592 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



state, their roots dressed, and planted out in a quarter of rich 

 light hazelly loam, be, in the course of one year or two at 

 most, fit for re-potting; and others, when the forcing has 

 not been very early, will be in a good state to force for 

 two or more years successively ; but such as do not break 

 freely and show symptoms of vigor, should be thrown away. 

 The same rule which regards cherries, is also applicable to 

 apricots and plums. It is not worth while to keep gooseber- 

 ries, currants, and raspberries, after they have borne one crop 

 in the cherry- house ; they may be planted out in any part of 

 the garden where they may be wanted to fill up vacancies, or 

 thrown away altogether, as they are so readily propagated, 

 and while young, are much better suited for forcing, than when 

 old. In arranging the whole in the house, the cherries, plums, 

 and apricots require the most light and air, therefore that 

 point should be attended to in their arrangement. The rasp- 

 berries and currants will grow well in a little shade ; and the 

 gooseberries, from their dwarf habit, may occupy the front 

 line, and thus take up little space, and cause no shade. The 

 I'aspberries may be placed near the back of the house, between 

 the pots or tubs of the other trees, and the currants occupy 

 the middle, so as to be partially under the shade of the larger 

 trees, but not too much to endanger the setting of their fruit. 

 These trees are all to be understood as pruned before brought 

 into the forcing-house, upon the principles laid down for trees 

 in the open air. 



Supposing the house now to be in readiness for forcing about 

 the first of the month, proceed by making fires so moderate for 

 the first ten or twelve days, that the thermometer shall not 

 exceed 50°, and kept to that temperature throughout the day, 

 by admitting a plentiful supply of air ; after that time, increase 

 the temperature gradually to 55°, at which keep it, as near as 

 possible, during the remainder of the month. If there be 

 much sunshine, it may be now allowed to rise as high as 60° 

 or 65°, but upon no account allow^ it to pass that temperature. 

 Large portions of air should be admitted to bring on vegetation 

 regularly, on which depends, in a great measure, the success 

 of the crop. In forcing any of the fruits under consideration, 

 there is much less danger in having the temperature low than 



