French Gardening or Intensive Cultivation 215 



nature, and differing in rapidity of growth, one crop is taken off before 

 it is likely to interfere with the others. Thus, although the Lettuces on 

 the surface are more advanced than the Carrots or Radishes, the latter 

 grow very quickly on top of the slower-growing Carrots, and up between 

 the Lettuces. The Radishes, therefore, are the first crop to mature and 

 to be cleared out of the frame; then come the Lettuces, and when they 

 are mature the Carrots have then reached a stage when they will require 

 all the space to themselves. In later crops, however, young Cauliflowers 

 are planted on the north and south edges of the bed for first crops. 



This process of ringing the changes on the same patch of soil with 

 three crops at one time is carried on throughout the year, not only under 

 lights and cloches, but also in the open air during the summer months, 

 and explains (what at first seems inexplicable) how the French maraicher 

 obtains such an enormous quantity of produce from a small area. 



With these early crops of Radishes, Lettuces, and Carrots it must 

 be borne in mind that only as many frames and bell glasses are utilized 

 as may be necessary according to the season and the state of the markets. 

 As one batch of frames and cloches are maturing their crops, beds are 

 being made up for succession crops, so that from one year's end to another 

 there is never a break in the supply of produce. 



Cauliflowers. This is a most important crop, and if the heads can 

 be obtained early very good prices may be realized. For the first early 

 crops such varieties as "Express", Dwarf Early Erfurt (nain hdtif 

 (V Erfurt), Early Paris (tendre de Paris, or Petit Salomon), and Early 

 Snowball (Boule de Neiye) are chiefly grown. For second-early crops 

 Second-early Paris (demi-dur de Paris or Gros Salomon) and Lenormand 

 are mostly grown, while a non-catalogued variety called " Driancourt " also 

 finds favour with some growers. 



For late crops in the open air it would be difficult to beat Autumn 

 Giant, Walcheren, and Early London or Early Dutch. 



The early varieties are sown during the first fortnight in September 

 on an old bed or even in the open border specially prepared: or under 

 lights or cloches if the weather is unfavourable. In due course the seed- 

 lings are transplanted as soon as two leaves have been made beyond the 

 seed leaves, and from 150 to 220 are placed under each light, so that 

 one three-light frame may hold from 450 to 660 plants. Plenty of air 

 and light must be given on all favourable occasions, otherwise the plants 

 may grow too quickly and become lanky. Sometimes this happens in 

 spite of every care in very mild winters, and then there is no option 

 but to transplant a second time, putting only half the number of plants 

 under each light, or about a dozen under each cloche. In severe weather 

 the frames and cloches must be covered with mats, and manure must 

 be heaped round the frames, while leaves and litter are also placed around 

 the cloches when the frost is very severe. 



Early in December the plants will be ready for placing on the north 

 and south edges of the hotbeds which have already produced a crop of 



