i88i.] 



CALENDAR. 



433 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



Where there are means to keep gar- 

 gens in good order, one expects at 

 this season to meet with neatness and 

 cleanliness in every department. All 

 refuse of crops which have served their 

 purpose may be cleared oflF, and the 

 space prepared and cropped with 

 Spinach, Lettuce, Cole worts, Endive, 

 or whatever may be wanted during 

 the winter months. Should there be 

 no demand for these, it is well not to 

 waste labour and raise produce to be 

 thrown away. The ground mav be 

 deeply trenched, if subsoil will allow ; 

 and when sunk to its ordinary level, 

 the surface may then be ridged to the 

 action of the weather, which does a 

 deal to purif}^ the ground. But close 

 cropping with little vacant space dur- 

 ing the winter is pleasing and protit- 

 able alike. Cabbage for main crop 

 may be pricked out till they are strong 

 and fit to transplant : when thus 

 treated they are more likely to com- 

 bat with a severe winter. The ground 

 we prefer for Cabbage is where the 

 Onion crop has been cleared and stored. 

 Some loose material, such as what the 

 rubbish-heap contains, may be turned 

 into the bottom of trenches to give free 

 drainage during the winter. A quan- 

 tity of good manure may be put under 

 the top spit, and drills drawn for the 

 Cabbage plants, which may be ready 

 towards end of the month. Then 

 plant; and around each collar dust 

 with soot mixed with ashes and saw- 

 dust. The plants should not be al- 

 lowed to become stunted, otherwise 

 premature seeding may be expected. 

 Plant double thickness, so that plenty 

 of greens may be had by cutting out 

 every alternate plant. Soil can hardly 

 be too rich to grow this crop well. 



Cauliflower may be sown from the 

 end of August till October, accord- 

 ing to locality and means of pro- 

 tecting and growing them. When 

 they are early and gross, they are 

 liable to be injured by severe weather. 

 They may be pricked out, when ready, 

 on a sheltered border, and glass, if such 

 can be spared, placed over them when 

 frost is likely to be severe. Coddling, 

 of course, means killing the plants. 

 The earlier ones may be placed under 

 the protection of hand-lights which 

 will admit air and light freely. Two 

 or three successions of young Cauli- 



flower are very desirable, especially 

 when one remembers the severity of 

 the last and two previous winters. 



Celery should be earthed up well to 

 blanch it for earlier crops. A good 

 soaking of manure - water first will 

 cause a tender succulent growth, which 

 is very desirable — and a nutty flavour 

 accompanies tenderness. Stringy, 

 coarse Celery we consider most in- 

 digestible, and is often the result of 

 starving the plants on poor soil, or 

 of intense drought. Sow Salads, 

 such as Golden Cress, American Cress, 

 j Mustard and Curled Cress: the latter 

 two may be under glass protection now. 

 j Lettuce and Endive of sorts plant on 

 j sheltered borders well dug. Sow 

 Corn Salad and Radishes. Allow 

 no crops to become matted before 

 they are thinned. Sow Carrots of 

 the Horn class for drawing young. 

 Sow more Onions for spring and for 

 drawing young. Tripoli, White Lis- 

 bon, and Giant Rocco are of much 

 value in autumn where large mild 

 Onions are in demand. Leeks which 

 were planted in ridges like Celery may 

 now be earthed up, and well watered 

 with liquid manure. Peas to supply 

 late pickings may be molested with 

 sparrows : netting or other means may 

 be necessary for protection. Dwarf 

 Peas on a sheltered border are often 

 useful in autumn, and can be protected 

 from early frosts hj hoops and mats. 

 A full crop of Spinach sown now on 

 deeply-dug ground, with a good dusting 

 of soot and ashes thrown over the sur- 

 face of the soil, may be a profitable 

 and exceedingly useful crop during 

 spring, succeeding the August sowings 

 when they have been severely picked 

 and tried by frost. Parsley should be 

 trimmed of all rough leaves prepara- 

 tory for winter. Rank growth, which 

 often rots the j'ounger leaves, is sure to 

 be destroyed. A quantity of Pars- 

 ley should also be in a sheltered posi- 

 tion, where temporarj^ protection may 

 be given during a period of snowy 

 weather. Store Herbs by first drying 

 them in the shade, and hanging up 

 afterwards in dry and airy quarters. 

 Lift Potatoes as soon as they are fit : 

 by leaving them in the ground they 

 are liable to disease. In some local- 

 ities, such as our own, it is better to 

 sell the crop for immediate use, and 



