A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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every two, in preference to the plan to cover over each stool sand or ashes
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sometimes recommended of planting; to the depth of about a foot ; tlie shoots,
three rows in beds seven feet wide. It' in their passage through it, l)emg ex-
the months of June and July prove dry, cluded from the light, are effoctually
the beds should be plentifully watered.
The seedlings require no other atten-
bleached. Dry clean straw may
scattered loosely over the plants
be
to
tion, during the first summer, than to
be kept free from weeds, and to be thinned
to five or si.\ in each patch. When
elTect the same purpose. But pots are
by much to be preferred to any of these
coverings. Common flower-pots, of
their leaves have decayed and are clear- large dimensions, may be employed,
ed away, about November, they must care being taken to stop the liole at
be earthed over an inch or two with dry the bottom with a piece of tile and clay,
mould from the alleys, and over this so as to exclude every ray of light ; but
about six inches depth of long litter those suggested by Air. Maher are gespread.
In the following spring the
litter is to be raked off, and a little of
Fig. 152.
the most rotten dug into the alleys.
When the plants have perfectly made
their appearance they must be thinned,
leaving the strongest plant, or, as Mr.
Maher recommends, the three strongest,
at each patch, those removed being
transplanted at similar distances if required
; but it must be remarked, that
those transplanted never attain so fine
a growth, or are so long lived. In the nerally adopted. They are of earthen-
second winter the earthing must be inware, twelve or eighteen inches in
creased to five or six inches deep over diameter, and twelve high. Mr. Sabine
the crowns, and the covering ol litter improved upon them by making the top
performed as before. In the third moveable, which prevents the trouble
spring, the litter being removed, and arising from the escape of the spread-
some dug into the alleys, as before, ing shoots, or the entire removal of the
about an inch depth of drift sand or dung at the time of forcing. Frames of
coal-ashes must be spread regularly wicker are sometimes employed, being
over the surface. The sprouts may covered with mats more perfectly to
now be bleached and cut for use ; for, if exclude the liglit. See Rhubarb.
this is commenced earlier, the stools Previously to covering the stools with
are rendered much less productive and the pots, &c.,the manure laid on in the
much shorter lived. In November, or
as soon as the leaves are decayed, the
winter must be removed ; and the operation
should commence at the close of
beds being cleared of them, the coating February, or at least a month before
of sand or ashes removed, and gently the shoots usually appear, as the sliel-
stirred with the asparagus-fork, they ter of the pots assists materially in
must be covered with a mixture of three bringing them forward. In four or six
parts earth from the alleys, and one part weeks after covering the plants should
of thoroughly decayed leaves, to the be examined, and as soon as they apdepth
of three or four inches. The pear three or four inches high, they
major part of this is to be removed in may be cut; for if none are taken until
the fi>llowing spring, the beds forked, they attain a fuller growth,
and the covering of sand renewed, this comes in too much at once.
the crop
In order
routine of cultivation continuing during to prolong the season of production,
the existence of the beds.
Mr. Barton recommends plants to be
The above course is the one also pur- raised annually, so that every year a
sued if the plants are raised from ofT- cutting may be had from a yearling
sets or cuttings, as it is by much the crop, which come in much later, and
best practice not to commence cutting consequently succeed in production the
until they are two years old. old established roots. The shoots
B/fUif/ifng: may commence the second should be cut whilst young and crisp,
spring after sowing. The most simple not exceeding five or six inches in
models that originally adopted, namely, height; the section to be made just