52 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



beds neither too wet nor too dry, and an even temperature of from 

 55° to 60° after the beds commence bearing ; never spawn the 

 beds till the thermometer is falling below 85°. When the beds 

 begin to decline bearing, give a watering of warm rain-water in 

 which a little salt is mixed ; then cover up with dry hay for a 

 week or ten days. 



Parsley. — Sow seed in March, and again in May. Early in 

 August cut over a portion of the beds, and as soon as it has 

 started into growth lift the roots and plant them out in cold 

 frames for a winter supply. 



Onions. — For a winter supply sow in March in drills on rich 

 ground, and made firm before sowing. Salt and soot are both 

 excellent manures for this crop. The latter should be sown 

 broadcast over the beds soon after the plants are thinned out.. 

 For spring and summer use sow in August ; these can also be 

 transplanted in spring for successional supplies. Some wood- 

 ashes sprinkled on the surface of the beds will often prevent the 

 winter frosts from lifting the plants out of the ground. 



Tomatoes. — These are now in universal use, hence they should 

 be grown in every garden. They strike freely from cuttings, and 

 if these are inserted in small pots in August, and placed in a hot- 

 bed, they will soon root, and, if planted out in a house kept warm 

 during the winter, they will produce fruit all the winter. These, 

 as a rule, come into bearing much earlier than plants raised from 

 seed. In warm parts of the garden they will ripen in the open 

 air most seasons, but for a constant supply they should be grown 

 under glass for nine months of the year. 



Cucumbers. — For a supply of these properly constructed 

 houses are required. A high temperature is needed to produce 

 these in winter — from 65° to 75°. Abundance of rain-water at 

 the roots and on the leaves in summer are needed ; in winter 

 good light houses, with plenty of hot- water pipes for heat. Keep 

 the plants healthy and free from insects, and they are sure to 

 bear well. Like most plants, there is nothing like keeping up a 

 fresh supply of young plants, so that they may be ready at any 

 time to take the place of any that may show signs of decay. 



Lettuce. — This popular vegetable is more used in salads than 

 as an ordinary dish, and the great demand for nice crisp Lettuce 

 requires constant attention and the very best methods of culti- 

 vation to fully meet it. Sown in January on mild hotbeds it 



