156 THE GARDENER. [April 



then halt till young feeders were formed, when the top starts at an 

 accelerated pace j and I believe this is, in the majority of cases, the 

 order of nature. 



The question that most concerns practical gardeners appears to me 

 to be, whether an effort should be made to get root-growth prior to 

 top-growth ] In forcing, the great advantage of bottom-heat consists 

 in its setting the fluids stored up in the Vine speedily in motion, and 

 in producing root-growth sooner than it takes place in an unheated 

 border. The best way of applying this bottom-heat to Vines seems to 

 be a disputed point. Yet it seems strange it should be so, as, in its 

 application to other plants, there seems little difference of opinion as 

 to the propriety of applying it from below by hot-water pipes. To 

 apply it from above, seems to me very much like putting a boiler below 

 the fire to get most heat from the fire. D. T. 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 



The long-continued frosty weather may have kept some behind with 

 many of the more important garden operations, which will in a great 

 measure be a barrier to success. When land is tenacious and heavy, 

 it will be more difficult to deal with than soil of a light warm nature. 

 However, by a little perseverance, much can be done with clay soil ; 

 and, when well managed, it often carries the best of crops. As an 

 example : we saw at Frogmore, last season, large breadths of ground 

 which had been well trenched for sowing and planting, but was so 

 much like iron that it appeared impossible to work it by any means. 

 The day before it was required for cropping, copious waterings were 

 given all over the surfaces, and the following day the soil broke down 

 freely like powder, and was in excellent order for any purpose. When 

 weather is wet, this kind of ground can hardly be touched. Every 

 opportunity should be taken to break the surface as well as possible, 

 and the seeds should be sown in lines, covering them with any waste 

 soil finely sifted, which we have often recommended to be kept in 

 store in dry quarters till wanted. We have often seen drills made for 

 Peas, Beans, &c, with the spade ; the seeds sown and covered with 

 charcoal dust or leaf-mould, and the crops turn out amazingly fine. 

 Planting of Cabbage, Cauliflower, or similar plants, may be done in 

 heavy land by making holes with a trowel, placing a handful or two 

 of good soil to each plant as the work goes on : a little soot in this 

 soil makes uncomfortable quarters for grubs, which often destroy Cab- 

 bage and Cauliflower. The ground for main crop of Carrots should 



