484 



CHERRY FORCING IN BRITISH GARDENS. 



of cold, otherwise they are found to break very irregularly. The blossoms 

 are thinned out ; so much so, that where fifteen have appeared, not more than 

 three have been allowed to expand. The construction of the house in which 

 the forcing is commenced varies according to the season. When the trees 

 are taken in, in December and January, the glass of the roof must be much 

 steeper than when they are not taken in till February and March. 



Heat is communicated by flues, commencing with 46** Fahr. The trees 

 are frequently sprinkled with lukewarm w^ater ; and the roots, which ought 

 to have been kept quite dry for some time before the plants are taken in, 

 are well soaked with warm water. Mr. Fintlemann boils one-half of the 

 water, and mixes it with the other half ; and he uses water of this tempera- 

 ture till within fourteen days of the trees coming into blossom. 



Wlien the buds break out into bloom, watering overhead with lukewarm 

 water is left off, but the stems are kept moist by rubbing them two or three 

 times a day with a wet brush. During the blooming season the temperature 

 is raised from 46° to 67", every third day, 2^° more heat being added. Abun- 

 dance of air is given, and shade during bright sunshine. In boisterous 

 weather gauze is placed over the openings through which the air is admitted, 

 the advantage of which in moderatmg the violence of the wind, Mr. Fintle- 

 mann is well assured of, after eight years' experience. To cause the blossoms 

 to set, the branches and spray are frequently put in motion, but care taken 

 not to move the main stem, by which the fibrous roots might be injured. 



When the fruit is setting and swelling, the temperature must be kept 

 between 54|-° and 65|°. 



When the fruit is stoning, the temperatui-e is lowered to 59" for two or 

 three weeks, during which period the house must be shaded in bright sun- 

 shine, and the plants watered overhead once or twice a day. 



When the stoning is completed and the fruit begins to swell, the tem- 

 perature is again raised to 65°, and no more shade given, in order that the 

 fruit may acquire a high flavour through the operation of the sun s rays ; to 

 facilitate the action of which on the fruit, the superfluous leaves are removed. 

 By this practice, plants begun to be forced in December commonly produce 

 ripe cherries in February ; but Mr. Fintlemann has sometimes had them 

 even in January, though without a good flavour. 



Recent experience has taught Mr. Fintlemann that cherries will force 

 remarkably well in sawdust, or chopped moss, mixed with some powdered 

 unburnt lime. Plants grown one year in two years old sawdust, and a little 

 powder of lime, put into the forcing-house on the 16th of January, gave a 

 ripe fi'uit by the end of February. 



The kind of cherry forced by Mr. Fintlemann is the same as our 

 May Duke ; and some of the points of his practice, such as shortening the 

 shoots to produce blossom-buds, thinning blossoms, the previous exposure 

 to cold, and the use of warm water, seem worthy of the imitation of the 

 British gardener. — Gard, Mag., vol. iii. p. 65. 



At the same time it must be borne in mind, that the atmosphere in Prussia, 

 and on the Continent generally, is much clearer than in Britain, and that 

 there are few days in which the sun during the short time which he is above 

 the horizon does not shine brightly. Hence as far as light is concerned in 

 forcing, the British gardener can never contend with the German one. 



