FORCING DEPARTMENT. 301 



out their foliage being* broke or injured with the 

 glass. The pots must not be plunged at this time, 

 but only set on the top of the bed, before Spring, 

 when the violent heating will have subsided. 

 They should be arranged from 20 to 24 inches apart, 

 observing to place always the tallest plants at the 

 back of the pit, and the lower ones next to the 

 front. 



During the Winter months, the temperature in the 

 house is regulated from 65 to 70 degrees by fire 

 heat, and allowed to vary from 75 to 80 degrees with 

 sun heat, but admitting a free circulation of fresh 

 air at all favourable opportunities, although it be 

 only for a very short time, in severe frosty weather. 



The plants will require little or no water from 

 November to February, while they are in an inactive 

 state ; yet they should be occasionally examined ; 

 and such as appear to be getting dry, have a little 

 aired water supplied to their roots. 



By the month of February, the heat and bed will 

 both have subsided ; the pots are, therefore, at this 

 period, placed level, and the spaces betwixt them filled 

 up with fresh leaves, when the bed will retain its heat 

 sufficient for the maturity of the fruit. A few of the 

 lower leaves are stripped off the plants in February, 

 and the pots re-surfaced with fresh soil, as an in- 

 ducement for the production of young roots from 

 that part of the stem whence the leaves were di- 

 vested, which will greatly nourish and accelerate 

 the growth and maturity of the fruit. Should any 

 of the plants appear loose, or in too small pots, they 

 should be shifted into others at this time. In 



