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THE rORCING GARDEN. 



683 



FORCING ASPARAGUS. 



Successional beds should be prepared for asparagus, both 

 at the beginning and also at the end of the month. (For direc- 

 tions see last month.) 



FORCING FRENCH OR KIDNEY-BEANS. 



Kidney-beans succeed well, if planted in large pots, and 

 placed in any of the forcing-houses, where a sufficient tempe- 

 rature is kept up ; that of the pine-stove is the best suited for 

 their production. They should be sown in shallow pans or 

 boxes, and when two or three inches high, transplanted into 

 pots of one foot diameter at their top, three or four plants in 

 each pot, and placed upon shelves as near the glass as pos- 

 sible, so that they may enjoy a sufficient share of light. In 

 all situations, French-beans require a rich soil ; for this pur- 

 pose, the pots should be half filled with good rotten dung, 

 and upon this the young plants should be placed, covering 

 their roots an inch or two w^ith rich light mould ; and as they 

 advance in growth, let fresh mould be added to their stems, 

 until the pots be filled to the top. They should be liberally 

 supplied with water at their roots, and often sprinkled over the 

 top, as they are extremely liable to be infested with the red 

 spider. As they advance in growth, they should be supported 

 with small branches stuck round them, to prevent their being 

 broken. In such situations, under ordinary good manage- 

 ment, plentiful crops of this esteemed vegetable may be ob- 

 tained during the greater part of the winter, and all the spring 

 months, until they can be procured in the open borders. 

 Sometimes pits and frames are used to produce this crop ; but 

 where there is the advantage of a pine-stove, they can be 

 more conveniently procured. 



