June 



Endive is not generally wanted while good Lettuces abound, but 

 it takes the place of Lettuce in autumn and winter, when the more 

 delicate vegetable is scarce. Sow in drills an inch deep and six 

 inches apart. Thin the plants, and transfer the thinnings to rich 

 light soil. They must be liberally grown on well-manured land with 

 the aid of water in dry weather. 



Lettuce to be sown and planted at every opportunity. A few 

 rows of large Cos varieties should be sown in trenches prepared 

 as for Celery, there to be thinned and allowed to stand. They 

 will form fine hearts, and be valued at a time when Lettuces are 

 scarce. 



Melon. For a final crop in houses sow as previously directed, 

 and grow the plants on in pots, until the house can be cleared of 

 the former set for their reception. The growth should be pushed 

 forward to insure ripe fruit before the end of September. In the 

 event of dull weather at the finish, there will be all the greater need 

 of abundant but judicious ventilation, and of a warm dry atmo- 

 sphere at night. Before they become heavy every fruit should have 

 the support of nets or thin pieces of board suspended by wire at both 

 ends. 



Mushrooms may be prepared for now that the demands of the 

 gardener on the stable are diminishing. The first step towards 

 success is to accumulate a long heap of horse-droppings with the 

 least possible amount of litter. Let this ferment moderately, and turn 

 it two or three times, always making a long heap of it, which keeps 

 down the fermentation. When the fire is somewhat taken out of it, 

 make up the bed with a mixture of about four parts of the fermented 

 manure and one part of turfy loam, well incorporated. Beat the 

 stuff together with the flat of the spade as the work proceeds, fashion- 

 ing the bed in the form of a ridge about three feet wide at the base, 

 and of any length that may be convenient. Give the work a neat 

 finish, or the Mushrooms will certainly not repay you. Put in rather 

 large lumps of spawn when the bed is nicely warm, cover with a thin 

 layer of fine soil, and protect with mats or clean straw. This is 

 a quick and easy way of growing Mushrooms, and by commencing 

 now the season is all before one. Nine times in ten people begin 

 preparations for Mushroom growing about a month too late, for the 

 spawn runs during the hot weather, and the crop rises when the 

 moderate autumnal temperature sets in. 



Onions to be sown for salading. Forward beds of large sorts to 

 be thinned in good time. The best Onions for keeping are those of 



179 N2 



