West Londo7i Gardeners^ Associatioti. 39 



wall until they get sufficiently rooted ; when they are gradually exposed to the 

 influence of the sun, then plunged in sawdust, and abundantly supplied with 

 water, removing all I'unners and weeds as they appear ; to be covered with 

 straw or litter from frost. If convenient, the best way would be to take 

 them, at the approach of winter, under cover ; but, if not, they should be 

 placed on a north aspect about the end of September, keeping them rather 

 dry. A great advantage was derived from placing the pots on their sides, 

 which prevents the rain from entering, and the frost from injuriously affecting 

 them, as, when overcharged with moisture, the sap vessels are distended ; in 

 frosty weather, the sap is expanded, which brings on disease, and ultimately 

 the destruction of the plant. If fruit is wanted at Christmas, to commence in 

 October, unless they are forced in pits ; to commence at 43°, gradually raising 

 the temperature, when the plants are in blossom, to 63° and to 70° ; when 

 ripening the fruit, keeping the plants near the glass, admitting air at all favour- 

 able opportunities ; when the fruit is set, to be watered with the drainings of 

 a dunghill. His method for a general crop was, to take them into the vinery 

 when forcing was commenced. About the second or third week in November 

 they were placed on flagstones above the hot-water pipes in front of the 

 house, then regularly supplied with water, air admitted at all favourable 

 opportunities, decayed leaves removed, stirring up the surface mould with the 

 addition of fresh soil, and supporting every truss of fruit with a small stake ; 

 they were more exposed to the influence of the sun, by which aqueous is 

 changed into saccharine matter. A second and third crop were produced 

 from the same plants, which was attributable, in a great measure, to the ma- 

 nure placed at the bottom of the pots, and watering twice or thrice a week 

 with liquid manure. A second vinery was started about the end of January, 

 in which strawberry plants were placed and treated as the first ; a third was 

 started about the beginning of March. From the three houses fruit was ob- 

 tained from December until they could be procured out of doors. The sorts 

 were the Alpine, Roseberry, Wellington, and the greatest portion Keen's seed- 

 ling. The Alpines were first excited in a small hotbed, and taken into the 

 vinery, when they showed flower-buds. The opinion generally entertained, 

 that strawberry plants, French beans, and potatoes have a tendency to intro- 

 duce insects into the vinery, was never confirmed by his experience. For the 

 destruction of red spider, a good coat of quicklime and sulphur, of the con- 

 sistence of paint, brushed over the pipes or flues two or three times ; and green 

 fly destroyed by fumigations of tobacco. He recommended pans of water 

 to be used as feeders, to be regularly supplied until the fruit begins to 

 ripen ; to be then gradually withheld to produce fine-flavoured fruit. Air is 

 advantageous in all stages of their growth, but more particularly when in 

 flower, and during the time the fruit is setting ; for which purpose pits are 

 preferable to houses, as they can always get a more abundant supply. On 

 the great importance of light, heat, and air, he showed that heat was the 

 natural stimulus for setting the vegetative powers of plants in motion : heat 

 without light, in most instances, is injurious to vegetation ; it is when one is 

 proportioned to the other, that vegetation advances to the greatest maturity. 

 Between the tropics, where a high temperature exists, and with full exposure 

 to light, vegetation is almost continually going on, affected more or less by the 

 alternations of day and night, and plants flower and fruit twice a year. This 

 is owing to the temperature being suitable to vegetation ; and no sooner have 

 the plants performed their natural functions, than they, after a short cessation, 

 again commence producing as before. He then went into a physiological in- 

 vestigation, to prove that when a plant is exposed to the full influence of the 

 sun's rays, it gives out pure oxygen, and absorbs carbonic acid, which goes 

 through the process of decomposition in the plant, the carbon only being re- 

 tained. This operation cannot go on in darkness ; the plant then giving out 

 carbonic acid and nitrogen gases without oxygen will soon get into a diseased 

 state, and ultimately perish. To some persons the observations just made 

 may appear theoretical, but he believed that they were necessary to under- 



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