24 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



When these hot-beds are freshly made and very 

 warm, care should be taken not to sow or plant until 

 the first fierce heat from the manure has somewhat 

 abated. If this precaution is neglected and a very 

 high temperature develops, it may be necessary to 

 take away the outside banks of manure from the 

 frames so as to cool the beds. If this does not suffice, 

 plenty of water must be thrown round the beds and 

 in the pathways until the temperature sinks to the 

 required degree. 



COST AND MAINTENANCE OF A 

 FRENCH GARDEN 



As much has recently been heard as to the great 

 profits obtainable from an acre or two of ground 

 cultivated on the French system, it may be of interest 

 to consider the approximate cost of establishing a 

 garden, the annual expenditure on the same, and the 

 returns that are likely to be secured from markets in 

 a fairly normal state of trade. 



Taking an ordinary French garden devoted mainly 

 to producing early crops, one rarely finds more than 

 300 frames, or 900 lights, or more than 3,000 cloches. 

 As the frames and lights are moved off one crop on 

 to another, it is advisable to have extra land avail- 

 able so that the changes and rotations necessary may 

 be carried out without difficulty. 



Generally speaking, it is more economical in pro- 

 portion to cultivate two acres than one, as the 

 initial outlay is almost the same in both cases for 

 establishment^expenses. 



