The Garden Under Glass

CHAPTER XIX FORCING VEGETABLES ■There are two phases in the culture of vegetables under glass. Some are forced and brought to maturity under glass, while others are raised and forwarded under glass to be eventually planted out. Thus the subject naturally di vides itself into two parts. As for both purposes a hotbed will be found most useful, I will show how to make one. The question arises whether those with very limited glass accommodation should go in for forcing early vegetables whether they should not rather utilise their room for growing greenhouse plants and flowers and forwarding plants for the flower garden. Personally, I think that is the wiser course, but I know that everyone is anxious to score against his fellows and to show that he can get early vegetables. That I cannot well condemn, for I am myself strongly impelled by the same desire. Making a Hotbed A hotbed may be made of leaves, of stable litter, or of a combination of the two. The latter is the better plan, the pioportions being equal. The material should be spread in layers and be allowed to stand in a heap for several days. Then it may be turned over once, and after another few c ays made into a hotbed. The size of the hotbed will depend on the frame which is to be put on it. A clear space of at least eighteen inches should be left all around N ro H