Midland and Northern Counties. 



By .Mr. F. Streetkr, Ciardonor to B. IT. Barton, 

 Esq., D.L., Straffan House, Straffan, 

 Oo. Kildare. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



Autumn Trenching. — ^Where the crops are 

 being cleared from the ground and it is too late 

 to plant othei's, it is advisable to trench as much 

 as can conveniently be done each season. This 

 will bring the whole garden into much better 

 condition, and results will justify the extra 

 labour. This is the best time to prepare the 

 Onion ground for next season ; give a very heavy 

 dressing of manure, which, by the Spring, will 

 ])e in good condition for the plants to root into. 

 Leave the surface as rough as possible, the weatVier 

 will fine it down. In heavy ground add a good 

 dressing of leaf soil and road scrapings, burnt 

 earth and mortar rubble ; keep the wood ashes 

 stored in a dry shed ready for next seed-sowing 

 time. If by any chance it is impossible to 

 trench, ridging is strongly to be recommended, 

 so that the influences of frost and air may bring 

 it into better working order. If any readers are 

 in doubt as to the value of trenching, I would ask 

 them to do one square, and test it for themselves, 

 and try any crop they like. For Parsnips, 

 Carrots, Beet, Salsafy,&c., do not add any manure, 

 rely on a good depth of soil and a little artificial 

 feeding to get the crops well started. It is well 

 to bear in mind tliat a load of manure contains 

 about 10 to 12 lbs. of nitrogen, and one cwt. of 

 nitrate of soda contains as much nitrogen as a 

 load and half of the best manure. 



Celery. — In fine weather continue to place 

 a few more inches of fine soil to all growing 

 celeries ; if at all dry, give thorough soakings. 

 Pick off any pai't of the leaves infected with leaf 

 miner and burn. Continue to dust over with 

 soot when the foliage is damp, and keep a smart, 

 workman-like appeai'ance to the whole plot. 



Cabbage. — As soon as the August sown plants 

 become large enough, transplant to a south 

 border and the main bed in an open position. 

 Harbinger will require 15 inches, and the larger 

 Flower of Spring and April, IS inches in the rows. 

 Give the ground a good dressing of lime and soot 

 before planting, and be on the watch for insect 

 and bii"d pests. 



Carrots. — ^Lift any early-sown Horn Carrots 

 that are still in the ground and store in fine soil 

 in the store shed. The main crop having finislied 

 tlieir growtli will also require to be lifted ; any 

 defective and cracked roots should be used at 

 once, storing only the sound ones. If any are 

 required for tlie Autumn and Winter Exhibitions, 

 place them very carefully in fine soil by tlicm- 



selves. taking care not to damage tlie whip. 

 Keep the last sown crop constantly hoed and free 

 froni weeds. 



Cauliflower. — ]\Iake a final small sowing of 

 Cauliflower early in the month in a warm position; 

 these often become more useful batches than the 

 earliest sowing. Continue to watch the crop 

 now bearing, protecting from the sun and light. 

 Pull up and burn all stems as they are cut, and 

 keep all yellow leaves and weeds cleaned off. 



Potatoes. — Finish lifting all potatoes as they 

 become fit. Pick out the seed required for next 

 season, placing them in trays and storing in a 

 well-ventilated shed. Do not expose the tubers 

 to light and sun after they become dry or they 

 will quickly go green. Burn the haulm at once 

 whether disease is present or not. 



Beetroot. — As soon as tlie Beetroots have 

 attained sufficient size they should be very care- 

 fully lifted. Twist tlie foliage off, placing a layer 

 of leaves under each layer of roots whilst convey- 

 ing them to the shed, where they should be 

 stored in fine soil or sand. Take great care not 

 to bruise or break the skins, or this will cause bad 

 colour when cooked. 



Spinach. — Thin the plants that were sown 

 last month to 4 or 5 inclies apart, clioosing a dry 

 day for this operation, and running the Dutch hoe 

 between tlie rows when tlie thinning is finished. 

 Give occasional dustings of soot, and if slugs are 

 troublesome, give a good dusting of lime in tlie 

 evening. 



French Beans. — Anyone who has heated pits 

 to spare would do well to sow sufficient supplies 

 of French Beans to follow those in cold frames : 

 these will form a very choice dish during 

 November and December. Give plenty of air 

 during fine warm weather and syringe well witli 

 tepid water when closing early in the evening. 



Turnips. — Thin the Seedling Turnips to about 

 9 inches apart before they become too large. It 

 is a big mistake to delay thinning until the plants 

 become drawn and leggy. They must be given 

 every encouragement to make good roots before 

 the cold weather arrives. Any others that have 

 reached maturity should be lifted and stored 

 under a north wall ready for use. 



Peas. — Any gardener who is saving his own 

 stocks of peas should go carefully over those that 

 have been marked for seed. Select only the very 

 best and well-shaped pods. Pick tliem and store 

 in mice-proof drawers in the seed room. They 

 can be shelled and cleaned in wet weather 

 Always most carefully label any seed saved, as 

 it is not safe to trust to one's memory. 



Leeks. — Remove and clean any decaying 

 lower leaves of Leeks growing without the paper 

 collars. Before placing any soil around the stems 

 see that the soil is moist and not in any way dry. 

 If so, give a tliorough soaking of weak manure 



