374 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



wide, for the formation of a bed of leaves, or any 

 other fermenting substances that will produce a mild 

 bottom heat, wherein the plants are plunged, and 

 from which their roots will make a rapid progress, 

 and derive much nourishment. 



It will be necessary to have a large stock of plants 

 of such kinds as are best adapted for early forcing, 

 for many of the sorts are liable to cast their first crop 

 when accelerated by artificial heat. It is, however, 

 considered by some Horticulturists, that cutting 

 off a portion of the roots round the ball of earth, will 

 prevent the Fig tree from losing its fruit ; this 

 mode of treatment I have frequently resorted to, but 

 could never observe any beneficial effects arising 

 from it, in practice, as many of the sorts will drop 

 their fruit when excited at an early period, treat them 

 as you will. As soon as the violent heating of the 

 bed has subsided, the pots should be plunged to the 

 rims, and regularly supplied with water at the roots, 

 as well as frequently syringed overhead. The tem- 

 perature of the house may be commenced with at 50 

 degrees, and gradually increased to 75 degrees by 

 the time the fruit is swelling off, which, if excited 

 early in January, will be beginning to swell and 

 ripen early in April, when a succession may be 

 continued to the latter end of the season, from the 

 same plants, by keeping them regularly supplied with 

 heat and moisture. Many of the sorts will succeed 

 well, if potted in large pots, and kept at the tempe- 

 rature of the Pine Stove, and placed in pans of 

 water, where they will have a regular supply of 

 moisture at their roots. There is a Fig tree in the 



