1871 



THE POMOLOGIST AND GARDENER. 



315 



t^ttMt anb Mlo^tt mnvtm. 



The Vegetable Oarden. 



By W. H. W., Hartford Co., Conn. 



Hand-glasses, Plant Protectors, &c. — These 

 are often found very useful in a variety of 

 waj'S. Hand glasses serve as a means of forward- 

 ing plants, in small numbers, where the regular 

 hot-bed is not desired, or it is inconvenient to use it; 

 also for forcing single plants after trans-planting. 

 A hand-glass ,is a miniature glass house ; they are 

 made in different forms, the bottom usually square 

 or a parallcllogram. A frame of iron, or sometimes 

 wood, is had to hold the glass. One form is to use 

 four glasses put together in the form and shape of 

 the roof of a house, the ends in the form of a triangle 

 the two sides square, coming together at the top 

 with a handle^ for convenience of handling, »&c. 



Anotlier form for somewhat larger ones is, make 

 the four sides equal and about eight inches high, 

 from the bottom to the eaves. On this erect the 

 roof, each side in a triangular form coming to a 

 point at the top, with a ring to lift about by. Such 

 frames are best made of metal, and may be of any 

 desired size, from two feet square down. These 

 can be u.sed as miniature hot-beds by using a wheel- 

 barrow load or two of manure, for bottom heat. 

 For general use, they will be found most valuable 

 in starting small seeds, the plants from which are 

 to be transplanted, and forwarding plants which 

 need a little nursing or protection. Oftentimes we 

 wish to protect' our cueumber and other vines, 

 plants, i&c, from the depredations of bugs or other 

 like insects, also from cold winds, <fec. Here a few 

 boxes without top or bottom become very useful; 

 these need not be large, from Gx6 to 10x13 inches, 

 and as many inches deep. A piece of board to put 

 over the top of these, when they are set over the 

 plants will protect from frost, «S;c. Bugs will not 

 fly into them to reach the plants ; and if we wish 

 to obtain nearly the same results as with hand 

 glasses, we can tack a piece of light colored muslin 



over the top, and make the bottom close by settling 

 it a little into the ground, or by hauling the dirt 

 around close. 



Persons who wish to grow vegetables, fruit 

 plants, flowers. &c., during winter, to mature out ot 

 season, will have Green Houses in which to grow 

 them. This comes beyond the scope of our pur- 

 pose in these suggestions, as we only have in mind 

 the mass of general cultivators of a vegetable gar- 

 den, and it is more particularly for their encourage- 

 ment that we make these hints to conform to their 

 means and circumstances. 



Hyacintlis all Winter. 



The Hyacinth is one of the most beautiful and 

 fragrant of the Bulbous Flowers, and particularly 

 desirable for house culture. Even half-a-dozen 

 grown in pots and flowering during the winter, will 

 afford more pleasure to the " loved ones at home " 

 than the same amount of money spent in any other 

 way. With how much pleasurable anxiety they 

 watch the shooting forth of the bright leaves, the 

 rising of tae stately column ; while the opening of 

 the first bud makes a joyful thanksgiving of the 

 most dreary winter's day. A very small pot will 

 answer for the Hyacinth. Some prefer to plant 

 three or four in a large pot, and this will make a 

 very pretty ornament. Cover only the lower half 

 of the bulbs with soil, press them down until they 

 are nearly covered, then water until the soil is 

 moistened thoroughly, and set |the. pots in a cool, 

 dark cellar. The roots will there form, with but 

 little growth of top. Here they may remain for 

 several weeks, and a pot or two at a time can be 

 taken into a warm, light room, for flowering, a week 

 or ten days apart, and a succession of flowers ob- 

 tained during most of the winter. When Hya- 

 cinths are planted in the garden, and well covered, 

 the roots get a good start in jthe fall and winter ; 

 and it is very important in flowering them in the 

 house that a growth of roots should be first encour- 

 aged in the way recommended. When placed in 

 glasses of water for flowering, the base of the bulb 

 should not quite touch the water. Fill the glasses 

 with well water, and as soon as the flower buds 

 appear, sprinkle the plant frequently with rain 

 water. Set them away for about two weeks in a 



