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hardy vegetable. Rosette and Hardy Greea are 

 exoelJeiit varieties. Select a fairly open position 

 for sowing, that the plants may become nit e and 

 sturdy; as soon as large enough plant out ni rows 

 fifteen inches each way. 



Beet. — Where young roots are required make a 

 small sowing of a round variety on a rich piece of 

 grovnid. Thin the young seedlings to a foot apart 

 and give a good hoeing once a week. 



Tomatoes. — When grown outside get them 

 planted as early in the month as possihle. If the 

 young plants have been treated as advised the 

 first truss of fruit is swelling nicely. In cold 

 weather place a mat or piece of tiffany over the 

 plants. Keep all side shoots pinched out; see 

 that they do not suffer from want of water; 

 having been potted firmly the old ball of soil must 

 not be allowed to become dry; this would cause 

 the flower to drop and not set. On the other 

 hand do not afford too nnich water; this would 

 cause all foliage and no fruit. Pick all fruit as 

 it begins to colour and put in a warm position for 

 a few days. 



Celertac. — Select a good piece of rich ground for 

 this crop; keep the groiuid clean and the ])lants 

 well watered; during hot weather apply a nudching 

 of spent mushroom dung. This vegetable, to be 

 appreciated, must be grown fo a good size. Small 

 roots being useless, keep all side shoots picked off. 



Late Peas. — Make the final sowing of Peas from 

 the 12th to tlie 20th of tins month. Autocrat and 

 Late Queen are the l)est varieties I have foinid 

 for this sowing; Selected Gladstone is good where 

 it thrives. Continue to stake and mulch earlier 

 sowings; if the ground has been well trenched 

 they will not require water at the roots; a slight 

 spray on a warm evening is most beneficial. If 

 thrip becomes troublesome spray with a nicotine 

 insecticide, and if mildew appears dust over with 

 flowers of sulphur. 



Potatoes. — Give every attention to this im- 

 portant crop. Those planted ' under the south 

 walls are turning ovit well. Fork between the 

 rows of all other Potatoes and gradually draw the 

 soil up to the stems till ail are well earthed up. 

 Old Potatoes in store must have all the young 

 shoots removed. 



Onions. — This crop is now making rapid pro- 

 gress; assist them by surface hoeings, and if the 

 weather is hot and dry give a slight syringing in 

 the evening. Give the large growing varieties a 

 slight dressing of nitrate of soda, and give every 

 attention to mulchings, and if water is required 

 thoroughly soak the beds. I have received many 

 questions regarding the sowing of onions this past 

 month from amateurs, who are afraid that, be- 

 cause they have not been able to sow owing to 

 the continued wet weather, there is no hope for 

 this season's crop. Seed can be sown any time up 

 to August, and will prove most useful in flavour- 

 ing. Of course one must not expect large bulbs. 

 If mildew appears dust well with lime and 

 sulphur. Where autumn sown Onions are bolting 

 to seed break the pipe off close to the bulb and 

 use these first. 



Leeks. — Leeks are now requiring every en- 

 couragement. Give plenty of water and add a 

 few more inches of paper t-ollar, drawing a little 

 fine soil to the bottom of the stem as the growths 

 lengthen. 



P-vrsley. — A sowing of Parsley should now be 

 made in a quarter of the garden where frames 

 may be placed over during the winter months. 



Lettuce. — Choose a shady border for growing 

 ciisp Lettuce during hot weather. Draw shallow 



drills and sow very thinly; thin the plants to 

 12 inches, and allow them to mature where sown. 



Garden Swedes.— During the past few years 

 garden Swedes have been greatly improved. Sow 

 as early in the month as possible in drills eighteen 

 inches apart and thin down to about eight inches 

 in the row. Keep the ground constantly hoed and 

 perfectly clean. 



Turnips.— Continue to make small sowings in 

 shady or north borders according to the demand. 

 Make the soil fairly rich, adding plenty of wood- 

 ashes and soot. If the ground is very "dry water 

 the drills before sowing. Where the tin-nin flea 

 is troublesome spray with a weak paraffin "enuil- 

 sion and artificial shading. Veitch's Red Globe 

 and Early Snowball are excellent varieties for this 

 sowing. 



Dwarf Beans.— Sow good breadths of Dwarf and 

 Butter Beans and Haricots on ground lately 

 occupied by the lat^. Broccoli. The Haricots re- 

 quire a longer season and all the pods must be 

 allowed to ripen and not picked in the young 

 state. The Dutch lu'own variety distributed in 

 1917 l)y the R. H. S. is most ex'cellent and will 

 greatly help the vegetable list during the winter 

 months. Our French friends make nuich more 

 use of this vegetable than we do. In gardens 

 visited in France I have seen all the beams of the 

 open sheds filled with this crop ripening ready for 

 use. The cottagers also grow and use large 

 quantities. 



Runner Beans.— Piace tall sticks to the Runner 

 Beans as soon as they appear through the soil. 

 Mulch the ground between the rows, and on warm 

 nights a good syringing will greatly improve them. 

 Those planted out of pots are making rapid pro- 

 gress and will soon be in flower. Make a final 

 sowing for latest supplies. 



Beet. — Sow a few rounds of round Beet to supply 

 fresh roots before the main crops are i-eady for 

 use. Thin out to" ten or twelve inches apart and 

 give constant hoeings. 



Spinach. — Sow a little Spinach on a north border 

 every week during the next few weeks, as it so 

 quickly runs to seed. Make another sowing of 

 Spinach Beet, also the New Zealand Spinach, the 

 latter in rows three feet apart. The latter loves 

 the hot wciither and grows at a great pace. 



Winter Greens. — Plant out all winter greens, 

 &c., as they becon)e fit; allow plenty of room for 

 the strong growing Kales, Broccoli, &c. ; water 

 the plants in if the ground is at all dry. Watch 

 the Cauliflower every day, covering the curds 

 with two or three leaves. When they attain the 

 size of cricket bal's a few hours exposure to the 

 sun and strong lights soon spoil them. Give a 

 mulching of long litter to keep the ground moist; 

 run the hoe through the various plots as 

 frequently as possible. 



Mushrooms. — Continue to collect fresh 

 material for Mushroom beds in dark, cool sheds 

 or under a north wall. Prepare and make the 

 beds as advised in an earlier calendar. 



General Work.— Endeavour to keep the whole 

 garden smart and clean. As one crop becomes 

 finished remove and plant another at once. 

 Allow no ground to stay idle. Give all plants 

 support when needed; all insect pests destroyed. 

 When watering with water drawn from pipes 

 allow it to stand before using, to take the chill 

 off. 



Hardy Fruit Garden. 

 Strawberries.— In light soils give the Strawberry 

 l)eds a thorough soaking before nuilf'hing and 



