Forcing Houses or Pits. 79 



from drudgery to be dreaded to a pastime and pleasure. The 

 cost of heating a house of this kind is inconsiderable a few 

 tons of coal go a great ways, and the management of the furnace 

 is so simple that any boy can tend it. The vegetable crops are 

 grown in the same way as described for the hot-beds. Lettuce 

 is the first crop, and can be gotten ready for market from 

 Christmas on. This is followed by radishes, or any other 

 vegetable which the market may usually call for, or by straw- 

 berries, and perhaps later on, by egg-plants, tomatoes, peppers, 

 etc. Boston Market, a strain of Tennis Ball, is yet considered 

 the safest lettuce variety for early winter forcing. Mildew and 

 aphis (or green louse) are the two dreaded enemies of the crop, 

 and must be fought with the means named in the chapter on 

 " Insects and Plant Diseases," 



