10 THE FORCING GARDENER. [B. T. 



ced of a much better colour, and higher 

 flavour, than on a dung hot-bed. 



It frequently occurs, particularly in large 

 families, and where much company is kept, 

 that the gardener is put to a nonplus, by 

 not being timoufly advifed that fuch ar- 

 ticles are wanted. The conveniency of 

 having a pit, will be found a great relief 

 in this refped: $ as it is much eafier, by aid 

 of the flues, to forward or protrad: the 

 growth of the plants here, than in a com- 

 mon hot-bed: on the one hand,, if the 

 plants are advancing too rapidly, there is 

 a neceffity for cooling the bed in a certain 

 degree ; and, on the other, if they are not 

 advancing fo faft as could be wifhed, the 

 application of linings becomes neceflary, 

 which is attended with much trouble and 

 lofs of time. 



A pit, twenty-five or thirty feet long, 

 and fix wide, and which one fire can per- 

 fedly command, is fufficient to force Af- 

 paragus to ferve a large family from No- 

 vember to May, in a coiiftant and regular 

 fucceflion : after which, it may be advan- 

 tageoufly employed in raifing a late crop 



of melons or cucumbers, or in ftriking 



young 



