MONTHLY CALENDA.E. 467 



planted on a manure-heap, or if liberally mulched with it, they will grow freely 

 enough without watering ; but, if planted on the common soil, they should 

 be freely watered in the morning. 



1416. Spinach. — It is not advisable to sow this month, unless for particular 

 purj)oses ; but the ground should be prepared for sowing next month, parti- 

 cularly if the ground is heavy. 



141 7. Brassicas {Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Savoy). — The principal crops 

 of these should be got out this month. Plant them in drills two feet apart, 

 and 18 inches in the rows. If liable to club, dip the roots in a puddle of clay 

 and soot before planting, or fill up the holes with wood-ashes, which will 

 prevent it in a great measure. 



141S. Cabbage. — Sow for coleworts early this month, and for early cabbaging 

 about the end of this month : strew lime or soot over the young plants to 

 di'ive away the fly. This should be done in the morning, while the dew is on 

 them. Plant out for autumn use. 



1419, Caulijloicer sown now may be useful late in the autumn. 



1420. Mint, and such-like herbs, should be cut for drying just as they begin 

 to flower ; Savory, Sage, and others, may be now propagated by cuttings or 

 division ; Parsley and Chervil may be sown now for winter use. 



§ 5.— The Fruit-Garden. 



142 1. Peaches and Nectarines should receive their final thinning this month, 

 if not done before. Some prefer allowing them to get large enough to use for 

 pies, &c, , before doing so ; but the sooner the surplus fruit is taken off the 

 better for the crop. Some little judgment should be exercised in thinning 

 both wood and fruit ; the object being to regulate both, so that a fair balance 

 is maintained : if too much fruit is left on, the present year's crop will 

 not be so good, nor will the strength of the tree be maintained for 

 future bearing ; if too much wood is left, the fruit is too much shaded, 

 and the wood itself becomes weak : regulate both, so that the present crop of 

 fruit has a fair chance of doing well, and just about enough wood is left to 

 furnish the tree for another j^ear, without having recom'se to much pruning in 

 the winter. Nail in neatly all the young wood, and give the fruit the slightest 

 shelter of the leaves, and no more : too much shade deteriorates the flavour of 

 the fruit, while none at all is apt to produce a premature ripening of it. 



1422. Apricots, Plums, Cherries, and Figs, on walls, should be carefully 

 looked over, and all shoots that are not really useful, or any that are ill-placed 

 or cannot be properly nailed in, should be removed. It is important to do. 

 this in time, because, if neglected till the fruit begins to ripen, the real 

 advantage of doing it is lost ; and it is necessary to be long-sighted, and have 

 an eye to future crops, as well as the present one ; and if they are not nailed 

 in, the disbudding ought in no case to be deferred. Figs, especially, are apt 

 to make strong superfluous wood, the leaves of which throw a dense shada 



2 H 2 



