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OBSERVATIONS 



FORCING VEGETABLES. 



BEFORE I commenced preparing this work for the press, 

 I intended to have written largely on the subject of forcing 

 fruits as well as vegetables ; but when I considered my 

 motto, and that I was writing for young gardeners, I con- 

 cluded to occupy my pages in such a manner as to effect the 

 greatest possible good at the smallest expense. Of the seve- 

 ral branches of Horticulture, some are of greater importance 

 than others ; and as the products of the kitchen garden form 

 important articles of food for the bulk of mankind, it should 

 be our first care to treat largely on the subject of this most 

 useful part of gardening. Next to this is the cultivation of 

 fruits, and the production of ornamental plants and flowers, 

 each of which will be noticed in their respective departments. 



As I stand pledged to offer some remarks on forcing, or 

 rather forwarding vegetables, by artificial means, I shall en- 

 deavour to confine my observations to such points as are of 

 primary importance ; and in order to convince my readers 

 of the importance of this subject, I shall first endeavour to 

 show the utility of an artificial climate suited to the various 

 species of useful plants. In England, a regular succession 

 of vegetables can be obtained from the natural ground every 

 month in the year, and the fruits of that country, from the 

 summer heat being moderate, are of longer continuance 

 than with us, and yet the English make gardening a science, 

 and employ the elements, as well as the ingenuity of man, 

 in the production of fruits and vegetables out of the ordinary 

 season. 



