KITCHEN-GARDENING. 143 



for forcing in England, we are subject to north-west winds, 

 which produce extreme freezing. Now, as we have not yet 

 discovered how to make an artificial air, it will not be safe for 

 the gardener to raise a bottom heat under any kind of vegeta- 

 ble until such time as he can impart a tolerable share of salu- 

 brious air, as the heat without air will soon destroy the fruits 

 of his labor. , 



I shall not attempt to treat of the cultivation of Pineapples, 

 Grapes, Cherries, or other fruits grown in forcing-houses ; nor 

 would it be advisable with us to undertake to raise Cucumbers, 

 Melons, etc., in frames throughout the severe winters of our 

 Northern States; but it must be acknowledged that the ex- 

 treme heat of our summers is as detrimental to the cultivation 

 of some of the most valuable kinds of fruits and vegetables, as 

 the coldness of our winters ; and for these reasons, artificial aid 

 is more necessary here in the winter and spring of the year 

 than in England, where a supply of the different varieties of 

 Artichokes, Broad Beans, Borecole, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, 

 Lettuce, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach, Turnips, and salads in 

 general, is easily obtained, a great part of the year, from their 

 kitchen- gardens ; whereas, if we were to attempt to supply our 

 markets with culinary vegetables at all times, in anything like 

 the abundance that they have them there, we must, out of the 

 ordinary seasons for gardening operations, turn our attention 

 to the protecting and forwarding as well as the forcing system. 



The frame being set over the pit, and properly fastened, the 

 fresh dung should be spread regularly in the pit to the depth 

 of twenty or twenty-four inches ; if the dung be in a good heat- 

 ing condition, cover it six or eight inches deep with mould, then 

 lay on the ashes, and protect the beds from the inclemency of 

 the weather. In two or three days the rank steam will pass 

 off; it will then be necessary to stir the mould before the seed 

 be sown, to prevent the growth of young weeds that may be ger- 

 minating; then sow the seed either in shallow drills or broad- 

 cast, as equally as possible, reserving a small quantity of the 

 warm mould to be sown lightly over the seed. The beds 



