278 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



bush-fruits are grown largely in the kitchen-garden, they maybe added to the 

 group, and managed in the same way ; that is, plant a certain number ever}- 

 year and remove an equal number of old ones : by this a fresh piece of soil can 

 be devoted to grosser-feeding crops, which has long been innocent of them. 

 The principal point of culture for the Deepeneis is that the gi-ound must 

 be deeply worked, both at planting and taking up. For the Preparers the 

 ground should be trenched two spades deep, chiefly bastard-trenching, with 

 plenty of manure of good sound quality, or mixed with maiden earth. For 

 the Surface-crops merely pointing or forking manure into the surface, or top 

 six inches of soil, will suflBce ; after which, if again trenched two spits deep, 

 adding no fresh manure, the ground will be in excellent condition for the 

 most scourging of all crops, the Exhausters ; namely, broccoli, savoys, Brussels 

 sprouts, cabbages, borecole, &c. By working on some such principle as this, 

 the soil may be kept in a state of fertility for ages without fear of those 

 vexatious and disagreeable results which arise from want of method and 

 forethought. 



751. It should be observed, that to carry out this system of grouping and 

 rotation there must be no edging of beds with parsley, chives, or other dwarf 

 plants, for appearances ; no devoting particular corners perpetually to sweet 

 herbs for convenience ; no edging the quarters with strawberries, or "what- 

 not;" but every plant must take its place and turn as pai-t and parcel of the 

 whole ; every variety and species must perform its part in preparing the 

 ground for a successor : it may appear difficult, but it is practicable. 



752. Having laid down a well-devised plan for the season, the operations 

 become comparatively easy ; assuming, therefore, that previous directions 

 have been attended to, that the soil was turned over in autumn, that it has 

 been frozen, the surface turned over and frozen again, and dried by the winds 

 which generally occur early this month, it is now ready for cropping. 



753. SeaJcale still requires some covering, but less than last month, blanch- 

 ing being now the main object of it ; and sand, ashes, or leaves, will effect 

 the object. When the kale is past blanching, its use does not end here : the 

 leaves may be eaten all through the summer and autumn while they are green, 

 merely dressing them in the same way as winter greens. Thus it will be 

 found a very profitable crop for cottagers : it grows well in shady places, and 

 is not particular as to soil, and will stand a cold, bleak climate. A top-dressing 

 of very rotten dung, of any kind, is suitable for this plant, but it is rendered 

 more eflBcacious by the addition of a httle salt, — about a poimd to £he barrowful 

 of manure : wood-ashes are also beneficial, and may be added in any quantity. 



754. Celery. — It is too early yet to sow the main crop of celerj', but a little 

 may be sown for early use. First sowings may be sown in seed-pans ; but for 

 the main crop I prefer shaking together a small heap of stable-dung, just suf- 

 ficient to give a slight heat : spread three inches of soil on it, sow the seed, 

 and cover with a hand-glass. They come up much stronger I find by this 

 method. This seed takes a long while to geiTuinate compared to some : that 

 sown in this month will be ready to transplant in April. 



