i87i.] 



CALENDAR. 



487 



©alentrau 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



Asparagus will soon be showing a 

 yellow tint, gradually ripening : when 

 ripe it should be cut down. The beds 

 or rows require to be cleared of weeds. 

 Some cover the whole surface with a 

 coating of manure or soil ; many leave 

 it alone. Asparagus is a hardy plant, 

 but when grown so large as it is often 

 met with, it is tender, and liable to rot 

 in the ground. Frost and wet often 

 finish it. "We believe that keeping 

 the plants as dry as possible, especially 

 in northern and damp districts (where 

 the plants are late in maturing their 

 growth), has moi-e to do with keep- 

 ing the roots healthy than is generally 

 recognised. Cabbage is often planted 

 in quantity in the south at this season, 

 but in the north it is better to keep the 

 plants in sheltered quarters and plant 

 them in March. The smaller plants 

 are often left where they were sown, but 

 it is better to lift them and replant 

 them in sizes, leaving them equidistant. 

 Lettuces should not be allowed to re- 

 main too thickly in the beds. When 

 thick they are easily destroyed by frost 

 and damp. More may be planted under 

 walls on ridges, or in turf-pits. A 

 quantity of full-grown plants may be 

 lifted and placed under shelter, giving 

 them all the light and air possible. 

 Dustings of lime, soot, or small coal- 

 ashes should be placed among young 

 plants to keep slugs in check. Endive 

 may be blanched by placing a board 

 over the plants, keeping them from the 

 air. Tying them v;p answers well for 

 blanching, but only a few should be 

 done at one time, according to demand ; 

 they soon root when weather is damp. 

 Cauliflowers, if not already planted 

 under hand-lights, should have attention 

 soon, keeping the covers on when 

 we.ither is severe, but giving all the air 

 possible while mild weather prevails. 

 Celery should be earthed-up to its full 

 height before the weather renders it 

 impossible to do the work well. Many 



are still opposed to the "one-earthing" 

 system, which is attended with more 

 risk if left very late and weather should 

 set in wet. Carrots may be lifted and 

 allowed to lie on the ground a few 

 hours to diy a little, and then be placed 

 under cover, with straw thrown over 

 them, or placed in pits the same 

 as potatoes. Beet may be treated in a 

 similar manner. Keeping them from 

 being shrivelled is a great object. The 

 tops should not be cut off too close to 

 cause bleeding. A few Parsnips may 

 be dug up at short intervals as required. 

 They generally keep best iu tlie ground 

 till they are about to grow at the crowns. 

 Onions, if still out, may be lifted and 

 trimmed as the tops die down ; if they 

 can be exposed to sun and air some 

 time before they are stored in cool dry 

 quarters, they will keep all the better ; 

 any that are likely to decay should be 

 kept separate from the sound ones. 

 Keep Parsley free fi'om decaying leaves, 

 and all inferior kinds kept off. Keep 

 Spinach from becoming too thick ; let 

 the plants at least stand clear of each 

 other. The sooner Potatoes are lifted 

 now, the better they will keep. They 

 should be stored away dry. Vegetable 

 Marrows, French Beans, Tomatoes, and 

 ridge Cucumbers can often be kept 

 growing weeks longer than they other- 

 wise would if timely protection is 

 afforded. Salads, such as Mustard and 

 Cress, may now be grown in boxes, 

 allowing them to have plenty of air for 

 some days before being used. If a good 

 breadth of Eadishes is coming into 

 use, they will keep late in the season 

 in good tender condition. Every vege- 

 table crop should have the soil stirred 

 frequently, and no decaying leaves be 

 allowed to remain. All vegetable refuse 

 should be cleared to a suitable place, 

 where it can be mixed with other ma- 

 teria], to rot and form "dressing," 

 which is valuable for many purposes. 

 M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Suckers potted in August 

 and early part of September will now 

 grow freely, and will require to be well 

 aired to prevent their drawing, espe- 

 cially if they are plunged rather thickly 

 than otherwise. After the middle of 



this month the night temperature 

 should not range higher than from 60° 

 to 65°, according as the nights are cold 

 or mild. The bottom-heat should be 

 lowered to range from 75° to 80°. 

 Should there be any fear of the largest 



