44 



THE GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



©altnttar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



The past auinmn being what is termed 

 "open" may have been advantageous 

 to those who have not had their pro- 

 portion of rainfall ; but in many dis- 

 tricts the continued floods have kept 

 ground- work almost suspended. When- 

 ever oi)portunity affords, there should 

 be no delay in getting all vacant spaces 

 turned uj) to the weather, trenching 

 as much as time will allow. Deep soil 

 has the advantage of suiting either wet 

 or dry seasons, and the fresh bottom 

 turned up is much like m.aiden 

 soil. Strong heavj'- clay shoidd not be 

 turned up in quantity, but only to help 

 very light soil. Frost will break it 

 down like powder, and it can be well 

 forked into the surface when the 

 ground is being prepared for cropping. 

 A sandy bottom can be used in the 

 same way to help a hea\'y surface. 

 Rank manure, free from sticks, does 

 much for heavy land when the material 

 is trenched down two spades. Drain- 

 ing is so essential to success, that we 

 need hardly refer to it. Where there 

 is not natural drainage, good drains 

 should be made, leading the waste 

 water to a tank or other storage. 

 Now is a good time for such work, 

 while much land is vacant. Get man- 

 ure wheeled on in frosty weather; 

 always keep in view what the ground 

 is to be cropped with. Manuring 

 should not be done at random, but 

 to suit what crop is to be grown, 

 changing the ground as much as 

 possible. Though some can with suc- 

 cess grow crops on the same soil many 

 seasons in succession, yet it is not the 

 most economical method of turning the 

 garden to account. Change of crop, 

 when done systematically, does much 

 to save manure, and systematic ar- 

 rangement saves labour. Where there 

 is variety of soil in the garden and 

 sheltered positions, they should be se- 

 lected to suit the early crops which are 

 likely to be got in during this month 

 and next. We do not advise much 

 sowing very early where there is not 

 I^roper means to give protection. 



Soil for Onions, Parsnips, and early 

 Cabbage, should be well exposed and 

 deeply worked to get it well sweetened. 

 Beans and Peas may be sown on shel- 

 tered borders to succeed those sown in 



autumn ; but when tur^^es, boxes, or 

 pots are used, the trouble of sowing, 

 protecting, &c., in the oi)en ground may 

 be abandoned. Now is a good time 

 to sow for planting out ; but no heat 

 by artificial means should be given, as 

 the jtlants would become drawn up, 

 weakly, and unfit for planting. Peas 

 in pots for supplies under glass should 

 have plenty of light and air. Look 

 after slugs, and destroy them. Chop- 

 ped furze placed over seed before 

 the surfacing of earth keeps mice and 

 rats in check ; and we think the Peas 

 are benefited by its keeping the sur- 

 face open. Red-lead does much to 

 keep vermin in check. An extensive 

 nursery-grower lately told us that they 

 never required the aid of nets to keep 

 birds from their Coniferee and other 

 seeds since they took to using red-lead. 

 Protect Peas with evergreen branches. 

 Those coming through the soil may 

 have old mushroom- dung, leaf -mould, 

 or wood-ashes placed over the tops for 

 protection. The earth drawn up an- 

 swers well. Get good stores of 

 Jerusalem Artichokes, Parsnips, &c., 

 under cover before the ground is frozen 

 over. Broccoli and Celery may be 

 taken in for supplies when snow or 

 severe frost prevails. Better to lift 

 Broccoli when small than lose 

 it by frost. When work cannot be 

 done in the ground, Onions may be 

 looked over, also Carrot, Beet, and all 

 stores under cover. Potatoes should 

 have extra attention, as in very many 

 places the whole stock for seed is de- 

 stroyed by disease. All seeds in stock 

 may be proved by sowing a pinch of 

 each in small pots, and if placed in 

 heat they will soon vegetate and their 

 true value can be easily ascertained. 

 We frequently repeat this advice, as 

 many new beginners are under the 

 impression that new seeds of all kinds 

 have to be purchased annxially. Worth- 

 less seeds should be destroyed at once, 

 as accidents may occur and give disap- 

 pointment. Early Carrots, Radishes, 

 double-bladed Onions, for salads, may 

 be sown in mild heat, and when they 

 vegetate, air and light must be given, 

 closing the structures entirely against 

 frost and wet. Potatoes may be 

 planted in pits : heat must not be strong. 



