70 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



As the winter draws near, say, November and 

 onwards, a good fire-heat will be necessary. A heat of 

 75 must be kept up during the day, allowing a fall of 

 5, and not more than 10, at night. Some liquid 

 manure may be given to the plants when they are in 

 bearing, but care is necessary as to what sort is used, 

 and for this purpose I am of opinion that nothing is 

 better than slight dressings with nitrate of soda, with 

 now and then a very slight sprinkling of soot over the 

 surface of the bed. These are of course in powder, and 

 not in a liquid state. Both of them are remarkably 

 strong stimulants and must be used with great care. 

 They are good preventives against the progress of 

 insect pests also. Guano, and animal manures such as 

 cow-dung and sheep droppings, are frequently a source 

 of trouble as well as advantage, for while I admit that 

 they are good stimulants, they also frequently introduce 

 numerous insect plagues into the house or frame, and 

 where such tender plants as the Cucumber or Melon 

 exist, they cause an incalculable amount of trouble. 



The pit on the north side of the house can be well 

 and profitably used for forcing Rhubarb from November 

 till March by placing some leaves two feet thick at the 

 bottom, treading them in tight, setting the roots upon 

 the bed with a little soil on them, and then some leaves 

 over the roots. Or cover the pit over the top so as to 

 exclude the light, and an abundance of Rhubarb can be 

 had by the end of December or in January ; or, again, 

 a bed may be made by filling the lower part three 

 feet up with leaves only, watering as you proceed, and 

 treading them in tight. Then put nine inches of fine 

 soil on them and make them level ; place three- or four- 

 year-old Asparagus plants as close as you can ; put 



