i88i.' 



CALENDAR. 



185 



attention. Where winter crops have 

 been well pricked out, preparatory to 

 transplanting, ground where Pota- 

 toes, early Onions, Peas, and Beans 

 are removed, may be put in order at 

 once fai" some of the Brassica class — 

 Turnips, Spinach, or Lettuce — as de- 

 mand may dictate. Draw drills for all 

 things planted out ; thoroughly water 

 at first ; draw some dry surface-soil 

 over the newly watered portion, and— 

 except in rare cases — no further water- 

 log is necessary : dribbling instead of 

 a soaking means entire defeat of the 

 object in view. When small seeds are 

 to be sown, give the space a watering 

 the night previous, and set to woik 

 sowing the fo lowing morning. The 

 clearance of crops should not be left 

 till the last portions are gathered ; a 

 littery appearance and delay are caused 

 by such false economy. Market-men 

 cannot be easily imitated by private 

 growers in clearing off the crop — sell- 

 ing it, and manuring and cropping the 

 ground the same day ; still the op- 

 posite extreme may be avoided as far 

 as possible. Artichokes should not be 

 left on the plants to flower; better to 

 cut them and put what are not required 

 in the manure - heap than allow the 

 plants to suffer. Asparagus in full 

 growth should not be allowed to be- 

 come crowded : the plants to be forced 

 are all the better for their purpose 

 w^hen they are kept thin. Broccoli 

 may be planted from the store-beds or 

 borders ; but one must consider to 

 what extent they are justified in plant- 

 ing this precarious crop, which has 

 been so generally destroyed during 

 the past three seasons. Stiff slowly 

 grown plants are most likely to stand 

 severe weather — and when planted on 

 ground which has not been broken up 

 for some time, they have a hardier con- 

 stitution ; but this, or laying them down 

 in autumn, did not save many last 

 year ; and except those which came 

 from the Channel Islands and Cornwall, 

 the market supply was at a minimum 

 for quantity or quality. 



Cabbage may be planted in quantity 

 for autumn sup[)lies. AVhere those 

 which had the heads cut from them 

 are to stand for autumn and winter 

 supplies, the plantation of successions 

 are of less importance ; but a brake 

 of nice Coleworts or healthy young 

 Cabbage in autumn has a fine appear- 

 ance in a garden, and is very service- 



able. Sow for next season's supply 

 from middle to end of mouth. In 

 southern localities a sowing in Sep- 

 tember is valuable. Cauliflower may 

 be sown towards the end of month 

 for early supplies. They are, when 

 fit to handle, transplanted on Arm 

 ground, to be afterwards covered by 

 a frame or other protection ; but glass 

 should not be used till the state of 

 the weather makes it absolutely neces- 

 sary, "Coddling" is often a greater 

 destructive agent than absence of 

 protection w'hen plants have been 

 prepared for it : shelter on a west or 

 south border suits well in some locali- 

 ties. Celery should be earthed-up for 

 early supplies. Give a soaking of 

 manure-water, then follow it with a 

 drenching of clean water overhead. 

 Keep the hearts clean when earthing 

 is going on, and the stems should be 

 u]iright. Mulch lately planted lots ; 

 short grass answers when no better 

 material is at hand. More may be 

 planted : though it may not grow to 

 large size, it will be firm and sweet, 

 and ver}^ servicable. Lettuce and 

 Endive sow twice during the month. 

 Thin and plant former sowings. A 

 stock of Batavian Endive will be found 

 a useful addition to the salads w^hen 

 good Lettuce is not easily had. 

 The nutty flavour of Batavian Endive 

 is generally appreciated, and the plants 

 are verj^ hardy. Onions may be sown 

 from middle to end of month, accord- 

 ing to localit3\ Some sow as late as 

 September, but it is not safe to risk 

 late sowings in late localities. The 

 Onion crop is often ready to lift during 

 this month, but seldom is it quite 

 ready before September. Bulbs fully 

 developed may be helped in the ma- 

 turing process by twisting the necks 

 — and we have known some to tread 

 down the tops to prevent late sappy 

 growth ; by such aids to maturation 

 the keeping of the crop is materially 

 enhanced. Peas for growing under 

 glass may be sown — dwarf kinds, of 

 course, A quantity may be sown on 

 an early border, and when well for- 

 ward they can be protected with 

 frames. In pits the same practice 

 may be carried out, and the lights left 

 off till the crop requires their aid. 

 The same answers well with French 

 Beans — only they are tender and re- 

 quire an amount of warmth later in 

 the season, O.sbora's, Williams', and 



