82 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



tion to the frames should be carried out in September. 

 Plants cultivated as already described are suitable at 

 that time for putting into the frames, being good big 

 specimens 8 or 10 inches across. Before planting can 

 be done, however, the frames must be prepared ; there- 

 fore let us turn our attention to these. The character 

 of the frames will depend upon the resources of the 

 garden, but in any case they should have a south 

 aspect. The amateur will often have to prepare an 

 improvised or temporary frame with sunken boards and 

 lights placed over them, whilst in many other cases 

 proper brick frames will be available. In either case 

 it is best not to use fire heat, for of all plants none is 

 more sensitive to its ill effects than the Sweet Violet. 

 What little heat is employed must be got from ferment- 

 ing materials. First, then, there must be placed in the 

 frame a bed of stable litter and leaves ; this must be at 

 least one foot deep, and more if it is possible. The 

 materials should be prepared for this purpose some 

 time previously by turning them every alternate day, 

 and allowing the volatile gases to escape from the litter. 

 Having formed the bed, and made it firm by treading, 

 a layer of soil about 6 inches deep must be placed over 

 it. The soil may consist of pasture turf of a rich loamy 

 nature, rather than sandy, and it should have been in 

 stack for 12 months. Some thoroughly decayed and 



