184 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



head cabbage, is a fine large lettuce, and good for summer use, as it is not apt 

 to run if allowed plenty of room. The advantage of cabbage-lettuces is, that 

 they require no tying up, which prevents cos lettuces being serviceable iui 

 winter, they so soon rot off when tied ; but such sorts as the London cos,, 

 which turn in without tying, may be grown advantageously in winter. — F. C. 



§ 4. — Hotbeds and Frame Cultivation. 



447. No appliances are more useful than garden-frames, yet none are more- 

 generally misapplied in small gardens ; many suburban gardeners considering 

 them as proper only for the growth of the cucumber and melon, when, in fact, 

 these should be considered but of secondary importance. Of course, what- 

 ever is grown in them being a matter of taste, that may be considered 

 most profitable which is most in request ; and, as the cucumber is popular, it 

 may be as well to begin with that. 



448. There is no fixed rule as to the best time for making hotbeds. If it is- 

 desired to have cucumbers at Christmas, the bed must be made early in 

 October ; if in January, early in November ; and so in pi-oportion, little less- 

 than three months being required from the time of planting to the time of 

 ripening fruit at this time of the year. It is immaterial what time of the 

 year is chosen to commence cucumber-growing ; the only difference being, 

 that in the spring and summer months the task is comparatively easy, requir- 

 ing less labour and less material than in the winter. In tlie colder months 

 the weather has to be battled with ; in the warmer months the weather in a 

 great measure assists. Supposing it is desired to commence in October, let a 

 quantit}' of stable-dung be got together, proportioned to the size of the frame : 

 two double loads for a three-light frame are usually allowed for the body of the 

 beds ; but it is as well to add an additional load, in which to start the plants. 

 Having shaken it all together, laid it out for a week, and then turned it over 

 again, take rather less than one load, and make a bed for a one-light frame. 

 This may be put together roughly, as it is merely to raise the plants in, and 

 may be pulled to pieces when that is accomplished. 



449. The remainder of the dung should be turned over four or five times 

 during a fortnight, and wetted, if diy. This preparation is most important ; 

 the inexperienced operator, unless he would run the risk of des'troying his 

 plants at the beginning, should follow it to the letter ; for, unless the material 

 has been well worked before the bed is made, it is apt to heat too violently, 

 and bum the roots of the plants. In order to avoid this, it is advisable to use 

 an equal quantity of leaves mixed with stable-dung for the bed : the leaves 

 give a sweeter and more moderate, as well as more lasting heat. 



450. When the material is ready, measure the frame, length and breadth, 

 and mark out the bed, allowing a foot or 18 inches more each way for 

 the bed than the length and breadth of the frame. At each corner of the bed 

 drive a stake firmly into the ground, and perfectly upright, to serve as a guide 



