276 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



SEASONABLE WORK IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



BY GEORGE GRAY, 

 Head Gardener, Ewell Castle, Surrey. 



•MONGST tbe work requiring attention during the month 

 of September, lifting and storing the potato crop is by 

 no means tbe least important. Tbe potato crop is this 

 season rather light, although fi'ee from disease ; and it 

 is needful that all the care possible be taken of the pro- 

 duce. At the present moment the crop is in nearly as much danger 

 as if threatened by the disease, and will be in danger so long as it 

 remains in the ground. Owing to the drought, and the hot forc- 

 ing weather experienced at intervals, the tubers completed their 

 growth early, and are ready, as soon as the autumn rains come, to 

 start vigorously into growth, and produce a second crop of tubers, 

 or, as it is termed in scientific language, " supertuberate." The 

 young tubers will be quite worthless, and those now ready for lifting 

 will be ruined, as they will become hard and quite unfit for eating. 

 The crops should be lifted at once, whether the haulm has died 

 down or not. Many people are afraid of the potatoes not keeping 

 when lifted before the haulm has died down ; but there is no cause 

 for fear, provided they are stored in a proper manner. The potatoes, 

 if the ground is quite dry, may be taken direct to the clamp ; but if 

 moist, they should be spread out in a dark, dry shed or loft for a 

 few days ])reviou8ly, to insure their being thoroughly dry ; as when 

 stored in a wet state, they rapidly deteriorate. In sm^U places the 

 potatoes should be stored in lofts, sheds, or cellars, if the space can 

 be found for them, as they can be examined during the winter with- 

 out difficulty ; and they will also be more readily available foF 

 supplying the kitchen as required. They must have a thick covering 

 of hay or straw to keep the air from them ; and the place iu which 

 they are stored must be kept as cool as possible. If it is needful to 

 clamp any portion of the crop, the flukes and other late keeping 

 kinds should be stored in that way. 



In digging potatoes the several sizes must be assorted, and those 

 intended for sets next year be placed in a cool, airy place. It will 

 not matter if they become quite green from the exposure, although 

 it is quite unnecessary to " green " them by laying them out in the 

 sun, as is so frequently recommended. The grand point is to keep 

 them from growing, as the production of young shoots — which have 

 to be removed — weakens them very much. Towards the f^pring, it 

 will be an advantage to spread them out even more thinly, to 

 insure the production of shoots so short and stubbly as not to be 

 readily removed. 



The crop of cabbage for use next spring and the early part of 

 next summer, must be planted without delay. The first or second 

 week in the month is quite late enough, as after the middle of the 

 month there is hardly time enough for the plants to become well 



