238 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



STEA\VBEEEY-HOUSE. 



Having prepared strawberry-plants in pots for forcing, 

 the next chief consideration is a suitable place in which 

 to force them. The strawberry is in this respect, ex- 

 cept in comparatively few garden establishments, left 

 unprovided for in any special way, and many thousand 

 plants are forced without what may be termed a straw- 

 berry-house. Indeed it is a subject so accommodating 

 that it can be forced in the pit, the peach-house, the 

 vinery, and the pinery, or by the aid of all these com- 

 bined. At the same time, where there are many to be 

 fruited annually, a house entirely devoted to themselves 

 is not only better for them, but for the other plants and 

 fruits with which they have so frequently to be accom- 

 modated in the same structure. Moreover, a straw- 

 berrry-house can be so arranged as to answer perfectly 

 well for other things after the season of strawberry- 

 forcing is over. Fig. 21 is what I recommend as a very 

 suitable and efficient strawbeirry - house. The bed ■ 

 in front, supplied with bottom-heat, is an excellent 

 place for starting early strawberries. The back stage 

 is supposed to be movable, if it should be considered 

 necessary, so that, after the strawberry season is over, 

 cucumbers or melons may be grown in pots, and such 

 as tomatoes or young vines — in fact, many things can 

 be grown in the back bed after the removal of the 

 stage. In the early part of the season, the bed under 

 the stage is available for rhubarb and seakale if neces- 

 sary, or the whole house may be devoted to plant- 

 growing throughout the summer, and until required 

 again for strawberries. The command of such a house 

 for strawberries allows the gardener to give them the 



