Jan.] the FRUIT GARDEN. 35 
which are planted now in a hot-bed will produce fruit fit to gather 
in March or April. 
About the middle or end of this month, provide for that purpose 
as much new horse-dung as will make a hot-bed about four feet 
high, for one or more three-light frames. 
Let the dung be thrown in a heap, and let it lie about eight or 
ten days: in that time it will be in good condition to make the 
hot-bed. 
But in this business, a tan-bark hot-bed, made in a bark-pit, de- 
fended with a proper frame and glasses, would generally be more 
successful in fruiting these plants early. 
But, previous to this, there should be a proper quantity of straw- 
berry-plants potted, ready to place on the said hot-bed, as directed 
in September. 
Having, however, prepared the dung for the hot-bed, make it for 
one or more frames, about three feet high, and directly set on the 
frame and lights, to protect it from wet, and draw up tlie heat soon- 
er; and when the violent heat is over, lay therein either some dry 
light earth, or some waste tanner's bark of a decayed bark-bed, four 
or five inches thick; then bring in the plants and plunge the pots 
into the earth or tan, up to the rims, and close together as can be, 
tilling up also all the interstices between with earth, &c. 
When all the pots are plunged, put on the glasses, and keep 
them close till the steam arises in the bed, when it will be necessary 
to raise them a little behind, to let the steam pass off". 
When the plants begin to push, let them have air at all opportu- 
nities, when the weather is favourable; for if kept too close, they 
will draw up weak, and not blossom well, and the blossoms would 
drop off", without being succeeded by fruit: you should frequently 
refresh them with a little water, and cover the glasses every night 
with mats, and support the heat of the bed by linings of hot 
dung. 
N. B. In forcing strawberries, the plants may be taken up out of 
the natural ground with balls of earth, if not prevented by too hard 
a frost, and placed immediately in the earth of the hot-bed without 
potting them. However, when it is intended to force strawberries, 
either in a common hot-bed, or in a hot-house, it would be the 
best method to plant some bearing plants in pots, in September or 
October, and so place the pots close together in a garden frame, 
till the time they are to be placed in the hot-bed. 
But where there is the convenience ofa pine-apple stove, or any 
kind of fruit forcing-house or hot-wall, &c,, may raise plenty of 
early strawberries in great perfection, with but very little trouble: 
having some bearing plants ready in pots, place them in the hot- 
house, any where near the glasses, giving frequent light waterings; 
they will fruit early in great abundance. 
Forcing Frames. 
The great convenience of forcing-frames, either to force fruits 
or flowers into early perfection, or to preserve during winter. 
