OUR MARKET-GARDEN SECRET 131 



in tone. Then, too, there is that much-treasured 

 secret — for all market-gardeners must have one 

 at least — which they dare not divulge ; but, to 

 lessen curiosity, I may go so far in this case as to 

 reveal that it is a red flower, that only one person 

 knows the mystery of its parentage, and that we 

 hope that some day this secret may be widely sought 

 after but remain still unguessed. Tulips and other 

 bulbs are everywhere in boxes and pots, waiting 

 patiently until the right time comes for them to be 

 taken from an ordinary temperature into the stove- 

 house, where greater warmth will bring them 

 rapidly into flower. 



Before we enter this warm house (11 ft. by 6 ft. 

 6 in.) I should explain that it is the domain of 

 second-year students. No others are allowed the 

 privilege of working there, and as great curiosity is 

 evinced for this unknown territory the door is 

 locked to prevent the intrusion of absolute be- 

 ginners. Here, on the staging, are tomatoes 

 trained to arch over the house and thus make a 

 good background for shorter plants that stand in 

 front. Those who have a great antipathy to 

 tomatoes could in their stead have smilax wreaths, 

 but as it is war time, we favour the fruit because 

 the soldiers' camps require large supplies of it. 

 Some beans in pots placed at intervals between 

 lilies of the valley and Gloire de Lorraine begonias 

 may seem to some an incongruous mixture of the 

 useful with the ornamental, but the foliage of the 

 bean plant is so graceful that it really improves 

 the appearance of the flowers of the other plants. 



These details, which may appear insignificant, 



