344 THE PLOKAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the surface, as an additional protection from frost, and in all cases 

 when six or seven inches in height, thej will require earthing up in 

 the usual manner. 



It only now remains to be said that after the crop is in full 

 growth, rather liberal supplies of waLer and abundant ventilation 

 will be required. When nearly full-grown, the lights may in mild 

 weather be drawn off altogether during the day, and, as far as 

 practicable, advantage should be taken of these opportunities for 

 watering. 



For the earliest crop the Old Walnut Leaf is the most suitable, 

 as it turns in quickly, and it is so dwarf in growth, that it takes up 

 very little space. But for the best crop, Vcitclis lioyal Aslileaf will 

 be found preferable, as it is a much heavier cropper than the "Walnut 

 Leaf, and is of the most excellent quality. 



Sets of moderate size and well-ripened should be selected for 

 planting in frames, and a saving of a fortnight or so may be 

 eifected by spreading the sets in a shallow hose, and then placing 

 them in a warm room, or in a forcing-house, to start them into 

 growth. They must be placed in the full light, to encourage the 

 production of hard purple sprouts. 



HINTS ON HEATING PEUIT AND PLANT-HOUSES. 



BY A KEJTTISH GAEDENEE. 



IJN this communication I shall confine myself to the 

 heating of fruit and plant-houses of a sufficient size to 

 justify the erection of a boiler and service of hot- water 

 pipes, for it has been with this class of structure that 

 I have had the most experience. I would also gladly 

 assist those who have to resort to portable contrivances for keeping 

 the frost out of their miniature structures, but as the manager of a 

 large garden, I have had no occasion to use a heating apparatus of 

 a portable character, and, consequently, do not consider myself pro- 

 perly qualified to speak of any of them. I have had opportunities 

 of seeing some of these contrivances at work in the gardens of 

 amateur friends, and I must confess I am not prepossessed in their 

 favour. Indeed, from what I have seen of them, I consider it more 

 economical to provide for houses exceeding twelve feet square a 

 boiler and service of hot-water pipes. An apparatus of this kind 

 will not be self-acting, as some of those of a portable character 

 are said to be, but it will not require very much attention, excepting 

 in severe weather, and it will be thoroughly reliable. The lact is, 

 it can be managed with considerably less trouble than portable 

 apparatus, and the expense of working will be considerably less. 

 But very small houses will not, of course, at^^ord accommodation for 

 sufficient plants to recoup the expense of a fixed apparatus, and 

 some cheap expedient must, of necessity, be resorted to. In very 

 many instances a brick flue, built along one side and end of the 



