- 

 Dukes, White Hearts, and the Black 

 Circassian. At regular distances all through the area of this 



146 



