PART II 



SPECIAL CULTURES DESCRIBED 

 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER 



IN this portion of the work the various methods of 

 culture practised in French gardens is detailed. Each 

 crop is dealt with separately, so that its special needs 

 may not be overlooked. While the functions of all 

 green-leaved plants are the same, it is important 

 for the gardener to bear in mind that many modifi- 

 cations of general principles are rendered necessary 

 according to the period of the year at which he desires 

 his crops to mature. Thus, what may be perfectly 

 sound practice in January and December, may be 

 quite erroneous in June and July. The state of the 

 weather and the various seasons must always be 

 taken into account, and conditions have to be modified 

 almost with every rise and fall in the barometer. 

 Rain, snow, hail, frost, sun, and wind all have im- 

 portant influences on vegetation, and the intelligent 

 cultivator must keep a steady eye on these to see 

 that his special cultures are in no way adversely 

 affected. He must be, in fact, a kind of weather- 

 prophet and be able to gauge climatic changes with 

 a fair amount of accuracy if he is to succeed. 



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