THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



227 



preparations made during autumn and 

 winter. Practical gardeners very well 

 understand the importance of rotation. 

 Grow cabbage on the same spot all the 

 year round, and every year, and the 

 ground will get so sick of cabbage, and so 

 full of the weevil that causes ambury or 

 club, that the produce will at last be in- 

 sufficient to pay the cost of carrying it to 

 the kitchen. But there is no occasion to 

 follow an elaborate system; it will suffice 

 to let the crops on the same piece follow 

 each other, so that there shall be a 

 thorough change in the families. Thus, 

 after potatoes, which do best without 

 manure, plant a crop that needs heavy 

 manuring, as brocoli or cauliflower, pre- 

 paring the soil meanwhile by deep trench- 

 ing, and laying it up for the full influence 

 of winter frost, and (forget it not) for 

 autumn sunshine, for the very light fer- 

 tilizes by assisting in the decomposition of 

 organic and disintegration of inorganic 

 substances. Lands that lie high and dry 

 may be heavily manured now, and left 

 rough, to be sown with early peas, salads, 

 spinach, and other vegetables to come on 

 quick in the spring of the year. Ground 

 subject to be flooded should not be ma- 

 nured till spring, or the goodness will all 

 be washed away. Ground intended to be 

 drained should be drained now, that benefit 

 may be derived from the improvement at 

 once. Wherever Equisetutn or rushes 

 grow, the cultivator may be sure there 

 is need for drainage, and that the work 

 will soon pay for itself in increased pro- 

 duction. This is a better time than that 

 usually adopted for sowing speculative 

 crops. On lands that lay high and dry, 

 and are in good tilth, sow Mazagan beans, 

 and Dillistones and Daniel O'Rourke peas. 

 We believe Advancer pea, a very early 

 marrow, would have as good a chance of 

 passing through the winter safely as any 

 of the early kinds of the Emperor class, on 

 which we have always hitherto relied for 

 first crops. To those who do not mind the 

 risk of a shilling's-worth of seed, and 

 have positions suitable for sowing now, 

 we say, try Advancer, and hereafter let 

 us know the result. Lay down broccolis 

 with their heads to the north. Keep plots 

 of cabbage filled by transplanting from 

 late sowings. Take up carrots, and store 

 only the sound roots, and those to be stored 

 dry. Potatoes are never good if stored in 

 the damp; better give them all away, than 

 store them as some people do, to sodden in 

 wet, which renders them unpalatable and 

 unwholesome. Plant chives, which never 

 fail to furnish an onion flavouring for 

 soups. Plant also potato onion (a profitable 



crop), garlic, shallots, and tree onion — the 

 last-named excellent for picklin°\ We 

 never knew the ftost hurt any of these, and 

 we have planted generally at this season, 

 and often on very wet soils. 



Asparagus to be cut down to the sur- 

 face of the ground, be well cleaned, and 

 covered with four inches of half-rotten 

 dung. The spade must never be used 

 either on the beds or in the alleys. 



Cabbage to be hoed between, to destroy 

 the weeds which have abounded since the 

 autumn rains commenced. Plant out the 

 main spring crop, and earth up the col- 

 lards. Those last sown to be pricked out 

 to strengthen on four-feet beds. 



Cauliflowers to be planted out under 

 frames and hand-lights, and some potted 

 as previously directed. If there are many 

 plants still left in the seed-bed, prick them 

 out on a warm slope, or make up a raised 

 bed for them, so that they can have the pro- 

 tection of mats or hoops during sharp 

 weather. 



Rhubarb to be forced may now be 

 taken up, and laid on one side until it is 

 time to put in the boxes, or whatever other 

 position it is to occupy when forced. We 

 think the practice of blanching rhubarb 

 very objectionable, as it destroys both 

 colour and flavour. 



Root Crops. — In storing potatoes, be 

 sure they are dry first; if taken up in wet 

 weather, spread them out in a shed or out- 

 house, but do not expose them to the light 

 more than can be helped. Parsnips keep 

 best in the ground, to be dug as wanted. 

 Beet to be taken up at once ; cut off the 

 leaves an inch above the crown, and avoid 

 bruising or cutting the roots; carrots treat 

 the same; store both in sand or dry earth. 

 Earth up cardoons ; take up scorzonera 

 and salsafy, and preserve in sand. 



Winter Greens can scarcely be over- 

 done on the ground, though they may be 

 in the pot. As there is now much ground 

 vacant, another hunt of the seed-bed will 

 show some plants worth moving to plant 

 out ; if they do not make great hearts, 

 they will nevertheless be useful in the 

 spring ; and as the weather is very favour- 

 able, use up all that can be found, and en- 

 courage them by manuring the ground 

 before planting. Collards, savoys, kale, 

 and York cabbage will all pay even now, 

 if plants of any size are to be had. Brus- 

 sels sprouts are now coming iuto use ; take 

 off first the top cabbage when it is nicely 

 buttoned ; the sprouts will soon after swell 

 to a proper size, and are to be cut before 

 they open out their leaves. 



Fkuit Garden. — Fruit Trees that are 

 making gross shoots may often be com- 



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