MONTHLY CALENDAR. 707 



tliem into bundles, and store them up in a dry place ready for use : the re- 

 mainder may be tied up in faggots, which are useful for various purposes, or, 

 if chopped short and stored in a dry place, will be useful for lighting fires. 

 Let neither time nor material of any kind be wasted ; it is wonderful to what 

 uses a little ingenuity can apply them. 



C2I2. Sealcale. — Some may be covered for forcing. Place the kale-pot 

 over a bunch of crowns ; see that enough is covered : then having previously 

 prepared and shaken out the dung, and got it into a condition to maintain a 

 moderate heat, cover the pots to a thickness of about three feet from the 

 gTOund : too great a body of dung is apt to heat too violently, and spoil the 

 crowns. Give just enough to maintain a moderate heat, and no more : it will 

 be ready to cut in about three weeks, proportioned to the amount of heat. 

 Some gardeners cover with leaves, which answers the pui'pose ; but in collect- 

 ing leaves, a great many slugs and other vermin are collected with them. 

 These do mischief to the kale, otherwise the effect is the same. 



2213. ii7( I! Z/ar& may be treated in a precisely similar manner, but requii*es 

 larger pots ; and none but the earliest sorts should be forced. 



2214. Peas and Beans of the earliest kinds may be sown on light ground ; 

 but it is not advisable to sow many. Those sown in Febx'uary will be as early 

 ■within a few days, and much more certain. 



2215. Celery. — Cover with litter, if possible, in frosty weather. It will be 

 60 much better to take up, besides keeping it fresh and uninjured. 



■22 16. Parsnips and other crops that i*emain in the ground ought to be 

 covered with litter or leaves. The slightest covering will make a vast dif- 

 ference in case of sharp frost, which should always be bargained for at this 

 time. 



2217. Endive. — Blanch with pots, and cover with litter ; and a good supply 

 may be kept up the whole winter without having recourse to frames, the 

 litter helping to blanch it before the pots are put on ; but a dusting of limo 

 should be given occasionallj' to destroy slugs, which are very fond of endive. 



2218. Broccoli, d-c. — It will now be seen what advantage there is in giving 

 the various sorts ol brassicas plenty of room, and also giving them a place to 

 themselves in a clear open spot. Those planted among other crops are shanky, 

 and more exposed to the frost, while those planted open, are short, firm, and 

 stocky, and far more likely to stand severe frost. Let this be considered ia 

 cropping next year. 



2219. This is the best time to make any general alterations. Where old 

 bushes are to be grubbed up, and the ground prepared for cropping, or 

 where young bush is to be planted, also where drainage is necessary, now is 

 a good time to do it before the winter rains make a swamp of the garden. 

 Set the edgings and paths in order, and carefully remove any accumulation 

 of rubbish which is likely to harbour vermin. Herh beds should be cleared, 

 and made as neat as possible, both for the appearance and well-doing of the 

 herbs.— F.C. 



2 z 2 



