i88i.] WALL-BORDERS IN KITCHEN-GARDENS. 5 



Potatoes are one of the most important crops, and to these I give 

 up about one quarter of the ridge at the foot of the south wall, and 

 one half of that along the west wall, securing the earliest tubers from 

 the former, and the heaviest crop from the latter. The soil used is 

 light and open, nothing being better than old hotbed soil with a good 

 addition of leaf-mould, or that obtained from a heap of balls of old 

 pot-plants. In such a mixture the Potatoes mature earlier, and are of 

 better quality than when grown in ordinary garden-soil. The time of 

 planting ought, to a certain extent, to be regulated according to the 

 weather and locality ; but a certain amount of risk must be run. We 

 usually plant about the first week in March, and find no better varieties 

 for the work than either Mona's Pride or Veitch's Ashleaf. The tubers 

 are previously sprouted, the strong central shoot only being retained, 

 and are placed 9 inches apart in a drill at least 8 inches deep, and 

 drawn along the centre of the ridge. To preserve the shoots, they are 

 moulded over with the hand, afterwards levelling with a rake, and 

 sowing Radishes thinly over part of the length, repeating the sowings 

 of the latter at intervals of about a fortnight. Wood's Frame Radish 

 is still one of the best for this work, the French Breakfast and the 

 early short-topped Turnip-rooted varieties being also very suitable and 

 good. The Potatoes are not moulded up, but require to be protected 

 from frost, the most critical time being when the growth is pushing 

 through the surface, as it is then very succulent and tender. Inverted 

 flower-pots, with a clod of earth over the drainage-hole, will ward off 

 a severe frost ; and when these are too small, branches of evergreens 

 or other contrivances are quickly and easily put over them. In this 

 manner we secure a fairly heavy crop of good Potatoes and Radishes 

 in time to closely follow those obtained with the help of a rough 

 frame and mats. 



Next in importance are Cauliflowers, and of these a number of very 

 serviceable heads can be had with the help of the south and west walls ; 

 and where but few or none are grown under hand-lights or in pits, 

 these sites ought especially to be utilised to the extent of about one- 

 fourth of the available space. In addition to those autumn-sown 

 plants wintered in frames, I find it a good plan to prick out a number 

 rather closely (about 4 inches apart) at the foot of the walls, early in 

 October. Medium-sized plants are preferred, and if these should be 

 inclined to grow freely, they are checked by being raised with a trowel 

 and pressed back again. Small plants this season have already with- 

 stood 10° of frost; and though last winter the stock was killed by frost, 

 in most seasons such sturdy little plants will live in the open, and 

 be far more suitable for early planting than are those wintered in 

 frames — at least as these are generally treated. Early in March they 

 are thinned out, and all gaps made good, finally disposing them about 

 15 inches apart, and in a single line. Should these exposed plants be 

 killed during the winter, some of those preserved in frames are substi- 



