210 THE GARDENER. [May 



vegetable. Dustings of salt increase vigour and help to keep the 

 beds free from weeds. More Peas might be sown for late crops ; and 

 if the ground is shallow, dry, and sandy, trenches should be dug out 

 and a quantity of rotten manure turned into them, and the Peas sown 

 and well watered, turning the dry soil over the moistened seed to pre- 

 vent evaporation. Mulching may be had recourse to, with great 

 advantage, where necessary. If the crops are turning in too quickly, 

 the straw may be well topped back, and the Peas thoroughly watered 

 at the root, and they will start into fresh growth and bear abun- 

 dantly. We fall back upon this system more or less every season, 

 with excellent results. Let the sowings be at regular intervals, accord- 

 ing to the requirements of the family. Broad Beans, if wanted, may be 

 sown for a late crop ; mulching and watering will help them. Top 

 those which are high enough to carry a good crop. Broad Windsor is 

 a useful sort for present sowing. Beet may be sown for a main crop, 

 and the earliest plants coming through the ground will require timely 

 thinning. If the seed has not come up well, plants can be care- 

 fully lifted and transplanted to fill up vacancies. When thinning, 

 leave the plants in the rows from 10 to 15 inches apart, according to 

 the strength of the leaves ; on poor soil they will be small, and the 

 roots rather tough when fit for use. However, rank manure gives 

 coarseness to the produce. Silver Beet is a very useful vegetable ; 

 it may be sown on any spare ground, the leaves to be used as Spinach 

 and Seakale in winter. Carrots may be thinned 8 to 14 inches 

 apart. The early Horn may be left thickly for drawing young as 

 required. Hoe, and dust with lime. If the crop is blanky, more 

 early Horn may be sowed to keep up a supply. Parsnips require 

 thinning well out to let in air. When very thick, the tops of the 

 roots become diseased ; 14 to 16 inches is not too much on rich deep 

 soil. Cauliflower may now be planted out for a main crop. To pre- 

 vent clubbing, a mixture of soot, cowdung, and red lead, made into a 

 puddle, and the roots dipped into it, answers well. A little wood- 

 ash put in with each plant is a good practice ; 2 feet or more each 

 way is not too much apart for the plants on good soil. The finest 

 Cauliflowers perhaps we ever saw were planted on a piece of ground 

 last season where Spinach was cleared off. There was no time for 

 digging or manuring it, but a surface cleaning was given. Holes were 

 made with a trowel in the hard soil, the plants were lifted with balls 

 attached to the roots, a preparation of fresh cowdung and earth was 

 ready, and a handful or two placed over the roots in process of plant- 

 ing ; a good soaking of water was given, and regular hoeing was all 

 the attention they had. Scarcely any rain fell from the time of plant- 

 ing till they were ready for cutting. We had three successions treated 



