i87i.] 



CALENDAR. 



385 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



In the vegetable garden, order, cleanli- 

 ness, and well-filled plots are more gene- 

 ral now than at any other time of the 

 year ; it is unfortunate when it is other- 

 wise. AYe hear that rain has been abun- 

 dant mostly everywhere, and many of 

 the crops will be unusually luxuriant. 

 Those which are to stand through the 

 winter should be checked by lifting and 

 replanting : there may be time enough 

 for this, but it is a good system to have 

 it done early, to allow the plants — such 

 as Broccolis, Savoys, and Kale — to get a 

 fresh hold of the soil. Let every space 

 be filled up as it becomes vacant ; Po- 

 tatoes, Peas, Cauliflower, &c., when 

 cleared off, will make room for many 

 things — such as Coleworts, Broccolis, 

 Kale, Savoys, &c. "When opportunity 

 affords, prepare for winter Spinach : 

 deep trenching is necessary, and a posi- 

 tion sheltered from north and east is of 

 advantage. Sow the seed in rows 1 foot 

 apart, and thin out by degrees. Grubs 

 often do much mischief to Spinach, so 

 that careful thinning is necessary. Like 

 Parsley and other vegetables in winter, 

 crowding is attended by decaying leaves. 

 Onions may now be sown ; Tripoli 

 is a useful kind : drills 1 foot apart on 

 well-trenched ground, and soot or wood- 

 ashes dusted over the seed, answer well. 

 Sow hardy sorts of Lettuce and Endive 

 for winter work. "When lifted and 

 planted carefully on ridges they stand 

 well ; damp is much against them. 

 Protection of walls and south borders 

 are favourite positions of many for 

 these plants. Cabbage may be pricked 

 out when fit to handle, to get them sturdy 

 for their winter- quartere!. Sow more 

 seed to secure a good stock of plants for 

 spring planting. Cauliflowers for hand- 

 glasses may now be sown in cold and 

 late districts ; in southern and favoured 

 localities the third week of the month 

 will answer well for sowing. Turnips 

 may still be sown for winter and spring 

 use : Strap-leaved and White Stone are 

 good kinds for present sowing. Celery 

 may be earthed up as wanted. Dust 

 with lime to keep off snails ; keep the 

 stems compact, preventing earth from 



filling up the hearts. Late crops may 

 still be planted, but in northern dis- 

 tricts the produce cannot be expected 

 large. Peas which are to give late sup- 

 plies may require protection with nets : 

 large numbers of birds will return from 

 the harvest-fields and fall upon late Peas, 

 and devour them greedily. Parsley 

 should be well cleared of useless leaves 

 and inferior plants. Chervil, American 

 Land- Cress, and Golden Cress should be 

 sown in quantity. Herbs should be 

 taken in when dry, and hung up in 

 bunches under cover where they will 

 have plenty of air. Leeks may be im- 

 proved by earthing-up. Litter or manure 

 of any kind placed between the rows 

 is serviceable ; they can hardly be over- 

 done by manure and manure -water. 

 Kadishes should now be plentiful ; they 

 may now be sown in a larger breadth, 

 as they will remain longer in good con- 

 dition. Tomatoes must now be gone 

 over frequently, keeping off all useless 

 growths. Expose the fruit to sun and 

 air, and give manure -water to plants 

 bearing heavily. French Beans are 

 easily injured by frost, and a frame 

 and lights placed over a portion of the 

 crop may prolong the supply. Hoops 

 and mats may do much to save them 

 and Scarlet- Runners for a long time. 

 Eidge Cucumbers and Vegetable Mar- 

 rows, also, are the better of timely pro- 

 tection. Allowing them to become 

 matted is a great evil, which should be 

 avoided by timely and judicious use of 

 the knife. Mushroom -beds may be 

 made against a wall or on ridges covered 

 with hay in the open ground. Plenty 

 of horse-manure mixed with loam is 

 necessary. Good beds can be had by 

 lifting spawn from where Mushrooms 

 are growing in the fields. Let no part 

 of the garden suffer from the want of 

 hoe or prong. If weeds, by accident, 

 should get ahead, the most effectual way 

 of clearing them is by hand-picking, and 

 following up with the hoe and prong : 

 between crops the soil may be forked 

 over, burying everything in the shape 

 of weeds, but not injuring the vegetable 

 roots. M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 

 Pines. — That portion of the stock I supply next year, should, by the end of 

 which are intended for early summer | this month, have their pots well filled 



