U2 



THE GARDENER. 



[?^Iarch 



©aUntrar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



The cultivation of vegetables perhaps 

 never was more popular, and encourage- 

 ment to exhibit fine produce nev?r mure 

 liberal, than at present. Among some of 

 the leading prizes offered to tempt cul- 

 tivators are several from Carter & Co, 

 A number of novelties are mentioned, 

 ■which will have to appear in the vari- 

 ous collections. The London Horti- 

 cultural Society are also giving more 

 attention to this useful branch of gar- 

 dening, b}' encouraging gi'owers to send 

 collections to their exhibition-tables. 

 And in every nurserym-m's seed-list we 

 have received, numbers of novelties are 

 offered as improvements on Avhat has 

 been sent out previously. Many of the 

 *' novelties " sent out during the last 

 few years we have proved to be good, 

 if not always new. Careful selections 

 from old standard kinds are sometimes 

 honoured with a new name ; but gen- 

 erally we have been pleased with our 

 purchases, as one does not regret get- 

 ting back an old friend which was long 

 supposed to be extinct. The difficulty 

 of getting some kinds of vegetables true 

 (after they have been in the market a 

 few years) is known to most cultivators. 

 Broccolis, Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Let- 

 tuce, are among the most difficult to ob- 

 tain true to name — at least, according to 

 our experience. Soil and climate, how- 

 ever, have often to decide what should 

 be grown and what may be discarded. 

 Broccolis have been destroyed in many 

 places this season, especially in the south 

 of England and some parts of Scotland. 

 We have lost some, but those which 

 have stood best are Lack's Late, Shear- 

 er's Late, and Carter's Champion ; Lau- 

 der's Superb and Gordon's Protecting 

 have stood better than some other kinds 

 — on poor ground they have stood best 

 of all. To turn the vegetable garden to 

 best account wdll require much energy 

 and forethought during this month and 

 next. If the weather should be very 

 wet, much difficulty will be experienced 

 in making a good start. To sow or plant 

 in wet and cold soil is often labour 

 thrown away and good seeds sacrificed. 

 Therefore, whenever a favourable op- 

 portunity occurs it should never be 

 lost, but every effort made to get in 

 the seeds, and have them covered warm 



and dry. Surfaces of soil well sweeten- 

 ed from having been exposed to the 

 weathergive comparatively little trouble. 

 Arrangement of crops, changing them 

 yearly, keeping the sorts from being 

 scattered about in small patches aa 

 much as possible, surfaces kept open 

 by hoe or prong, absence of weeds, 

 keeping vermin in check, attention to 

 regular successions as demand requires, 

 thinning in time, and not allowing young 

 plants of any kind to become matted, 

 are some of the principal objects to be 

 kept in view for some months to come, 

 if ground is to be made the best of. 

 Ground on which Brussels Sprouts, 

 Broccoli, or Kale have been cleared, 

 should now be manured and trenched, 

 or dug up. Keep a suitable piece iu 

 reserve for Celery, which may remain 

 at present untouched, except keeping 

 it clean. Kale and Broccoli may be 

 taken to a shady corner, lifting the roots 

 entire, and placing them thickly in the 

 ground ; late gatherings will thus be 

 secured, and valuable ground set at 

 liberty for immediate work. Every 

 growing crop — such as Cabbage, Spin- 

 ach, autumn-sown Onions, &c. — should 

 have the hoe run through among them 

 as soon as possible, clearing them of 

 weeds and decayed leaves same time. 

 Sow the pi'incipal crops of Onions, Par- 

 snips, and Leeks ; the latter to be sown 

 in a bed or border, to be planted out 

 when large enough. Sowing and thin- 

 ning them like Onions gives little 

 trouble, but blanching is then out of 

 the question, Aytoun's Giant (Henry's 

 I Prize of some) is very large in size, 

 I but less hardy, and not so firm as the 

 I True Scotch. Kale, Cabbage, Lettuce, 

 , Cauliflower, and an early kind or two 

 ■ of Broccoli, should be sown on a shel- 

 tered border, or ridge thrown up to 

 [ face the sun. If soil is heavy, the 

 seeds will vegetate more quickly if the 

 I drills are filled in with light waste soil 

 or leaf -mould, free from sticks, &c, 

 "We have known soil so heavy and tena- 

 cious that drills had to be made with a 

 spade, and charcoal -dust used to fill 

 them in, and splendid crops raised. A 

 good start for seeds is half the battle, 

 as when they are enclosed with a cold 

 battered surface, which excludes sun 



