424 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



they are removed, to make room for the last succes- 

 sion. In the centre of the Cherry House here, is 

 a pit about four feet deep, which is filled with tree 

 leaves, for the plunging of the pots amongst ; but 

 there is very little bottom heat admitted to the roots 

 of the trees. 



The temperature of the house is afterwards kept 

 very low, to correspond as nearly with the exter- 

 nal atmosphere as possible, in order to strengthen 

 the flower buds; but when they begin to expand, it 

 is necessary to increase the temperature, so as to 

 prevent their receiving any check from a too sudden 

 transition of cold to heat, when the weather is so 

 changeable in the early part of the season. When 

 the fire is first lighted, the thermometer is regulated 

 in the evenings to about 45 degrees, and not allowed 

 to exceed 55 degrees in the day, for the first fort- 

 night, allowing a large portion of air at all favourable 

 opportunities, and keeping the trees well syringed 

 with water, until their blossom is expanding, when 

 the syringe is dispensed with, and the atmosphere of 

 the house kept in a humid state, by pouring water 

 on the hot-water pipes and foot-paths. From the 

 time the flower bud begins to expand, the tempera- 

 ture is gradually increased, until it is raised to 60 

 degrees in the evenings, and about 65 degrees 

 throughout the day, at which heat the house is 

 continued till the setting of the fruit is over, when it 

 is increased to from 60 to 65 degrees ; but, by this 

 time, the external state of the air will correspond, 

 in some measure, more nearly with the atmosphere of 



