432 



THE GARDENER. 



[Sept. 



and the Lettuce was all used up before 

 the Cabbage required the space. When 

 transplanting from the seed-rows, it is 

 necessary to have good sturdy plants. 

 When they have been previously 

 pricked out, they are comparatively 

 easily managed. Thin Lettuce so that 

 a full crop will be left on the ground. 

 Caulitlowers should be planted a few 

 inches aj)art where they are to remain 

 through the winter; a position well 

 sheltered from easterly winds is of 

 great importance ; damp, heavy soil is 

 objectionable. Thin Spinach to 6 

 inches apart. Prevent late Turnips 

 from being crowded by timely thin- 

 ning. Keep the hoe or prong at work 

 among all growing crops as late as it 

 can be done. Onions, if not already 

 pnlled, may be taken up to get them 

 ripened before the season is too far ad- 

 vanced. If the weather should be wet, 

 it will be advantageous to dry the 

 bulbs under the roof of an open shed ; 

 and if they are hung up where they can 

 be kept thoroughly dry, they will not 

 be hurt by frost. If Carrots are show- 

 ing signs of being attacked by vermin, 

 lift them all at once before they are 

 entirely destroyed. Carrots in many 

 localities are among the most difficult 

 crops the cultivator has to raise; 

 though the ground be ever so good, 

 the attacks of vermin may baffle every 

 effort to grow sound roots. For nine 

 years past we only succeeded three 

 seasons in having the roots entirely 

 free from the ravages of grubs, though 

 every cure for the pest we read or 

 heard of was tried, the ground being 

 of the finest quality for root-growth. 

 This season, with not the slightest care, 

 a large breadth of Carrots, excellent in 

 quality, shows no signs of,vermin ; one- 

 half of the ground was trenched, and 

 the other half turned over in a hurry. 

 Both lots have done well, but on the 

 trenched ground we have roots worth 

 more than double the untrenched land 

 has produced. Earth up Celery three 

 or four weeks before it is required for 

 use. Except it is growing very freely, 

 a good soaking of manure-water will 

 do much to increase the bulk of the 

 crop. Celery collars (Simpson's pa- 

 tent) we have really found very useful. 

 Their aid keeps the plants nice and 

 compact, and helps forward the work 

 speedily. Leeks may be helped for- 

 ward by the use of manure-water and 

 mulching ; where earthing-up is in- 

 tended, let it have attention before it 



is too late to be serviceable. We have 

 planted our late Leeks much further 

 ai)art this yearthan usual, and also man- 

 ured heavily, and we feel sure that the 

 crop will make up its value in fpiality. 

 Earlier lots sown and thinned out have 

 been earthed up and in iise more than 

 a month, and will give all we can desire 

 up to the end of the year. It is a good 

 practice with all winter crops not to 

 depend entirely on one sowing or plant- 

 ing. Lift Potatoes as the tops die 

 down. If there is not time to spare 

 for lifting the tubers, let all decaying 

 tops and weeds be cleared away till a 

 convenient time. Let them be stored 

 dry if possible, and the covering should 

 not be i)laced over them till excessive 

 damp has evaporated. Much injury is 

 often done to roots of all kinds by cov- 

 ering them up from the air when they 

 are in a wet condition. Keep medium- 

 sized tubers for seed, and lay them out 

 thinly, if room can be spared. Any 

 seeds which may have been saved 

 should be kept free from the attacks 

 of birds ; they should be laid out thinly 

 to dry, but not baked in the sun on a 

 hot surface, as is sometimes the case, 

 and the vitality of the seeds almost 

 destroyed. Keep up supplies of salads ; 

 sow large quantities of Cress ; sow 

 more Eadishes, and cover them with 

 lights or other means, French Beans 

 may now be sown in pits which can be 

 heated, or in pots to take under glass. 

 Gentle hotbeds, which can have a lin- 

 ing placed round them when the wea- 

 ther gets colder, answer well, and give 

 supplies far into the autumn. Ridge 

 Cucumbers can be helped in a similar 

 manner. Vegetable Marrows can be 

 kept in bearing condition late into the 

 season by protection with hoops and 

 mats, but glass protection is better. 

 Tomatoes which were sown last month 

 (with the view of kee])ing up supplies 

 all the year round) should not be drawn 

 up in heat ; let the plants grow with 

 plenty of light and air as long as it is 

 safe to do so. Cuttings we have often 

 found answer well, and have some on 

 hand at present ; like Cucumbers, they 

 are more fruitful than seedlings. Cap- 

 sicums can be brought forward in any 

 warm position. If they are fully grown, 

 they can be pulled out by the roots, 

 and hung up where they can get heat 

 from a chimney or flue. Herbs not 

 gathered should have attention at once ; 

 dry them in the shade. Beds of warm 

 horse-manure may be thrown up behind 



