Jan.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



615 



was directed in the CiiUnary Gardeuy should have been co- 

 vered in autumn with Uttery dung, leaves, or similar preven- 

 tives, to keep out the frost. 



It is immaterial of what age the roots may be, provided that 

 they are strong and vigorous, and have produced a good crop 

 of strong shoots the preceding season. Some gardeners lay 

 much stress upon the age of the roots, some recommending 

 roots of two years' growth and upwards. We have, however, 

 found strong healthy roots of thirty years' growth succeed 

 equally well with those of four or five years' standing. Cer- 

 tainly, roots above four years' growth, are to be preferred to 

 those under that age. 



The roots should be carefully taken up, injuring the long 

 fleshy fibres as litlle as possible, and removed to the prepared 

 bed, which should, previously to the plants being placed upon 

 it, be covered with a few inches of dry light sandy earth, no 

 matter how poor, rotten tan or loamy sand will answer equally 

 well. When this stratum of mould is laid on, and levelled 

 over the surface of the bed regularly, begin at one end of the 

 bed, and place the roots closely together in regular order, 

 keeping the crowns uppermost, and all of them as nearly level 

 as possible. A bed of three lights, and of the ordinary di- 

 mensions, will require not more than six hundred roots, if 

 they be young, but a much less number of old and larger ones 

 will fill it; this must depend, however, entirely upon their 

 size, older ones, of course being larger, fewer will be required, 

 and a frame of the usual size of three lights, will, under ordi- 

 nary good management, produce a dish every day for nearly 

 three weeks. The roots being thus placed should be covered 

 with some finely sifted light dry mould, and sprinkled first thinly 

 over them, to allow of its filling up the spaces between the 

 roots ; after this th^ should be covered with any light mould 

 or rotten tan, to the depth of four or five inches. The bed 

 being thus finished, should then be covered with the lights. 

 Should the heat become too strong, the glasses may, at any time, 

 if fine weather, be taken entirely off during part of the day, 

 which will allow the rank heat to escape, and, until the buds 

 begin to vegetate, cannot injure the roots ; but this will seldom 

 happen, if the dung has been properly prepared before using 



