SEPTEMBER. 
193 
8 inches apart in the rows. The ground between the rows is frequently 
hoed to kill weeds, and to keep it open and loose. 
When properly attended to, it will he fit for use towards the end of 
October. In gathering Winter Spinach for use, the largest outer leaves 
only should be picked off; those in the centre of the plants should be left 
to grow bigger. By going carefully over it in this manner the plants will 
yield a supply of leaves all the winter and spring. A portion of the winter 
crop should, if possible, have a few spare lights put over it. In the case 
of a heavy fall of snow it can then be more readily gathered. The more 
that can be protected the better, for though hardy enough to stand very 
severe frosts, yet severe frosts and cold winds cut it up very much, especially 
if it be late-sown. 
By making two sowings, one about the end of July and the other about 
the 7tli of August, with proper attention afterwards, there is no difficulty 
in having plenty of fine Spinach be the autumn what it may. Should the 
first sowing get a little too forward it may be used first, and the second or 
late sowing will in that case in general be in fine condition to stand for the 
winter supply. When the sowings are made late the plants attain no size, 
they yield no supply of leaves, they get eaten up by slugs, and before 
winter fairly sets in, the greater portion disappears, and a want is after¬ 
wards experienced. 
Stourton, M. Saul. 
CULTURAL MERITS OF BEARD’S HOTHOUSES. 
The science of cultivation may be compared to a five-stringed musical 
instrument. The first string rests upon the earth, the second is plunged into 
the water, the third pierces through the air, while light and heat reach the 
highest notes, and complete the gamut of Culture. Vegetable Life is the 
piece to be performed on this instrument, the skill of the cultivator is the 
presiding artist, and the full-toned satisfaction of abundant produce, and 
the delicate touches of artistic beauty, are the gratifying results. To secure 
these, however, in the highest possible perfection, the performer must 
possess talent, and his instrument quality. This talent should include 
head-knowledge, hand-expertness, and discrimination of judgment. The 
first will provide a lofty ideal, the second embody it in practice, and the 
last pass a true verdict upon both. The instrument should also be charac¬ 
terised by structural completeness, facility of access to all its parts, and 
compass or power of expression. With such an instrument, and a presiding 
genius of versatile talent, the results can hardly fail to be satisfactory. 
Unfortunately it sometimes happens that both performers and instru¬ 
ment are bad, and then failure, utter and complete, is certain. More fre¬ 
quently the former has talent, and the latter is miserably faulty, and then 
success is difficult, but not utterly impossible. Occasionally, too, the best 
instruments fall into wretchedly stupid hands, which leads to the most 
provoking failures. All that is needed to render success as certain as the 
nature of our business permits of is—to drop our musical figure—skilful 
men, and good tools. 
Presuming that the former may easily be had for a fair reward, I desire 
to urge a claim here for the latter. Confining myself to the matter of glass 
houses, how thoroughly inefficient most of them have been, and are, for 
the object in view. That object may be defined as the perfecting of tropical 
produce in a temperate clime, or the changing of a winter climate into a 
