572 



THE GARDENER. 



[Dec. 



grows only such plants as will stand considerable knocking about for the decora- 

 tion of apartments and other indoor purposes. Altogether the meeting was one 

 of the most interesting that has been held for some time, and one could wish 

 the Society's affairs were in a more prosperous condition than they are at the 

 present time. 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



If weather should be wet, and snow 

 lying on the ground, the usual course 

 of digging and trenching may be sus- 

 pended till the greater portion of the 

 snow is gone, and the surface dry 

 enough to walk on. Soil turned down 

 wet and in a puddled state is very in- 

 jurious, especially if the land is heavy. 

 There is always plenty of work in such 

 weather— such as making of pease and 

 other stakes, cleaning any choice seeds, 

 looking over roots and onions in store, 

 keeping all clear from decay. We 

 have known snow and manure turned 

 into dry gravelly ground together, and 

 prove advantageous. Get manure 

 wheeled on to vacant space requiring 

 it ; but this should be done judiciously, 

 and only where it is required. Rank 

 manure may be trenched down, but 

 well-rotted material may, as a rule, be 

 more serviceable when placed under 

 the top spit. Plenty of ground will 

 now be cleared where early broccoli, 

 carrots, and other roots have grown. 

 An arrangement made what is to 

 occupy it next season is of primary 

 importance, and manure may be given 

 accordingly. It is a good system to 

 arrange contemporary crops as much 

 together as possible. As examples, 

 leeks, parsnips, and celery on the same 

 plot will allow a large space to be 

 cleared and prepared at one time. Beet, 

 carrots, and second crops of potatoes 

 do well to be placed together; but 

 circumstances often prevent us doing 

 what we consider " systematic. " Econ- 

 omy of labour and of ground are 

 always important matters, A good 

 coating of soil, such as road grit, 

 thoroughly decayed leaf soil, sand, 

 rotted trimmings of walks, &c. , is often 

 more suitable for land than heavy 

 dressings of rich manure. Deep trench- 

 ing suits all crops, whether the season 

 be very wet or extra dry. Where 

 chalk or lime can be easily got, it may 

 be judiciously used on heavy land. 



Some of the more important matters 

 at this season are protecting vegetable 

 crops from frost and damp. Celery 

 which has grown freely may be very 

 tender, and should be protected with a 

 coating of dry litter or fern spread 

 among the tops ; but when thaw sets 

 in, the covering should be placed in 

 heaps, leaving the celery clear to the 

 milder weather. 



Cauliflower, Lettuce, and Endive 

 plants should be freely exposed when 

 weather is mild. Fresh dry air is 

 beneficial to all plants under glass pro- 

 tection. Where French Beans have had 

 lights placed over them, and it is still 

 worth while to look after them, great 

 care is necessary in excluding frost and 

 damp. Ours, which have been thus 

 protected, are still affording pickings ; 

 but others forced in pots, and planted 

 out in pits, are now plentiful, and the 

 frames may be used for early Potatoes, 

 Carrots, Kadishes, Asparagus, &c. Keep 

 up regular supplies of these as far as 

 means will allow and demand requires. 

 But, as we have before mentioned, it is 

 false economy to keep up supplies of 

 these forced things when other impor- 

 tant crops or plants have to suffer in 

 consequence. Where there are means 

 and labour, large demands are easily 

 met. Potatoes may be potted for 

 planting out in frames ; let them sprout 

 under cool treatment, using light soil, 

 and scarcely covering the eyes. Those 

 forcing in pots should be kept thin in 

 the tops, and have plenty of air, and be 

 kept near the light. Those which are 

 planted out late in July, and protected 

 when frost sets in, and well matured, 

 are much finer than those forced in pots, 

 or the watery things grown in boxes 

 of earth in cellars, Kadishes may be 

 sown between the rows of potatoes when 

 planted out in beds. Early Frame, 

 French Breakfast, and Short-top are 

 three of the best for early work. Take 

 up Chicory, Seakale. Silesian Beet, and 



