Appendix II. 



French Gabdening, and Other Gardening Under 



Glass. 



INTENSIVE cultivation reaches its climax for the 

 present in what is called the French System, in vogue 

 in and about Paris, and in some parts of England, 

 where rents are so enormously high that even an inch 

 of space counts, and must be made to produce its ut- 

 most. It has not been in favor in this country, because, 

 so far, the pressure of rent has not compelled people to 

 look so much after the inches. But, if the present land- 

 tenure system continues, there is no telling when the 

 French system of cultivation will become a necessity. 

 In its simplest terms, the French system is hot-bed 

 cultivation with perfect fertilization and irrigation, 

 usually without artificial heat. The secret of it is — 

 manure, unlimited quantities of it, of the finest quality 

 and rotted to about the condition of leaf-mould. The 

 beds are made on the top of the earth, the foundation 

 being fresh stable manure that has been turned several 

 times and thoroughly sweetened. Cover an area suffi- 

 cient to accommodate the number of frames you intend 

 to use, with great quantities of manure, so that after it 

 has been tramped, pressed and roUed flat, it wUl be from 

 6 to 8 inches deep at least. Sometimes it is made two 

 feet deep. The frames are then placed on this bed, Hhe 

 manure extending well beyond them on every side, and 



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