FORCING. 55 



in August, protecting them from the late autumnal 

 rains, and from frost." 



" For succession," Mr. Paxton says, "strong runners 

 are taken up in September, and planted about six 

 inches apart, in manured and well-prepared beds, four 

 feet wide, in a somewhat sheltered situation ; there 

 they are allowed to remain until the following July, 

 during which period they must be kept very clean 

 from weeds, have the flowers and runners regularly 

 pinched off, and be watered whenever likely to suffer 

 from drought. About the middle of July they are 

 potted in small thirty-two-sized pots, two plants in a 

 pot, taking the greatest care that neither roots nor 

 leaves are damaged in the operation, and an important 

 part of it is to press the earth firmly about them ; the 

 soil used is two parts loam to one of well-rotted dung. 

 Beds which will hold five or six rows of pots are then 

 formed in the following manner : Level the surface of 

 the ground, and spread upon it a layer of coal ashes ; 

 above which must be nailed firmly slabs, or any rough 

 boards, as wide as the depth of the pots, which are 

 then to be plunged to the rim in spent bark or ashes. 

 All that they will here require is attention to watering 

 when necessary, and a slight protection with fern, or 

 other light covering, during severe frosty weather. I 

 always preserved from 300 to 400 of the latest forced 

 plants of the above description, and after having care- 



