A Year's Work in the Vegetable Garden 



Large Beets are not desired for the kitchen ; but rather small, deeply 

 coloured, handsome roots are always valued, and these can only be 

 grown in soil that has been stirred to a good depth, and is quite free 

 of recent manuring. 



Broccoli. Make another sowing of several sorts, giving prefer- 

 ence as yet to the early varieties. In particularly late districts, and, 

 perhaps, pretty generally in the North, the late Broccoli should be 

 sown now, but in the Midlands and the South there is time to spare 

 for sowing. Be particular to have a good seed-bed, that the plants 

 may grow well from the first ; if the early growth be starved, the 

 plants become the victims of club and other ruinous maladies. 



Brussels Sprouts. In many households late supplies of 

 Brussels Sprouts are much valued, and as the crop is capable of 

 enduring severe weather, a supplemental sowing should always be 

 made during this month. Rich soil and plenty of room are 

 essential. 



Cabbage. Sow the larger kinds for autumn use, and one or two 

 rows of the smaller kinds for planting in odd places as early crops 

 are cleared off. Pigs and poultry will always dispose of surplus 

 Cabbage advantageously, so there can be no serious objection to 

 keeping up a constant succession. Plant out from seed-beds as fast 

 as the plants become strong enough, for stifling and starving tend to 

 club, mildew, and blindness. Concerning club in general, it may be 

 observed that in land deeply dug, abundantly manured, and with a 

 constant change of crops from plot to plot, this pest is scarcely 

 known, and therefore the appearance of club may be regarded as a 

 defect of some sort in the methods of the cultivator. Where Red 

 Cabbage is in demand for use with game in autumn, seed should be 

 sown now. 



Cardoons to be sown on land heavily manured in rows four feet 

 apart, the seeds in clumps of three each, eighteen inches apart. They 

 are sometimes sown in trenches, but we do not approve of that system, 

 for they do not require moisture to the extent of Celery, and the 

 blanching can be effectually accomplished without it. Our advice 

 is to plant on the level, unless the ground is particularly dry and 

 hot, and then trenches will be of great service in promoting free 

 growth. To insure their proper flavour, Cardoons must be large 

 and fat. 



Carrot. Sow the main crops. 



Cauliflowers to be planted out at every opportunity, warm, 

 showery weather being most favourable. If cold weather should 



168 



