WINTER FORCING 105 
1. Firmer and larger crowns will be de- 
veloped. 
2. The pot will not be broken when the 
freezing weather comes. 
In the first case, this drying off represents 
the dry fall season and causes the plant to 
store up material in the crowns for future 
use. The plants are then in the right condi- 
tion for the subsequent forcing. 
Freezing of the soil in the pot when there 
is considerable moisture in it causes pressure 
on the side of the pot and finally breaks it. 
This, of course, is a needless expense and 
should not occur. It seems best for the 
future forcing that this freezing should take 
place, although it is not necessary. This 
freezing gives the plant the idea that the 
rest period has actually come, and it often 
results in better crops, both in quality and 
size of berries. 
The potted plants are taken from this 
frozen condition and placed in suitable stor- 
- age rooms where they may be taken out with 
the least inconvenience. 
Generally speaking, from the time the 
plants are brought into the greenhouse until 
fruiting, there is a lapse of eight to ten weeks, 
