THE VEGETABLE GARDEN DURING AUGUST 



WM. HUNT, ONT. AGRI. COLLE^.e;, GUELPH. 



THE remarks made in regard to weeds, 

 surface stirring the soil, etc., in the 

 July number of The Horticulturist, can be 

 repeated with even more emphasis for the 

 n.onth of August. Not only will many of 

 the annual summer weeds still keep making 

 their appearance, but these as well as many 

 of tne perennial or permanent weeds, such 

 as thistles, burdocks, and other similar ones, 

 will also seed and thus spread themselves 

 over the entire garden. 



Weeds are too often neglected when 

 crops are nearing maturity or perhaps 

 gathered in. By following them up closely, 

 especially at this ripening season, the next 

 season's crop of weeds can be largely re- 

 duced. Weeds allowed to ripen their seeds 

 now, at the natural time of ripening, wil^ 

 form splendid material to ensure a good 

 early crop next season. Root out the 

 weeds, clear them oflf and burn them on the 

 rubbish pile and destroy the seeds. 



Late crops of peas, beans, and even cauli- 

 flower and cabbage plants, will be much 

 benefited during hot dry weather if a light 

 mulch an inch or two in depth of half-rotted 

 stable manure is spread between the rows. 

 The mulcti should not be placed quite close 

 to the plants ; an inch or two of space should 

 be left around the stems. This mulch not 

 only conserves the moisture in the soil, but 

 is also beneficial as a fertiliaer. 



ONIONS. 



Onions are often spoiled for want of 

 tim.ely and proper harvesting. They are 

 very often left much too long before har- 

 vesting is commenced. As soon as the bulb 

 has reached maturity the roots should be 

 separated from the soil — especially if show- 

 ery weather prevails — to prevent the bulbs 

 starting growth again. It is difficult for 

 an inexperienced gardener to know just 

 when to pull onions. As soon as the tops 

 are withered, or only partially withered 

 perhaps, and present a grayish appearance. 



the roots of the bulb can be removed from 

 the soil. 



Another method of finding out when they 

 are fit to harvest is to endeavor to pull the 

 onion from the soil. If it removes readily 

 without much resistance, the bulbs should 

 be pulled. It is necessary, sometimes, dur- 

 ing very wet seasons or on very rich land 

 to go over the onion bed and press or bend 

 tne tops of tne onions over, as they are not 

 inclined sometimes to do this naturally. 

 Tliis bending over should be done a week 

 or two before the bulbs have reached their 

 full size. Ine process of bending the tops 

 throws the strength of the growth into the 

 bulb and hastens its development and ma- 

 turity. Light rollers are sometimes used 

 by commercial growers — where onions are 

 grown extensively — for bending the 

 growth, but a stick or long rod answers just 

 as well and is less likely to damage the 

 bulbs. If the weather is not too showery 

 the onions can remain on the ground to drv 

 for a week or two. They should be turned 

 over or moved once or twice during this 

 time to prevent the roots striking again into 

 the ground. If a good open shed is avail- 

 able remove them to it as soon as they are 

 pulled. 



A cool, dry, airy shed or barn is the best 

 place to harvest onions in. Spread 

 out thinly on shelves or boards and give 

 them a turn over about once a week ; they 

 will keep splendidly in a shed until sharp 

 frost sets in. A dry, cool, airy cellar kept 

 at a, temperature as near the freezing point 

 as possible is a good place to winter onions. 

 If the onions are quite dry a few de- 

 grees of frost will not hurt them, especially 

 if spread out thinly on shelves. 



SPINACH. 



A sowing of this useful and wholesome 

 vegetable should be made about the end of 

 August or early in September. Sown about 

 the end of August it will often come in use- 



