516 VILLA GARDENING part vi 



space should be allowed. When large enough to blanch, draw the 

 stalks iij) carefully without bruising, wrap a sheet of paper round 

 them, and secure it loosely with a piece of matting. When all 

 are tied up, place the material used for blanching among the plants 

 with care, — tree leaves (if sweet), short hay (if not mouldy), old 

 tan, coal-ashes, chaff or cut straw, moss, or anything of a like 

 nature that is not likely to give a bad flavour to the Celery. The 

 best kinds for forcing are those of dwarf sturdy habit, that do not 

 soon bolt. Incomparable White and Major Clarke's solid red are 

 good varieties. 



Turnips. — If sown in light rich soil, on a bed of leaves and 

 manure, and the soil is kept moist. Turnips may be had much 

 earlier and better than under ordinary circumstances. If a trench 

 be opened in a sheltered place, and filled full of warm manure, 

 placing 8 or 9 inches of light rich soil on the top, a bed will be 

 improvised that will bring forward not only Turnips, but nearly 

 every kind of vegetable. Some shelter will be required at night ; 

 but this may be of a very simple character. Some long Ash or 

 Hazel rods bent over hoop-fashion will form the skeleton, over 

 which can be thrown mats, canvas, or oiled calico when required. 

 The Strap-leaved Stone is a good variety for forcing, the Early 

 Milan Strap-leaved being the best form of it. 



FOECING SALADS 



Lettuces. — Some of the best Lettuces I ever had were forced 

 in a frame on a bed of leaves and manure. They force very easily 

 — scarcely any plant takes to it so kindly ; it is only necessary to 

 force them in winter and early spring. Usually, in most places, 

 good Lettuces can be obtainable till after Christmas where there 

 are frame's to shelter them, or where a good hardy kind is grown 

 and they are protected by coverings of dry Fern or leaves. Any 

 time after Christmas these Lettuce seeds may be sown in heat, and 

 if pricked off into hotbeds, made of leaves and maniu-e, such as 

 Potatoes and other vegetables are usually forced upon, they will, 

 with the lengthening days, make rapid progress. Sow the seeds 

 thinly in boxes, in a warm house to grow on whilst the hot- 

 bed is made ready ; and as soon as the plants are large enough 

 to put out, and the bed with its surface of rich soil, 8 inches 

 deep, in a nice genial condition to receive them, select a mild 

 day, and plant them at suitable distances apart, according to 

 the variety grown. The small Cabbage Lettuce, known as Paris 

 Market, is the earliest that I know. Tom Thumb, another small 



