30 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEH. 



[ ialj 8, 1889. 



follow with Winter Greens anil Turnips, which is, so far, a 

 good plan. Many, however, cut up their Calbages of the antumn 

 planting even before they are lirm and well-hardened in the 

 centre — the state in which we like to see Cabbages at a wortiog 

 man's table — and then follow with fresh young plants of Savoys, 

 or other winter vegetables. Now, if the ground is at all good, 

 or if soapsuds, dish washings, and other fertilising agents can 

 be poured on the Cabbage ground, we have great doubts it any- 

 thing else will yield the same amount of well-flavoured vege- 

 tables as these Cabbage stumps. On some of our lirst-cat 

 Cabbages we can count four or half a dozen young ones, which 

 will be good firm Cabbages by-and-by, and these will be 

 followed by younger ones, which wUl produce young Greens 

 during the greater part of the winter, if it he not very severe ; 

 in fact, until we clear themoli in spring. We like young Cole- 

 worts, which we shall plant-out directly, placing them about a 

 foot apart, and they give a tine supply towards the end of 

 autumn and the beginning of winter ; but even when they are 

 thus thickly planted and growing vigorously, we do not, space 

 for space, cut the same weight and quantity as ve generally do 

 from the old Cabbage stumps. We have been tcld that the 

 young Coleworts, A-c, are sweeter and more tender, but we 

 failed to perceive the difference. Of course, if the old Cabbage 

 stalks were dried-up and stunted they would be hard, but if 

 moderately cared for, the ground surface-forked, manure water 

 given, or a little manure thrown in among them, we are con- 

 vinced cottage gardeners would find no Greens more profitable 

 than the old Cabbages. Those who like Cabbages firm and 

 soft for the most of the year, will not be disappointed if they 

 keep the Cabbage stamps. 



This brings us to the .-iowiwi.i of Cahharicx. The first sowing 

 of such kinds as Atkins's Matchless, Shilling's Queen, and 

 Enfield Market, we like to make from the 3rd to the 6ih of -July, 

 following twice afterwards at intervals of a fortnight. If the 

 first sowing receive no check there is little chance uf the plants 

 running to seed. That, as in the case of Celery, is more owing 

 to checks than to mere early sowing. From this sowing fine 

 crisp Cabbages are obtained early, and we know nothing more 

 delicious than such a Cabbage just beginning to be firm, and 

 showing the blanched white in the centre. Some of our readers 

 are unfortunate with their Cabbage seed beds. If they sow in 

 dry ground, as it is now with us, the seeds are parched, and 

 come up irregularly. If they water after sowing, the ground, if 

 at all stiff, is apt to cake, and enclose the seeds in a waterproof 

 coat, which excludes the air, and in sunny weather there will 

 be cracks and chinks. It is never advisable, therefore, to sow 

 in very wet ground. When the ground has been too dry on 

 the surface, we have adopted two methods, generally giving the 

 preference to the second. In the fir.qt case we trend and rake 

 the ground when mellow after digging, and thou water it, 

 leaving it alone until the surface is rather dry. In the second 

 case we prepare the ground in a similar way, and scatter the 

 seeds on the fine surface, then give a gentle pat all over with 

 a clean spade, finally watering through the rose of a watering- 

 pot, giving sufficient to moisten the soil properly, but not ex- 

 cessively, and coming over with the rose two or three times, so 

 that there shall be no running of water on the surface. In a 

 couple of hours or so after this watering, when the surface is 

 hazelled over, we follow with a covering of light, riddled, 

 dryish soil — say about one eighth of an inch in thickness. 

 The seeds have thus a damp but not too wet a bed, to swell 

 and germinate in, and the dry surfacing secures warmth, by 

 arresting evaporation and the cracking and hardening of the 

 Borface, which would be the results of a rapid evaporation from 

 a smooth, damp surface. Of course, when the soil is suffi- 

 ciently moist, there is no need for such nicety ; but when 

 attended to there is every chance of uniform germination and 

 fine healthy seedlings. It is always best not to sow very 

 thickly ; but here we may recommend what we rarely practise, 

 as for reasons already stated, our seed beds are always too small, 

 so that we are forced to thin out quickly in order to keep the 

 seedlings sturdy. Last year we heard a great many complaints 

 about bad seeds, and dishonest seedsmen. We believe that in 

 nine cases out of ten the fault lay with the sower. 



Hoeing, planting, and watering other crops were our prin- 

 cipal operations in the kitchen garden, not forgetting what we 

 presume will be a final hoeing to the main quarter of Onions. 

 There was hardly a small weed to be seen, but a Dutch hoe 

 carefully run between the rows would cut up any invisible 

 ones, and keep the surface loose, thus preventing cracking. 

