48 THE FLOKAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



autumn to keep through the winter, Uarly London While or 

 Walclieren. 



Cabbage. — This is, perhaps, one of the most profitable vegetahlea 

 that could be grown in small gardens, and well deserves generous 

 cultivation. In seasons of scarcity, a sowing may with advantage be 

 made in boxes placed in heat, to secure a supply at the earliest 

 moment possible ; but under ordinary circumstances, the plants 

 should be raised in the open ground. For the late summer and 

 autumn supply, sow in March and April ; and for the spring and 

 early summer supply, sow towards the end of July. The spring- 

 sown plants must be put out at intervals, according as the plants 

 acquire sufficient strength and the ground is ready for them ; and 

 those raised in July should be put out about the middle of September. 

 The distance at which they should be apart depends entirely upon 

 the sort, but, as a rule, the small sorts will require a space of twelve 

 inches and the larger ones eighteen inches each way. As a quick 

 growth is essential in the production of tender hearts, well-tilled 

 ground should be selected ibr all the plantations of cabbage. Barrs 

 Dwarf and IlilVs Incomparable are two excellent cabbages of small 

 size for sowing in spring; Evfield Market and JJlieeler's Imperial 

 two of the best large sorts for sowing in spring for main crops; and 

 for sowing iu autumn, to stand over the winter, Evfield Market and 

 Nonpareil Improved are the most useful, because of their haruiuess 

 and good quality. 



CucuMBLii. — To maintain a supply throughout the year requires 

 well-constiucted houses and much skill, but the production of a supply 

 from early summer until late autumn is a comparatively easy task. 

 Eor the summer crop sow the seed in March, and when the plants 

 are well above the surface, pot them off separately, and place near 

 the glass to afford them an opportunity of making a stocky growth. 

 In the meanwhile prepare a brisk hotbed, and vrheu all danger from 

 over-heating is past, put a barrowful of soil iu the centre of each 

 light, allow it time to be warmed through, and then put one plant 

 to each hill of soil. Shade when newly-planted, but as they become 

 well established, dispense with shaduig materials, and ventilate 

 sufficiently to prevent scorching. Syringe once or twice a-day, 

 according to the weather, water liberally, and close the ventilators 

 or lights rather early in the afternoon to husband all the sun-heat 

 possible. Stop at the fourth or fifth joint, train the shoots regu- 

 larly over the bed or trellis, and stop again when at from eighteen 

 inches or two feet in length, according to the space they have to 

 cover, and also nip off the points when the shoots reach the outside. 

 Apply fresh soil to the hillocks as fast as the roots come through, 

 and this must be done before the shoots have extended far, because 

 of the great risk of injuring them. The bed should, as a rule, be 

 made at two operations after the formation of the hillocks, and it 

 should consist of a mixture of good turfy loam, leaf-mould, and 

 manure. "When cucumbers are grown in ordinary wooden frames 

 placed on a bed of fermenting materials, the heat may be maintained 

 during the greater part of the summer by means of linings of grass 

 mowings, which should be placed round the sides as they are brought 



