228 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



Why should we, with our infinite variety of climates, soils, 

 and labor, import from England the coarser varieties of seeds 

 of the cabbage family, savoy, Brussels sprouts, kohl-rabi, 

 or kale? We owe England enough already for the seed of 

 Liberty we got from her. California now supplies some seed 

 for onions, carrots, parsnips, and a few others. The finest 

 cauliflower comes mostly from Denmark now. 



Turnip seed, too, mangel-wurzel and swedes, onion, pea, 

 bean, carrot, parsnip, radish, and beet seeds could be grown 

 here by the same skill, care, and training as they are 

 grown abroad. 



An interesting method of forcing plants by the use of hot- 

 water baths is described in La Nature (Paris), by Henri 

 Coupin. The process is much simpler than others now in 

 use and may be employed by any one who has a small green- 

 house, no expert treatment being necessary. Says Mr. 

 Coupin : 



"Most trees in our countries undergo a period of rest, 

 during which all growth appears to be suspended. 

 Branches do not enlarge and the buds on them remain as 

 they are. They do not arouse from their torpor until spring, 

 first, because they then find the conditions necessary for 

 their development, and again, because, during the period 

 of rest, chemical changes have taken place in them. These 

 are indispensable, because if they did not occur, the trees, 

 even in the most favorable conditions, would not open their 

 buds. For example, plant branches that have quite recently 

 dropped their leaves, in a warm greenhouse. They will not 

 bud ; but make the same experiment at the end of several 

 months and the buds will appear. 



"There are several ways of shortening this period of rest, 

 some of which are rather odd. The best known is the pro- 



