Jan.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



638 



FORCING MUSTARD AND CRESS. 



Mustard and cress, unless when grown upon an extensive 

 scale for the market, are seldom grown at this early season in 

 hot-beds, as in most families, the consumption is so small that 

 it would not repay the trouble and expense, unless grown in 

 small frames of one light or two, together with rape and other 

 salads, that are used in a very young state. Most gardeners 

 find a supply more conveniently procured, where there are hot- 

 houses, by sowing them in flat pans, boxes, or pots, and 

 placing them over the flues, or on the footpaths of their 

 forcing-houses. 



These seeds soon vegetate in almost any temperature, and 

 will arrive at perfection in any light soil. Rotten tan and 

 vegetable mould are most generally used for this purpose, upon 

 which the seeds are sown rather thickly, and sometimes covered 

 with half an inch of the same sort of mould, or left uncovered ; 

 by the latter plan, they are less liable to be gritty, or have 

 earthy particles mixed with them, which are not easily washed 

 out. For this purpose, boxes about four or five inches deep, 

 one foot broad, and of any convenient length are used, and 

 answer many other purposes extremely well, such as propa- 

 gating plants by cuttings, rearing tender annuals from seed, 

 &c. These boxes are filled with any light mould, and placed 

 over the flues, or in any convenient part of any of the forcing- 

 bouses. The seeds are sown in them, and watered ; in a few 

 days the salad is fit for use ; one box of the above size sown 

 with mustard, and another with cress, will produce enough for 

 any ordinary family for three days. There should be a num- 

 ber of such boxes, two of them sown every third or fourth day 

 during this month. If placed over the flues, in a stove or 

 other house of high temperature, they will require plenty of 

 water every day ; but in houses of lower temperature, less 

 water should be given, as they are apt to damp v/hen too 

 thickly sown, and kept over watered. 



Where the consumption is great, or where there is not the con- 

 venience of hot-houses, these salads may be produced in hot-beds 

 put up purposely of dung or leaves ; a slight heat will produce 

 them, hilt not so rapidly as when in a greater. Beds of two 



4 M 



