Book I. 



FORCING POTATOES. 



593 



gradually earthing up. When the beans have germinated, sprinkle the earth witli 

 water; after the plants have risen, give moderate waterings every other day — the last 

 crops may want water every day. Sprinkle also the leaves with water warmed by stand- 

 ing in the house. Those raised in shallow pans should be transplanted for fruiting when 

 two or three inches high. It is sometimes proper to stop luxuriant runners. These in- 

 cidental crops may stand in rows, on the flues, or on shelves ; but take care they do not shade 

 the pines and other principal plants. Por succession, sow everj' fortnight or three weeks. 



3376. Forcing in a peach or cherry house. Nicol observes, " French beans may be 

 successfully planted out in the borders of an early cherry-house or peach-house, so as 

 that they may not be overmuch shaded by the trees ; but they seldom do much good in a 

 vinery, where they are shaded by the whole foliage of the vines." 



3377. Forcing in a common hot-bed. " Under the deficiency of a house, you may 

 have recourse to a hot-bed and frame ; but the culture will be attended with more 

 trouble, the course will be longer, and the fruit is rarely so fine and plentiful ; nor 

 without fire-heat can the difficulties of late or very early forcing be so well contended 

 with. From the middle of February to the beginning of April is the most successful 

 period for forcing the kidneybean in a hot-bed. The early white dwarf, from its low 

 growth, is to be sown in preference to the kinds recommended for a stove, unless it be 

 intended to fruit the plants in a deeper frame than ordinary. The early yellow and 

 early black are next, as not growing very high. The temperature for the kidneybean 

 is 60° for the minimum, and 75° for the maximum of the fruiting-bed. In forcing 

 soon in the spring, raise the plants on a smaller bed, earthed over with light rich com- 

 post six inches deep. Sow the beans tliickly, covering them to the depth of an inch. 

 The second hot-bed should be earthed over to the depth of eight or nine inches. 

 Into this transplant the seedlings as soon as they are two or three inches high ; setting 

 them in cross rows twelve or fifteen inches asunder, by four or three inches in a line. Or 

 when the season is so far advanced, that one bed with the help of linings will bring the 

 plants well into fruit, you may sow at once, at the full distance, in a similar hot-bed, to 

 continue for podding. Cover the glasses every night with garden-mats ; also partially 

 in severe weather. Admit fresh air moderately every mild day, and give occasional 

 gentle waterings. The plants raised in Februaiy will come into bearing in April and 

 May, making moderate returns : a new crop every three weeks will keep up the suc- 

 cession : those sown at the beginning of April will last till the middle or end of June ; 

 when they will be succeeded by the early half-sheltered crops in the open garden." 



3378. Crop raised under glass to fruit in the open garden. " At the end of March, you may sow a small 

 portion under glass, for transplanting into the open garden in the first or second week of May. It is not 

 so well to sow in patches on the surface of the ground, as in small pots, because the plants can be turned 

 out from the latter with less check to their growth when transplanted. Sow three beans in each pot. 

 When the seedlings are two or three inches high, harden them by. degrees to the full air ; and plant them 

 on a good open border as soon in May as the season will suit. They will yield fruit about a fortnight 

 sooner than the earliest raised under exposure to the wedther." 



3379. Crop raised on slight heat. " A crop to fruit early in the open garden may be accelerated with 

 more certainty by plunging the pots containing the seed-beans into a gentle hot-bed ; or some sown in 

 shallow pans or boxes may be set on the shelves of a stove. Just at the opening of April will be early 

 enough to begin ; as the plants will otherwise get too forward for the weather, to proceed well without a 

 continuance of artificial heat. Having nursed them to the proper stage, plant out under a south fence, 

 either three inches apart, if in a single line, and eighteen inches by three, if in two lines ; or it may be 

 better to set the plants in patches of nine or seven, to receive the temporary shelter of a hand-glass, lest 

 the transition from a hot-bed, all at once, to the fluctuating air of spring be too violent." {Abercrombie.) 



3380. Insects. Nicol observes, that " the thrips often attacks French beans in the 

 hot-house; and, therefore, the plants should be fumigated with tobacco, which destroys 

 that insect." 



Sect. XI. Forcing Potatoes. 



338 1. The potatoe is forced in a great varietij of ways; but, " for a fair crop of tubers, 

 which shall be somewhat dry and flowery, and of the size of hens' eggs ; plant sets of the 

 ash-leaved variety in single pots, filled one third part with light earth, in January. Place 

 them in a hot-house or hot-bed, earth them up as they appear, and about the middle or 

 end of February transplant them with their balls entire into a pit prepared as for 

 asparagus. Distance from plant to plant one foot each way. Give water occasionally, 

 and admit as much air as possible at all times. Potatoes so managed will produce a 

 xirop the end of March or beginning of April." {Abercrombie.) 



3382. Forcing potatoes in hot-beds. -Abercrombie says, " A young crop is easily 

 obtained soon in spring, by planting the early dwarf, or the sort called mules, on a slight 

 hot-bed. Put in the sets pretty thickly, at six or eight inches square distance, as the 

 potatoes are not to grow large. If planted successively in January and February, they 

 will produce young crops for use in April and May, to be taken up in small portions as 

 wanted for present eating. During the growth of the plants, open the lights fully in the 

 middle of fine dry days ; but mat at night to guard against frost. Water attentively as 

 the mould and weather may require." 



