1266 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



otherwise be known only by their histories. The 

 botanist and florist find here a fund of constant en- 

 joyment. The horticulturist never tires : his pur- 

 suits are endless. The agriculturist finds here re- 

 laxation, amusement, and often instruction. And 

 all find a garden, blooming fair, and flourishing at 

 midwinter ! 



But even many market-gardeners, from the de- 

 mand they have for early fruits and culinary vege- 

 tables, and nurserymen in general, for the rearing of 

 exotic plants and flowers, are under the necessity of 

 having hot-houses of various descriptions, green- 

 houses, and hot-beds, in order to enable them to 

 carry on business, and answer the demands of their 

 customers. So much for the wealth of a great na- 

 tion, in which every luxury is cherished, and every 

 science is fostered ! 



This has been deemed the most expensive branch 

 of gardening ; and many, for want of success in it, 

 have no doubt had cause to be dissatisfied. The fol- 

 lowing remarks, the hints contained in the succeed- 

 ing sections, and the general tenor of the directions 

 throughout the kalendar, are intended to set forth 

 methods of forcing, simple and easy, and as little 

 expensive as the different eases will admit of. They 

 are the result of considerable experience, and of 

 much observation, for a period of twenty-five years. 



The success attendant on forcing, that is, produ- 

 cii|g fruits and flowers at an untimely season, and 

 in ail artificial climate, depends very much in how 

 near we approach to nature in the process. Of 

 course, it is necessary to introduce the imposed cli- 



