I879-] 



CALENDAR. 



291 



f ul in autumn, but cold rains kept off 

 is of great moment in prolonging the 

 crop. Borecole of all kinds, Broccoli, 

 Cabbage, Cauliflower, Savoys, Brus- 

 sels Sprouts, and every variety of 

 the Brassica family, will require 

 attention this month by pricking 

 out the plants in nursery beds to be- 

 come strong, or planting out those al- 

 ready prepared permanently. Ground 

 which has been under good manipula- 

 tion during previous years, and now 

 made thoroughly firm for plants which 

 have to stand the winter (especially 

 when such a season as the past has to 

 be encountered), will give a greater 

 amount of safety to the crops. Those 

 who plant with crowbar may be called 

 lazy gardeners (they, in my opinion, 

 are the reverse, as it is a formidable 

 piece of work to plant in this way), 

 but as far as my observations go, they 

 may also be termed successful culti- 

 vators. All who have had experience 

 with this system know that short, 

 strong growth is made — much firmer 

 than loose rich soil produces. Plenty 

 of room for winter crops is of great 

 moment in securing hardiness. Cauli- 

 flower and Cabbage to give supplies 

 during summer and autumn can hardly 

 have too rich soil, and it may be 

 trenched as required. The same ap- 

 plies to Lettuce, which may now be 

 sown on very rich soil where it is to 

 grow for use. Sowing thinly and plant- 

 ing the best of the thinnings answers 

 well. Celery should be pricked out 

 for late supplies : a few inches of solid 

 manure, placed on a firm surface, and 

 a little fine soil in which to plant the 

 seedlings, is the usual practice, and I 

 think the best for ordinary gardens. 

 Large market-gardens cannot afford 

 time and labour for this system of 

 Celery raising. Plants ready may be 

 planted out in the ridges prepared for 

 them— whether in wide ridges to hold 

 three or four rows, or single and double 

 rows : in each case plenty of solid 

 manure should be allowed. We have 

 found Red Celery do best this season, 

 and stand the frost better than the 

 White. Dandelion and Chicory should 

 be sown, if not already done ; also 

 Endive of sorts where it is required 

 early. The latter should have a cool 

 shady position : it is apt to run to 

 seed when thus early sown. Onions 

 for salads should be sown frequently 

 where they are used for this purpose. 

 The main crops of Onions require 



proper thinning before they become 

 thickly matted and drawn ; cleaning 

 and surface-stirring is of much impor- 

 tance. While they are in their early 

 stages of growth, dustings of soot 

 and guano during showery weather is 

 a capital stimulant, and helps to pro- 

 duce large finely-formed Onions. Some 

 are under the impression that large 

 Onions will not keep well : our ex- 

 perience is the reverse. Large finely- 

 formed Onions, with collars small like 

 cord, bulbs 13 inches to 16 inches in 

 circumference, are useful, and keep 

 well to May. Turnips should be sown 

 every ten or twelve days at this 

 season, in small quantities to keep 

 a regular supply ; and avoid the 

 necessity of sending to table tough 

 and bitter roots, which is the case 

 when they are allowed to become old 

 and stand long on the ground. Es- 

 pecially if the soil is dry and in a 

 hot position, thin all such crops in 

 their early stages : sowing thickly is a 

 great evil, and one which drives the 

 spindling crop early to seed. Dust- 

 ings of quicklime, fine ashes, and soot 

 do much to prevent the destruction of 

 the young plants. Radishes require 

 similar treatment ; and before sowing 

 the seed during dry hot weather, give 

 a good soaking to the soil the night 

 before the seed is cast into the ground. 

 The thinning of Parsley beds and 

 Parsnips requires special attention : 

 those who do not thin, I fear will not 

 have many to imitate them among the 

 more advanced school of cultivators. 

 Where vermin (such as wireworm) 

 do the thinning, it is a different 

 thing. Some very old gardeners we 

 know do not thin their Parsley, but 

 their name is certainly not "legion." 

 The thinnings of Parsley, planted on a 

 border sheltered and free from damp, 

 will give capital supplies during win- 

 ter ; and a few lights or other simple 

 protection to save labour and trouble 

 during severe frost and snow are 

 worth their room. Potatoes may now 

 require a free use of prong or hoe, but 

 it is well to be cautious not to tear up 

 the young rootlets, as some do in their 

 energy to "hoe and earth up : " where 

 the shaws are very thick it is well to 

 thin them. Light and air into the 

 soil is an important matter when the fla- 

 vour is a desideratum. Spinach should 

 be sown in shaded and cool, deeply- 

 worked, and highly-manured land : it 

 should be thinned in time, or the 



