Methods of Forcing Peaches in Denmark. 321 



health and vigour better and longer when forced by means 

 of dung instead of fire, if proper soil and management are 

 applied, and their produce has, in my opinion, a finer flavour. 

 I have had trees standing in houses of the construction above 

 described more than twenty-five years, alternately forced, that 

 is, one year they were forced early, and the next year late. 

 I have several divisions to enable me to make this change. 

 Forcing-houses of large dimensions, such as they have in 

 England, are rare in Denmark ; they do not suit the climate 

 so well, because it is difficult to cover them in the winter. 



The earliest period at which we commence forcing our 

 Peach-houses is the latter end of December, or the beginning 

 of January, according to the weather ; fresh horse-dung, for the 

 purpose, is thrown up in a heap for some days, to heat, before 

 it is carried into the house and laid into the pit, which should 

 be filled to the top ; this is done, if possible, in a fine day ; 

 the lights are then put on, and much air, night and day, ad- 

 mitted, so that the steam may pass out of the house ; in 

 six or eight days, when the dung has sunk, the vacant space 

 is filled up with tan, which, after a short period, is stirred and 

 loosened for the purpose of inserting pots of Strawberries, 

 French Beans, or other plants. The steam being then 

 nearly exhausted, the house may be closed at night, and the 

 lights covered with a single reed mat, and then, keep up to 

 between eight and ten degrees of Reaumur,* (52° and 54° of 

 Fahrenheit,) in the night but not higher ; in a bright day 

 or during a thaw a little air is admitted until the red point 

 on the blossom bud is perceived : less air is then given, and 

 the night covering is increased. As the winters are often 

 * Reaumur's scale is always used in Denmark. 



