28 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



little on the slant, so as to have the soil up just under the crown, 

 and these ought to be three inches from each other, and gently 

 watered with tepid water after the planting is finished. The frame 

 should then be covered up, first with a mat, and over that a layer of 

 short hay two inches thick, with another mat at top. This will 

 effectually exclude all light, and if the heat is what it ought to be, 

 some well-grown kale will befit for table in about six weeks. Nos. 

 2 and 3 compartments are filled at an interval of about a fortnight, 

 so that there are always plants in three different stages of growth ; 

 and in this manner, by filling up with fresh plants every time a part 

 is all cut, a succession may be kept up either till the plants are 

 exhausted, or the season over. 



But this cannot be done with the heat of the bed alone, for in 

 the course of two months this will be exhausted, and linings will be 

 required. This is done by simply putting a good thick layer of 

 fresh stable manure round that part of the frame which has been 

 last planted. This will want turning and well shaking up about 

 every ten days, to renew the heat. It appears necessary to add 

 that a very little air should be given every other day for about a 

 couple of hours, to let out any steam that may arise from the heat 

 of the bed. This will insure a sweet and pure atmosphere, which, 

 if not attended to, might perhaps be detrimental to the flavour of 

 the produce ; but, on all occasions, or on whatever plan of forcing 

 is adopted, it is important to remember that the admission of light 

 or air for any length of time will discolour the growth, which must 

 be avoided. 



For very small gardens the following plan will be found service- 

 able and convenient : — Procure a good box, about four feet wide, 

 and as much in depth. Take this to a warm, close cellar, and put 

 in it six inches of moderately light dry soil. In this soil place the 

 crowns, and give them a gentle watering, and in the course of six or 

 seven weeks, if the place is a moderately warm one, some good kale 

 may be expected. 



FORCING- ASPARAGUS. 



jHE simplest way to force asparagus is by bringing the 

 heat to them, for then the roots are undisturbed, and 

 will gain in time and size. For this practice the beds 

 should be four feet wide, with two feet alleys between, 

 and the beds selected for forcing should be left uncut in 

 the preceding summer, that they may accumulate the strength 

 needed to enable them to endure the trial. The first business is to 

 determine when the first cutting is required, and the later it is 

 wanted the better for the plants and the gardener. If you wish to 

 cut in January, you must commence operations six weeks in advance ; 

 if in February, five weeks in advance ; if early in March, four weeks 

 in advance. The forcing consists in covering the bed with litter, 

 and then taking a shallow spit from the alleys and throwing it 

 equally over the litter. The alleys are then filled with hot dung, 

 which must be raised to at least one foot above the level of the beds, 



