MONTHLY CALENDAR. 329 



injure them. The cost of pipes will be saved in the reduction of the 

 necessary labour. The sand may be collected and used again, or it will be an 

 excellent dressing for the ground, if heavy. For sorts, I have found none to 

 surpass Colour Red and Crystal White, which, if well grown, are all that can 

 be desired. 



926. In the suburbs of \a.rgo towns, where ground is valuable and space 

 limited, it often happens that kitchen-gardens are severely overtasked, through 

 a prevailing notion that high tillage and abundant manuring make up for ex- 

 tent of room. This is true ; but it has its limits ; for instances are not wanting 

 to show that serious and vexatious results are traceable to this cause. The 

 ground gets filled with insects, — undecomposed manure is worked into the soil 

 after each crop, — it is trenched in, dug in, or laid on the surface as mulch 

 sometimes ; all manner of undecomposed rubbish and garden refuse is trenched, 

 three or four feet deep. The result is obvious ; for where there is decompo- 

 sition, or putrid fermentation takes place, many agencies are attracted thither 

 to hasten the work ; — insects are bred in vast numbers, — club and canker 

 become prevalent, and good gardening becomes impossible. The remedy for 

 this state of things is either a copious manuring with unslaked lime, burning 

 the soil, as described at page 46, or the substitution of new soil, if the surface- 

 parings of a pasture are conveniently attainable. But prevention is always 

 better than cure. The manure should be thoroughly decomposed or rotted, so 

 that it is not likely to breed insects, and before it is applied to the ground, it 

 should be well incorjDorated with an equal quantity of loamy soil. Where 

 ground is heavily worked, as, for instance, where a spring crop of lettuces, an 

 autumn crop of potatoes, and a winter crop of greens have been obtained from 

 the same piece of ground, manure alone will not supply the whole of the loss ; 

 but the addition of new soil may do so. Another mode of prevention is to 

 adopt a well-defined system of rotation : such measures will keep the ground 

 in good heart. 



927. JUtiobarb may be forced in the same way. The best I find for forcing 

 is the Prince Albert or Linnsean, which force with less heat than most other 

 kinds. If forced on the ground where it grows, nothing more is required than 

 to cover with large pots and stable maniTre, — by this method it is blanched ;. 

 but when forced in a frame, or otherwise, it is unnecessary to exclude the light, 

 as there is no advantage in blanching it. Ehubarb may be planted at any 

 time of the year, although mild weather in autumn or early spring is best : it 

 should be planted on a clear open spot on good soil, which should be well 

 trenched three feet deep. The plants should be not less than four feet apart ; 

 or, where it is intended to take up some every year for forcing, a distance of 

 three feet wdll be sufficient. Before planting, a good substance of very rotten 

 manure should be worked into the soil. When desired to increase the plants, 

 it is merely necessary to take up large roots and divide them with a spado ; 

 every piece that has a crown to it will grow and make a plant ; and as it grows • 

 very quickly, this is as good a mode of propagating it as any. 



928. Jerusalem ArtkhoJces may still be planted where not previously done- 



