IMPROVEMENTS IN GARDENING. 
403 
use was made of it; and as to forcing it, it never entered into a gar¬ 
dener’s head. But from the circumstance of this vegetable being often 
brought to table in the city of Bath, even as early as Christmas, and 
this, moreover, gathered wild on the southern shores of Devonshire, 
instigated gardeners in distant places to set about forcing it, which 
was found a most easy proceeding in many different ways, which need 
not be adverted to here. 
Planting asparagus in single rows, and forcing it in the open air by 
linings of hot dung placed in the alleys between the rows, is a new 
practice, but only followed in first-rate establishments, where there is 
full command of the necessary means. 
Rhubarb, which fifty years ago was only kept in gardens as a curi¬ 
osity, or for its roots, (used occasionally as a domestic medicine,) is now 
become one of our most useful culinary vegetables, rivalling and even 
preferred to the best-keeping apples, or to the most valuable preserves. 
This is, perhaps, one of the greatest modern discoveries and adaptations 
of vegetable matter to the use of man, that has been made for many 
years. Nor is it confined to the tables of the rich ; its culture is so 
extended that, in the season, it is within reach of every the poorest 
man. It is also forced with the greatest facility, and with a very little 
extra trouble may be had at any season of the year. It is also said 
that, in conjunction with its value as nutritious food, its celebrated 
medicinal virtues are at the same time administered, and in the mildest 
form. 
Even the old homely cabbage has received a share of the physiolo¬ 
gical acumen of enlightened moderns. It has been found that if its 
side-shoots, which rise from the stem after the principal head is used, 
be slipped off, and planted in good fresh ground, they will, instead of 
running up to seed, as they would have done if left on the mother stem, 
strike new roots, and turn to be good sizeable cabbage. Even this may 
be a useful expedient at times, when no young plants of sufficient size 
are to be had. 
Winter spinach has been brought to an uncommon size of leaf by 
sowing it thinly in richly-manured shallow trenches, which induces 
luxuriance; but it is only in very mild winters that this method of 
culture can be considered an improvement, as it is much more liable to 
be killed by frost than it is when sown broad-cast on the surface, as 
usual. 
But the modern improvements in gardening do not consist so much 
in the improved culture of the old culinary plants, as in the vast 
number of new varieties which have been added to the old stock. 
These are almost out of number. A seed-list now lying before us, 
