58 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



frames and hotbeds poor ventilation is almost certain to induce the disease 

 known as " damping off/' while careful ventilation and watering will prevent 

 it to a great extent. In a greenhouse such diseases as mildew and others 

 which flourish in a moisture-laden atmosphere and high temperature will be 

 much more liable to give trouble when the ventilation is insufficient than 

 when it is given proper attention. 



Watering is another important operation. As a rule, it is best to 

 water only on bright days, and preferably during the forenoon to give time 

 for the plants to dry off before night. The overhead system of watering is 

 being used very commonly by progressive gardeners in the greenhouse and 

 in hotbeds and cold-frames. 



The most common source of plant-food in vegetable forcing is well- 

 rotted stable manure. When this can be secured in sufficient quantity, 

 little in the way of artificial fertilizers will be needed. In some cases the 

 use of liquid manure or nitrate of soda in small quantities will produce good 

 results. Wood-ashes, especially from the burning of hardwood and ashes 

 secured from the burning of tobacco stems, can be used to good advantage. 



It is not customary to make frequent changes of soil in the vegetable 

 forcing business. Some soils have been in use for forty years and are still 

 producing good crops. In some cases steam sterilization has been necessary 

 to overcome certain soil diseases. 



A brief treatment of this subject would not be complete without calling 

 attention to the importance not only of good varieties but of good strains 

 of vegetables for forcing. There is no line of gardening in which this matter 

 is of greater importance. Much time and expense is incurred in the growing 

 of plants under glass. It would certainly not be profitable to put so much 

 expense upon varieties which even when well grown are inferior. Well- 

 grown vegetables of good varieties and strains will demand the highest 

 market prices. The forcing of vegetables is a profitable and pleasant line 

 of work when properly done by the man who knows his business and 

 delights in his work. 



REFERENCES 



"The Forcing Book." Bailey. 



Illinois Expt. Station Bulletin 184. "Tests with Sodium Nitrate for Early Vegetables." 



Farmers' Bulletin 460, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. "Frames as a Facto* in Truck 



Growing." 

 Canadian Dept. of Agriculture Bulletin 224. "Greenhouse Construction." 



