Jan.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



595 



heat by means of flues built upon the surface of the border 

 within the fi*ame, the border should be covered with rotten 

 dung two or three inches thick, and be carefully supplied witth 

 water, to keep it in a proper state of moisture ; and the border 

 in front of the glass-case should also be covered with rotten 

 dung, and occasionally watered, but this watering of the ex- 

 ternal border will depend upon the state of the weather : care 

 must be taken not to be too profuse of water until the fruit be 

 fairly set, as it is apt to drop ; indeed, we are never sure of a 

 crop of cherries until the stones are formed in the fruit. If a 

 case, such as this, be placed over a space of wall occupied with 

 plums, and another over a space occupied with apricots, and 

 another of figs, we may expect, under ordinary good manage- 

 ment, a plentiful crop of all these delicate fruits at an early 

 season, and at much less expense, than by any other means 

 whatsoever. The same trees may or may not be forced the 

 succeeding year ; if they be allowed a year to rest, their future 

 crops will be benefited ; but if forced every year will become 

 habituated to the change of season as it were, and will, under 

 ordinary good management, continue fit for forcing for several 

 years. Since the beneficial effects of heating by hot water, 

 as recommended by W. Atkinson, Esq., have been acknow- 

 ledged, portable structures may be readily heated, by a com- 

 plete set of portable hot-water apparatus, which may be re- 

 moved annually at no great expense, and applied to heat that 

 part of the wall intended to be forced ; and for forcing cherries 

 we would say, that it is the best mode of heating that can be 

 applied, from its giving out its heat more gradually, and the 

 almost impossibility of over-heating the air of the structure. 



The following remarks are from the practice of Mr. Flintel- 

 mann, gardener to the King of Prussia, upon forcing cherries. 

 The Double May is the sort chosen, and is grafted upon the 

 common wild-cherry of the woods. They are planted in good 

 garden-mould, with a mixture of vegetable mould, and are 

 one year establishing previous to being forced. During this 

 time they are placed in a sheltered situation, and fully exposed 

 to the sun; during winter their roots arc protected from frosts 

 by being covered with litter. 



