THE FORCING GARDEN. 



.591 



But as figs, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, apricots, and 

 plums, may also be introduced into the same house, a portion 

 therefore only of the cherries may be taken in at once. They 

 should be regularly placed in rows upon the floor of the house, 

 which if formed of rich good loam, and forked up, so much the 

 better, to allow the roots to penetrate through the holes in the 

 bottom of the pots or tubs, which they most probably have 

 done already while plunged in the open air. If such be the 

 case, care must be taken in removing them, so as to injure 

 those roots as little as possible. They will strike root into the 

 floor of the house, and will derive a considerable share ot 

 nourishment therefrom. To facilitate this, the egress of the 

 roots, the bottoms of the tubs or pots should be perforated with 

 many holes, proportionably to their size, and in planting them 

 not over drained, preferring, instead of broken pieces of pots, 

 pieces of fresh turf, which will admit of a sufficient degree of 

 filtration, and at the same time not impede the roots in their 

 progress through the holes. Such as are intended to remain 

 for more than one season preparing in the tubs, should be 

 taken up any time before the beginning of the spring, subse- 

 quently to their pruning, and such roots as may have pene- 

 trated through into the natural soil cut carefully off'. This will 

 not injure the growth of the trees, but rather throw them into 

 a state of greater fruitfulness. When such a number of trees 

 as may be deemed sufficient are placed in the cherry-house, 

 draw a little of the mould of the floor of the house round 

 them, or plunge them less or more into the border, but not 

 too deep ; stir up the surface of the mould in the boxes or 

 pots, and if no roots appear near the surface, remove a portion 

 of it, and supply it with some rich light hazelly loam, and 

 mulch each tub or pot with an inch or two of rotten dung, 

 which should be frequently replaced. 



The number of trees to be kept in a state of preparation 

 should not be less than one hundred, and accordingly as any 

 number are removed into the house for forcing, let a like num- 

 ber be added to the stock, so as always to keep up a sufficient 

 supply. This number need not always be young trees ; many 

 of those which have been forced one season, will, it taken 

 out of the tubs or boxes and headed down, if in a weak 



