114 
more than two prime objects in view, as to the application of the 
hand-glass ; and these two occupy the glasses by a most simple 
course of culture most of the year. Thus, with these cultiva- 
tors, they will be found occupied from October until the ensuing 
April, with Cauliflowers, which obtain high prices in the metro- 
politan and other markets. No sooner are these nursed out of 
danger, through the March winds, than preparations are syste- 
matically made to receive them on a plot of ground devoted to 
Cucumber culture. Here they are at once removed, and con- 
stantly occupied, from April until July, or even much longer. 
Some other occupations are, at times, found for them, but they 
are, for the most part, subordinate to these two objects. Euoug'h, 
we trust, has now been said to show that the horticultural pro- 
ceedings of the amateur and the commercial gardener, do not 
lie precisely in the same way ; and, therefore, the arguments, 
pro or con, as to the economical bearing of any given structure, 
are not, by any means, etjually applicable. Certainly, for the 
propagation of half-hardy, or bedding plants, as they are now’ 
popularly termed, hand-glasses, or small striking glasses, are 
very eligible ; and may, in that case, prove useful auxiliaries to 
the protectors. 
We need hardly descant here on the forms and sizes of the 
common hand-glass, our readers being, doubtless, thoroughly 
acquainted with those every-day affairs ; we must now advert 
to some other matters, to which we ought to have pointed at 
page 100 of the Auctariuin, where the programme of our sug- 
gestions will be found. We do intend, after a description of these 
structures, to show how all forcing or protective affairs, as far as 
the amateur is concerned, may be carried out; pointing to 
modes of culture as identified with this system. In the course 
of these remarks we shall have to deal with the forcing of as- 
paragus and sea-kale ; but as the forcing of these dainty escu- 
lents, in the opaque protectors, will be chiefly confined to the 
old mode of removing roots from the open ground, we beg to 
say a few words on an old system of forcing the before-named 
vegetables, where they grow; in which case a sort of protection 
is already in use, somewhat different in character from that 
which we shall propose. We here allude to span-roofed opaque 
frames, with brick walls about the beds, which have been in use 
for many years ; but we do not hence wish to be understood as 
