CHERRY TREK. 



205 



make it longer or shorter. Never begin 

 forcing before the last week in December, 

 or first in January, and let the sashes be 

 placed over the trees for two or three weeks 

 before firing is commenced. This is always 

 necessary, that the trees be not subjected to 

 too sudden a transition from cold to heat, 

 which would injure the bloom buds. Nature 

 works gradually, and it is the perfection of art 

 to assist, and not to thwart her operations. 

 When fire heat is introduced, let it be so 

 regulated that the thermometer be kept du- 

 ring the night to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, allow- 

 ing a few degrees more in the day time. 

 This heat must be kept for two or three 

 weeks; it must then be raised to 46 degrees. 

 In a fortnight afterwards the trees will gene- 

 rally be in bloom, when the heat must be 

 kept very regular at 52 degrees. After the 

 fruit is set, let the heat be raised to 55 degrees, 

 and when it is stoned, raise it to 62 degrees, 

 at which it must afterwards be kept; allow- 

 ing four or five degrees more for sun heat 

 than fire heat. In raising the heat five or 

 six degrees in a fortnight, as directed, always 

 let it be done gradually, by a degree in two 

 or three days; only take care that it reaches 

 to that degree mentioned in the time pre- 

 scribed. During every stage of forcing the 

 tree, admit plenty of air at every possible 

 opportunity; but when the blossoms are ex- 

 panded, be careful that a frost air does not 



