18G THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Many of tbc crops sown in open beds in sprinr^, such, for in- 

 stance, as cabbage, cauliflowers, and lettuce, will require planting 

 out ; and as it is necessary to do tliis with some amount of care, a 

 few hints will, perhaps, be of service. It is well known that dull 

 showery weather is the most favourable for transplanting operations, 

 but it is not alwa^'s prudent to wait for showers, and by a very small 

 amount of extra labour very successful results may be ensured in the 

 driest weather. If the weather is dull and showery, take advantage 

 of it, and, if possible, plant before a shower, so that the fullest ad- 

 vantages may be derived from it. To cheat the dry weather, lay 

 down the line, and draw a drill where each row is to be, and previous 

 to planting fill them with water. These drills should be about four 

 inches in width and three inches in depth. To make neat work, 

 draw the foot along by the side of the line to break down the clods, 

 and after the drill is drawn fill it with water. The evening is the 

 best time for planting, and if the drills arc prepared during the day, 

 a very large number may be put out in. an hour or so. AfLer the 

 planting is completed, water the plants moderately, and they will 

 then bo placed under conditions most favourable to their becoming 

 quickly established. The drills will also enable the cultivator to 

 water more effectually, and with less trouble, than would be possible 

 were the planting done on the level. It; is not, as a rule, safe to 

 transplant until the plants' have attained a moderate size, because 

 of the risk of their being eaten with snails and burnt up with the 

 sun ; but at the same time they must not remain in the seed-bed 

 until they are drawn up eventually through overcrowding. 



The seeds to be sown now comprise cabbage and cauliflowers for 

 late autumn supply, endive, lettuce, radishes, spinach, turnips, dwarf 

 and runner beans, and early horn or intermediate carrots for drawing 

 young. The cabbage and cauliflower seed must be sown in beds 

 and transplanted, but the endive and lettuce should be sown in 

 drills where they are to remain. This is, perhaps, the only way by 

 which really fine samples can be obtained. A considerable saving in 

 labovir is effected, and to balance this we have a trifling waste in 

 seed; but it is very trifling, for it may be sown very thinly indeed. 

 The turnips require careful management at this season of the year, 

 and the best course is to sow in drills that have been filled with 

 water previously, and commence dusting the bed with soot as soon 

 as the young plants begin to make ttieir appearance above the 

 surface. A sharp look out must be kept, and the dusting commenced 

 as soon as the first few plants can be seen. The turnip-fly, which 

 commits such terrible havoc with the crop in dry weather, does not 

 wait till all the plants are well above ground before it commences 

 its depredation, but makes a beginning with the first plant to be met 

 with, and sometimes they will destroy each one as fast as it comes 

 up, and the whole crop is eaten up so rapidly that in consequence 

 the cultivator believes the seed he had used has not germinated. 

 The soot, if obtained fresh from the kitchen chimney, should be 

 mixed with a small quantity of dry dust to facilitate its regular 

 distribution. In the eveuing or after a shower is the best time for 

 its application, as it then adheres to the leaves. The bed may also 



