FORCING VEGETABLES. 
137 
Beans, Cucumoers, &c., and the plants inserted in the earth 
at once ; these will produce ripe fruit a month or six weeks 
earlier than those cultivated in the ordinary way. 
FORCING VARIOUS KINDS OF VEGETABLES. 
The following simple method of forcing vegetables on a 
small scale is recommended by a correspondent of a London 
magazine : 
“ Mushrooms in winter I obtain by a very simple, though 
not a new process. Provide boxes three feet long, and one 
foot eight inches deep ; a quantity of horse droppings, per- 
fectly dry; some spawn and some light dry soil. Fill the 
boxes by layers of droppings, spawn, and soil, which must 
be trodden perfectly tight ; repeat these triple layers till the 
boxes are full, and all trodden firmly together. 
“ ifour such boxes at work are sufficient for a moderate 
demand ; and of a dozen, four brought in at a time, and 
placed upon a flue of a green-house stove, will produce a 
fine supply. The surface of these portable beds may be 
covered with a little hay, and occasionally, though sparingly, 
watered. It is not absolutely necessary that they be set on 
the flue of a green-house ; a warm stable, cellar, or any other 
similar place, will suit equally well. This plan is also con- 
venient for affording a plentiful stock of superior spawn. 
“ The same sized boxes will also do for Asparagus ; but 
for this purpose a sufficient stock of three-year-old plants 
must be at hand ; also eighteen boxes, four of which are the 
necessary set to be forced at one time for a middling family. 
Half fill the boxes with decayed tanner’s bark, leaf mould, 
or any similar mould ; on this, pack the roots as thickly as 
possible, and fill up the boxes with the bark, &c. Any place 
in a forcing-house will suit them : on the flue, under the 
stage, or, in short, any place where they can enjoy the ne- 
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