' + 



iKisii (i \i<1)1-:mng, 



JAM AkY 



i.nal i-.u.- sliiMilil l»i- laki-ii iiol lo iiiiiin- llu' hi.iiKlios 

 i<i'i>ai'k ol' \oiiiiif fruit li-«'fs. .is ilisi'.'isi* oi iMiiki'r iiMiallv 

 funis ail iMiliMini- l»y siuli wmiiuls. aiul in riiaiiv lasos 

 t-aiise llu* ileal li ol the tivo. WIkmu'm-i sikIi woiimls 

 aro nolirinl Ihey sliouUI In- parod pfrfi-i-lly cIimii with a 

 sharp knifp. ami if a ilisiii(<>>Maiii In- ruhbi'ii in tin- 



WOllllll so llllull till" Iviu-i. 



dcii. 



I he Wgctablc ( i.i 



jiy J. C. rv>M K. 



I-^KKKNMAI. \I-:c-.I:T.\MI.KS. Llioiii' pin-iu.ial 

 \ i'iji'ial>li" i-iops ii'ijuiri", ami imli'Oil ili'soiv i-, imiili 

 iiUMV slmly, i-aii'. ami aKcniioii than is usually 

 Ik'nIowoiI iipi'n tlu-ni, ami a suilahle si-ason is now at 

 ii ami for niakinif new planlalions, or for tho improxc- 

 inent of those alreaily niailo. The first plaee amongst 

 ihe>.e may he assiijneil to the ilelieate asparagus. 

 Most well euiiivatecl soils will urow it well, but in ileep 

 -amiy >jroniul it rewls. It often happens, however, thai 

 those nioxt anxious lo eiiltivate it cannot eoinmnnd soil 

 i>f that nature ; they may feel eomforteil hy the fact thai 

 by the adililion of suitable material any ilry poilioii of 

 iheir jfaiilens may be brou.y^hl iiuo |->roper eoiulition foi 

 the production of luimlsome ciops foi- many years. 

 When the initial portion of ihe work has been well ;ind 

 honestly c.irried oul, asparatfus beds have been known 

 lo List for fully thirty years. 



The prese^nt is a jjood time to have beds prepared. 

 Provided the ground is deep ami ilry. a very lu.uy 

 ilressinij of rotten stable manure should be dug into the 

 lower spit ; this caimot be ihoroughh' or most coii- 

 \»'nienily ilone unless the upper foot of soil be removed 

 entirely, at least for a portion of the bed. Manure of 

 the same description is added in the course of returning 

 ihe top spil but in a less degree, ami so the work proceeds 

 unlil the bed of beds 

 are finislied. The most 

 convenient width will 

 be about three feel 

 wiile ; beds of this size 

 cm be properly cared 

 without the necessity 

 I'ver arise of walking 

 on them. Two rows 



In fu mis h lliem. 

 or, il preferred, seeds 

 > ,-in be sown in March 

 or Aj-iril, lint planls 

 grown in ihis way 

 may not be cut from 

 nnl'il the third year. 

 The majorily tlu-re 

 fore would decide to 

 put in plants. .Shoiikl 

 Ihis be done two 

 ridges must be cut oul on the loj-t of the biil ; the lops 

 of these being five inche-, mulcr its level. C">n these are 

 placed Ihe roots, allowing them to fall down on either 

 side, placingthem about eigbleen inches apart and cover- 

 ing the crowns five inches deep, making all level again. 

 The months mentioned are the safest for the planting, 

 but the preparatory should he got through at once. 



Si \K\I.I-.. Ill-re is anolliei- ilioice vi'gelablc ot which 

 there is m \i'i too much to he h.id, ami coming lo table 

 .It a perioil when the range of good vegetables is some- 

 wh.it restricted il is doubly v.iluable. Rich, deeply- 

 Ireiiclied ordinary garden soil will ilo it full justice, and 

 strong roots can be planted during February and March 

 in rows two ami a half feet .iparl, le.tving eighteen inches 

 to two feet between the plants. Let them grow right 

 aw.iy liming their fust season, but reiluci- the shoots lo 

 one in ihe month of .May. .An alternative methoil ol 

 planting is lo pl.ice thii-e roots in a triangulai- position 

 ■ iboiii nine inches between each, these groups being four 

 fii'i .ip.il I. In e.'icli ca.se the crowns may be Kli luo 

 inchis uiuler ihe surface. The following ye.ir co.il 

 .ishes. lurf-moukl ov saiul ma}- be lu-.-iped ovev them for 

 blanching purposes ; those grown in s;ind are particularly 

 while ami soliil .iiul [■>ri-scnl ,i most deliglilful ;i|->pe;irance 

 on the table. 



.SoMKTHi.vi; N'l-:\V.— .\s a result of the intercrossing 

 of various forms of the cabbage family, Messrs. Sutton 

 pul before the gardening public two novel tv'pes i^l" 

 Hrassicas. the .S.-ivo}- sprout, ami the cabb;ige sproui. 

 .Apparently they are the result of crosses between 

 Ihe Brussel sprout and the York and Savoy 

 cabbages. Rather good-looking heads are formed at 

 the top, while the stems are clothed with useful-looking 

 sprouts, which in the case of the .Savoy variety will have 

 a special worth as adding .•inollur lo our winler or 

 spring vegetables. 



Early Potatoks.— .A very important matter that 

 claims allention wilhoul loss of linu- is the boxing of 

 early potatoes. Too oflen indeeil this is |iul otV until too 

 late. .\ol only should they be boxed, but a good light- 

 some position must be given to them so that ihc sprouts 

 maybe strong and sturdy. These may. with great 

 profit, be reduced to one before they are plantetl. 

 When conveniences exist some may be planted for forc- 

 ing in pots placed on shelves in the greenhouse or use may- 

 be made of heated pits or hot -beds. The quality^ of this 

 crop may not — one may sa\- will not- be Inst r.-ite. but 

 they will be new potatoes, ami as such will be ;i|ipie- 

 cialed very carh- in the year. 



Li-.TTICKS. -Sowings of llu'sr iii.ule soon on ;i hot-bed 

 or even in a cold frame will produce a very welcome 

 crop .-ibout .April. Small, quick hearting kimls of the 

 Commodore Nutt type will prove most suitable. A thin 

 ilistribution of the seeds will be very ,'ulv;inl.-igcoiis. ,is 

 transplaniing ninsl he carctiilly done solli.il no ilieck 

 is given. 



t'li.iRV. —The late lines will deserve some liltle care 

 lo ]-trevent the probable dangi i arising from severe 

 frost. Litter and clean straw are often ami successfully 

 used for this purpose, but give rise lo an appearance of 

 untidiness to the vegetable quarter. Much preferable 

 is it to make use of a few boartis, which can be easily 

 attached lo stakes driven in at each side of the trench. 

 lo Ihe i-ross pieces connecting the uprights one simple 

 tie with lar-lwine will seciiie them from being disturbed 

 and when not required they can be left in a handy posi- 

 tion alongsitle the trenches, lo be lixetl in a moment on 

 the coming of severe weather. The lean season will 

 soon be with us, and a little i:;ood management will go 

 far towards keeping up an unbroken supply. 



