612 



TIIF PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



most natural for the strawberry, and in such a temperature 

 the crops will be more certain. They may be removed to 

 tlie pine-stove to ripen oti', and thereby be improved in flavor, 

 at the same time that they make way for a succession crop 

 being brought into the cherry or peach-house. They may be 

 also successfully forced in a flucd pit, or in a pit warmed by 

 external linings of dung, or dung and leaves, or they may be 

 grown well in common frames heated by the same means, only, 

 in this latter case, they are attended with more trouble. Where 

 they are to be extensively forced, a range of pits will be found 

 the most convenient and suitable place, as they can then Ix? 

 plunged into a mild bottom-heat, which, if not too warm, will 

 keep both an equality of temperature and moisture round their 

 roots, which is of the utmost consequence to all plants of 

 rapid growth in pots. In such compartments, a regular tem- 

 perature can be kept up, varying from 50° to 55°, and not to 

 exceed 60^ until the fruit be fully set ; after that, the tempera- 

 ture may be allowed to rise gi*adually to 65° and 70°. During 

 the growth of these plants, while in blossom, and while swelling 

 their fruit, an abundance of water should be given them, and 

 continued until swelled to their full size ; after which, it should 

 be gradually withheld, so as not to injure the flavor of the 

 fruit ; but this change of moisture, like that of temperature, 

 should not be suddenly efl'ected, but withdrawn by degrees. 

 Nothing is so injurious as those sudden changes of tempera- 

 ture and moisture, which we see so frequently practised. 



In whatever way strawberries are forced, it is of material 

 consequence to them, that they have air admitted to them in 

 large portions, particularly while in flower and while the fruit 

 is setting. Hence the advantage of pits for them, where they 

 can be managed, as far as regards this important object, as well 

 as suited with a temperature to their resj>ective stages of growth. 

 Strawberries, unlike most other perennial plants, will not force 

 well above one season ; but this is an object of little conse- 

 quence, the means of always procuring young plants being 

 so easily attained ; and, as such is the case, a fresh supply should 

 be prepared annually. 



When the crops are gathered of those brought earliest into 

 fruit, they should be thrown aw.iy, but such as have been forced 



