FORCING VEGETABLES. 137 



Beans, Cucumbers, &c., and the plants inserted in the earth 

 at once ; these will produce ripe fruit a month or six weeks 

 earlier than those cultivated in the ordinary way. 



FORCING VARIOUS KINDS OF VEGETABLES^ 



TIJE following simple method of forcing vegetables on a 

 small scale is recommended by a correspondent of a London 

 magazine : 



" Mushrooms in winter I obtain by a very simple, though 

 not a new process. Provide boxes three feet long, and one 

 foot eight inches deep ; a quantity of horse droppings, per- 

 fectly dry ; some spawn and some light dry soil. Fill the 

 boxes by layers of droppings, spawn, and soil, which must 

 be trodden perfectly tight ; repeat these triple layers till the 

 boxes are full, and all trodden firmly together. 



" Four such boxes at work are sufficient for a moderate 

 demand ; and of a dozen, four brought in at a time, and 

 placed upon a flue of a green-house stove, will produce a 

 fine supply. The surface of these portable beds may be 

 covered with a little hay, and occasionally, though sparingly, 

 watered. It is not absolutely necessary that they be set on 

 the flue of a green-house ; a warm stable, cellar, or any other 

 similar place, will suit equally well. This plan is also con- 

 venient for affording a plentiful stock of superior spawn. 



" The same sized boxes will also do for Asparagus ; but 

 for this purpose a sufficient stock of three-year-old plants 

 must be at hand ; also eighteen boxes, four of which are the 

 necessary set to be forced at one time for a middling family. 

 Half fill the boxes with decayed tanner's bark, leaf mould, 

 or any similar mould ; on this, pack the roots as thickly as 

 possible, and fill up the boxes with the bark, &c. Any place 

 in a forcing-house will suit them : on the flue, under the 

 stage, or, in short, any place where they can enjoy the ne- 



1/3 



