290 GARDEN MANAGEMENT, 



under a south wall, or grown in pots, in frame, pit, or greenhouse, dm-ing the 

 summer. 



796. Asparagus. — Slight hotbeds should still be made for forcing Potatoes, 

 Asparagm, Seahale, French Beans, Straicljerries, and Radishes, or any of 



these may be planted or sown on an old bed ; the old lining removed, and 

 fresh but prepared linings applied to give the necessary heat. If they are 

 forced in a pit, let the dung be well worked, laid in carefully, levelled and 

 beaten down, and filled high enough to allow for sinking. At this time of the 

 year, no other heat than that supplied by the dung in the pit will be 

 necessary; for late spring forcing, brick pits are preferable, on account of 

 their cleanliness. 



797. Salading. — For a supply of il/*?i< or Par^Ze?/, some roots j^lanted now 

 in a hotbed will produce young shoots or leaves. Some roots of Horseradish 

 and Chicory planted in the same way, and blanched by excluding the light, 

 may be very useful as salading. A succession of Mv.stard.-and-Cress should 

 be sown every week. Radishes may still be sown in frames, or in the 

 open air. F. C. 



§ 9. — Window-Gardening. 



798. Choice of Plants. — Although this is a matter of taste, it is as well to 

 use a little judgment in the selection ; for all plants are not adapted to window- 

 culture : indeed, where windows alone are available, the choice is rather limited. 

 The number may be increased if a frame can be used as an auxihary for for- 

 warding the plants, placing them in the window as they advance, to replace 

 those which have ceased flowering. In the purchase of plants, it is advisable 

 to deal with respectable gi'owers, who guarantee that the plants are in a healthy 

 condition ; for plants may appear flourishing, while, in reahty, their days are 

 numbered. Nurserymen who grow plants creditably, and charge a fair price 

 for good ones, are the best to deal with. It is best to be satisfied at first with 

 a few, and begin with such plants as are of easy cultui'e ; as the scarlet gera- 

 nium, which will flourish under any circimistances ; but, although it will grow 

 under rough treatment, it requires skill, resulting from practice, to grow it 

 properly ; and experience in the culture of one kind of plant soon leads to 

 proficiency in that of most others. 



799. Of the plants suitable for various aspects, little need be said, — I find 

 the difi'erence is not so great as might be imagined ; but it may bp taken as a 

 rule, that a sunny aspect is best for all flowering plants, except in the hot 

 summer months, when they last much longer in bloom if kept in the shade ; 

 but it is possible to have bhnds fixed to a south window, by which the plants 

 may be shaded, or not, at pleasure. In the culture of some plants, as the 

 Auricula, for instance, it is advisable to give them a sunny aspect from 

 October to May, and a shady one from May to October. Other plants, as 

 Ferns, may be constantly kept in the shade, although a little sun does them no 

 barm, but the contrary. For the window, the Pelargoniums alone aflbrd a 



