It was called 'the hungry gap'. While the staff were fed tired offerings from the root store, the head gardener had to play a horticultural conjuring trick to provide his master with luxury vegetables.
Harry grows marble-sized potatoes in pots under glass, cuts asparagus from the forcing house, and uncovers seakale shoots, the colour of 'carved ivory'.
Using modern equipment, Peter demonstrates the effectiveness of hot beds in advancing young plants. In the glasshouse the peaches make good progress, while at the bottom of the garden a beehive is introduced.