French Gardening. 65 



surrounded by stone walls which reflect the light and heat of 

 the sun and keep out the cold biting winds of spring. For the 

 earliest crops the soil is warmed by beds of slowly-fermenting 

 manure which retains some degree of warmth until the sun 

 gets powerful in the spring. The plants on these warm beds 

 are protected by frames or bell-glasses which retain the heat 

 and moisture. On cold nights and during hard weather these 

 appliances are covered closely with straw mats to conserve the 

 heat and to keep out frost. Later in the season the plants are 

 grown entirely in the open-air, but whether in the open or 

 under glass they are never allowed to receive a check ; they 

 are kept steadily and rapidly moving from the time they are 

 set out until the crop is gathered. 



In these gardens it is an almost invariable rule to grow to- 

 gether on the same bed two or more crops, one of which is 

 quickly ready whilst the other matures more slowly ; by careful 

 management this intercropping is accomplished without over- 

 crowding and with very little inconvenience. 



One of the most important factors of success in securing 

 numerous and abundant crops consists in giving the plants all 

 the water they require during the growing season. Under 

 ordinary cultivation very few plants get anything like the 

 quantity of water they need to bring them to perfection, but 

 in the French garden their requirements in this respect are 

 most assiduously attended to. The earliest crops on hot-beds 

 seldom need watering, enough moisture being present in the 

 manure to fully supply them, but later crops and those which 

 stand in the open during the summer months are watered 

 systematically; not in driblets, just to keep them alive during 

 a drought, but in daily soaking showers. This watering is per- 

 sisted in unless the weather sets in really wet, occasional slight 

 falls of rain being taken little notice of. The result is contin- 

 uous and rapid growth. Needless to say, under such circum- 

 stances ample drainage must be provided, particularly on heavy 

 soil. No plants will thrive when their roots are waterlogged. 



It will thus be seen that the whole system is comprised in 

 the provision of shelter and protection, warm and rich soil, 

 abundant moisture and good drainage, with a careful arrange- 

 ment of inter- and successional cropping. 



