1869.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 269 



old gardens that it is with difficulty plants can be preserved. A 

 handful of soot and lime placed round the collars of each plant is a 

 good old practice. Cabbage may be planted double the thickness 

 they are intended to remain : every alternate one can be cut out as 

 soon as fit for use. An early and a later kind, planted plant for 

 plant, answers well for double cropping, as the early sort can be cut 

 and used, leaving the late kind to monopolise the ground. Spinach 

 (not to waste valuable ground) may be sown between any of the 

 above-mentioned crops, or between rows of fruit-trees. New Zea- 

 land Spinach, grown on good soil, saves much trouble in keeping up 

 successions of the round kind. A good breadth of Swedish Turnips 

 sown towards the end of this month will be found valuable where 

 sweet crisp Turnips are required all through the winter. It is well to 

 sow two or three kinds at one time, as a good succession is thus easily 

 kept up. Red and White Stone and Snowball are great favourites 

 with us for sowing at this season. Young Carrots can be kept in 

 succession all through the season. As formerly advised, fresh earth, 

 free from manure, in some localities is almost indispensable for pro- 

 ducing Carrots of any kind. Beet should be thinned, and the best of 

 the thinnings transplanted if required. Onions (except those for pick- 

 ling). Salsify, Parsnips, and all such plants, if they have been only 

 partially thinned, should now be finished w^ithout delay : when they 

 are allowed to become matted at the roots, they are greatly injured by 

 it. Plant out Leeks in heavily-manured ground ; make good-sized 

 holes with the dibble, and let a little earth fall to the roots only. 

 Shallow ridges generally give fine long blanched Leeks. They are 

 extra feeders, therefore manure (solid and liquid) can hardly be given 

 too liberally. Potatoes and Cauliflower require plenty of surface stir- 

 ring with fork or hoe. The latter, if on poor ground, will be greatly 

 improved by mulching, and a soaking or two of manure- water. Wal- 

 cheren Broccoli may be sown with all safety in the south for a crop, 

 but it is often chance work in the north so late in the season. Broad 

 Beans may still be sown for a late crop if wanted : give mulching and 

 water to those on light poor ground, and top them to induce pod- 

 ding. Pease require attention by staking in time: plenty of water may 

 be necessary if weather, is dry. Top those which may be growing rank, 

 and if too many are coming in at once, topping will keep them back. 

 We have seen the shears used for this purpose, but it does not look 

 well for a time. To keep Pease in bearing, the pods should be taken 

 off before they ripen, and mulch as formerly advised. Celery may 

 now be planted for a main crop, giving plenty of manure and abund- 

 ance of water at the roots : dryness soon stunts the growth, and if 

 premature seeding does not take place, tough stems are certain. 



