THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 277 



established by the winter. Cabbage plants, like many less hardy- 

 subjects, suffer severely from wet and cold weather when exposed 

 to it before they have obtained a good root-hold. The rows stiould 

 be eighteen inches apart ; and the plants from fifteen to eighteen 

 inches apart in the rows, according to the variety. But where the 

 soil is naturally cold and wet, it is a most excellent plan to put in 

 each row just double the number of plants required. If they all 

 live tlirough the winter, every other plant can in the spring be 

 drawn out, and a second plantation formed if required. But if a 

 portion perish, as will most likely be the case, a reserve will be 

 available for filling up blanks. It is essential to plant firm. They 

 succeed admirably when planted in a quarter from which the earliest 

 crop of potatoes, or a crop of onions, has been obtained, provided 

 it was well manured in the spring or previous autumn. There is no 

 great objection to planting in recently manured soils ; and if no 

 plot manured in the spring is available, there must be no hesitation 

 in manuring moderately, and digging up the soil to a considerable 

 depth previous to putting the plants out. 



Early in the month strong plants of the hardiest of the Cos and 

 Cabbage Lettuce should be planted in a frame for use early in the 

 spring. Prepare the frame by forming a bed nine inches in depth, 

 with sandy soil, leaf-mould, and manure. Then plant six inches 

 apart each way, and leave the lights off" until a sharp frost is ex- 

 pected. Provided the plants are dry, a sharp frost will not do them 

 much harm ; but it is not prudent to expose them to it, for if 

 caught by a frost when wet, they frequently decay in the centre. A 

 good batch of Curled and Batavian Endive should be put with the 

 lettuce or in a frame by itself. At the end of the month a portion 

 of the lettuce and endive ready for use may be lifted most advan- 

 tageously, and put in a frame. Both these adjuncts to the salad 

 bowl generally suff"er considerably when fully exposed to the wet 

 and frosts, and consequently an eff'ort should be made to aff'ord 

 them protection until required for use. The plants must be 

 lifted with good balls of soil, and moved in a careful manner, so 

 as not to bruise the leaves. They can be packed quite close 

 together in the frame. In all cases, frames filled with lettuce 

 and endive must be ventilated freely at all times, excepting when 

 the weather is very wet or frosty. In fine dry weather the 

 removal of the lights altogether will be most advantageous, as all 

 that is needed is protection from moisture and frost, which so 

 soon cause the hearts, when blanched, to decay. 



Spinach and other crops sown in August must be thinned 

 moderately. It is best not to thin too severely at present, but 

 at the same time, none of the crops must be left in a sufficiently 

 crowded state to be injured thereby. The earthing up of celery 

 must be proceeded with as required, and advantage taken of periods 

 of dry weather, as it is not good practice to earth up celery when 

 wet, whether from dews or rains. There will be other matters 

 requiring attention in the kitchen garden, but I have not felt 

 justified in occupying more space than is necessary in directing 

 attention to work of pressing importance at the present moment. 



September. 



