i8o THE FRUIT GARDEN 



thus packed closely ; they are quite safe, and may be left alone until required 

 for forcing. 



Preparing for Forcing. — The preparation for forcing the strawberry plant 

 will be altogether determined by the season at which ripe fruits are required. 

 To obtain these in the month of February necessitates much more work than 

 the production of fruit a month or two later. During the spring months the 

 plants make much quicker progress than is possible in the dull sunless days of 

 November and December, and their culture then is not such an expensive 

 matter as the very early forcing of strawberries. Most strawberries grown 

 under glass for market are not forced early, but just sufficiently so to ripen 

 them during the six or eight weeks immediately preceding the ripening of the 

 outdoor crop. This is evidently found to be the most profitable method. 

 Strawberries forced so as to be ripe in February and March command very high 

 prices, but the demand for them is strictly limited. Although such good prices 

 are not obtained later in the season, the quantities disposed of are so much 

 greater, and the cost of production so considerably less, that growers realise a better 

 profit upon their outlay. Exclusive of the high price of very early forced 

 strawberries, another reason of their limited consumption lies doubtless in the 

 fact that the flavour is not of the best. We speak now of fruits that are ripe 

 in February. The quality of forced strawberries depends greatly upon the late 

 winter and early spring. Cold and sunless weather will necessitate much 

 artificial heat, and fruits produced under such conditions are naturally deficient 

 in flavour. Given comparatively mild and sunny weather, however, straw- 

 berries in February and March should compare not unfavourably with those 

 grown out-of-doors and ripening in June. If ripe strawberries are required 

 in April, ^ey may be had by commencing to force the plants eight weeks 

 before, but if ripe fruits were wanted in February, it would be necessary to 

 commence forcing quite twelve weeks previously. Cold weather and the 

 absence of sun are, of course, responsible for the extra time involved. 



Very Early Forcing. — To have ripe strawberries towards the end of 

 February the plants must be taken under cover not later than the middle of 

 November, and the best method is to plunge them in a mild hot bed, preferably 

 composed of leaves and made up in a frame. A better place for the plants 

 during the first few weeks could not be wished for. The bed of leaves should 

 be made so high that the plants when plunged therein are within 6 or 8 inches 

 of the glass. The bottom heat will encourage root growth, and this is of 

 great advantage, for once the roots begin to make progress the leaf growth of 

 the plant will soon follow. For the first week or ten days the pit or frame 

 should be quite cold so far as the use of artificial heat is concerned ; afterwards, 

 until the plants come into flower, the temperature at night may be kept at 

 50 degs. Fahr. Do not open the lights to admit air during cold, damp, or foggy 

 weather, but only when the frame would become too hot by reason of sun heat 

 or exceptionally mild weather. Then admit just enough air (the lights need 

 only be pushed down an inch or two) to prevent the temperature rising too 

 quickly, and not with the object of lowering it. Close the frame early in the 

 afternoon, and syringe the plants at the same time. By so doing a moist 