 Bent down the necks of the second lot of autumn-sown Onions, 

 to increase the size of the bulbs, watered young beds of them 



for salads, and sowed more for a similar purpose. Sowed also 

 a bed of Early Uurn Carrots for autumn and winter use, and 

 successions of Lettuces and Endive, as these can be planted in 

 any comer when ground is scarce. In front of a fence or wall 

 with a north aspect is a good place at this season, or the north 

 side of a raised bank. We have sowed Endive for the main 

 crop. In the end of the month we shall sow more sparingly, 

 as when the plants from this sowing pass the winter, they 

 come in useful in spring, before the Lettuces are suCBciently 

 hearted to be at their best. 



In all sowings when the ground is dry. we recommend allot- 

 ment holders to fullow less or more the plan recommended for 

 Cabbage seed, and, unless they are more fortunate than we are, 

 also to net, or adopt other means of protcclin'i tlu-ir sredhecU 

 from birds. We have good beds of Lettuces, Coleworts, &c., just 

 now that have not been netted, but wo watched them every 

 day, and some flag like pieces of black cloth were stuck in the 

 bed, which for the time frightened them. We saw small look- 

 ing-glasses suspended over seed beds the other day in a large 

 garden, and they were said to be very effectual. We found 

 them useful mauy years ago. We could not find out the 

 address of the maker. Small glasses, say ■'! inches by 5, in a 

 lead or metal frame would not cost much. We trust this may 

 meet the eye of some one who will be able to give more definite 

 information on the subject, as provided deterrents could be 

 made to suit one's purpose, anything would be better in a 

 garden than the poison pellet, or the report of a gun, so incon- 

 sistent with the quiet that should ever be associated with the 

 garden. 



Decayed Manure and Leaf Mould. — We are becoming short 

 of these. We have begun bottoming a rather deep earth pit 

 which has not been so summarily treated for three years, and 

 we shall obtain a fine lot of materinl which the passer-by 

 would have known nothing about. We have lately cleared off 

 from this pit a fine crop of Potatoes, which were at first pro- 

 tected by old sashes and litter. The gardener makes a mis- 

 take if he become satisfied with hot water for everything. 

 Without such beds to go to, we might look out In vain for 

 materials for mulching flower beds, leaf mould for compost, 

 &c. Another matter — It is always bad policy to have much 

 short grass or stable litter lying about doing nothing. We 

 have a rather large heap of grass and some litter now, and 

 we shall soon have it out of sight, well mingled m this hole; 

 and covered with rotten dung and soil, it will be of use for 

 many purposes, and afford material for giving heat, by mixing, 

 for late autumn and early spring crops. Our next lot of short 

 grass, we shall use for bottoming our rubbish heap, which 

 will cause it to heat, and in varied layers will make it rich in 

 nitrogenous matter. This heating helps to kill many weeds 

 and seeds of weeds, and thus uted the necessary rubbish heap 

 becomes an excellent enriching compost. Even it the supply 

 of fermenting material is good, it is generally bad policy to 

 have huge heaps lying about doing nothing. It conjures up 

 ideas that it might as well be employed elsewhere. 



ORKAMENTAL DEPAUTMENT. 



Besides the usual routine of grass-cutting, we shall only 

 refer to three things especially in the ornamental department. 



We have, in the first place, been putting in a lot of various 

 ]dnds of Pink cuttings and pipings. These will strike well enough 

 in sandy soil on a shady border under a hand-light, or a cover 

 of paper and calico. When dispatch is desired, they strike more 

 quickly and make stronger plants with a little heat below them. 

 We prepared, therefore, a bed of grass and litter aboutlS inches 

 deep, trod it rather firm, covered it with 3 inches of half-rotten 

 leaves, and then with a layer of somewhat rough soil, followed 

 by finer, and road sand on the surface. We covered with hand- 

 lights, and as the spot was sunny, shading will be necessary 

 by day, with the glasses shnt, and a little air must be left on 

 at night. In such a [lace Cloves and the hardier Carnations 

 strike well, and thus save the trouble of layering them. Nothing 

 yet equals this tribe of plants for the bouquet, vase, or 

 goblet of cut flowers, and quantity and rich scent will under 

 such circumstances be more thought of than fine shape and 

 quality. Many of the best, however, bloom freely in their 

 second year when moderately well treated. As previously 

 remarked, we rarely use a knife in making such cuttings, but 

 catch the shoot below a joint in the left hand, and pull it out 

 of the joint by the right hand ; generally it then comes out 

 with a cleaner and clearer base than any knife could make. II 

 a little film should adhere, that may be removed by a sharp 

 knife ; but out of some hundreds the other day the knife was 

 never required, as the cuttings or pipings were short and 



