A Year's Work in the Vegetable Garden 



work, and labour can then be found more readily than at most other 

 seasons. 



Artichokes, Globe, must be protected ere frost attacks them. 

 Cut off the stems and large leaves to within a foot of the ground, 

 and then heap up along each side of the rows a lot of dry litter con- 

 sisting of straw, pea haulm, or leaves ; taking care in so doing to 

 leave free access to light and air ; the hearts must not be covered, or 

 decay will follow. 



Artichokes, Jerusalem, may be dug as wanted, but some should 

 be lifted and stored in sand for use during frosts. 



Asparagus beds not yet cleaned must have prompt attention. 

 Cut down the brown grass and rake off all the weeds and rubbish, 

 and finish by putting on a dressing of seaweed, or half-rotten stable 

 manure. 



Bean. It is customary on dry warm soils to sow Beans now for 

 a first crop, and the practice is to be commended. On cold damp 

 soils, and on clay lands everywhere, it is a waste of seed and labour 

 to sow now, but every district has its peculiar capabilities, and each 

 cultivator must judge for himself. In any case, Beans sown now 

 should be put on well-drained land in a sheltered spot. 



Carrot to be sown in frames, and successive sowings made every 

 three or four weeks until February. 



Cauliflowers will be turning in now, and possibly those coming 

 forward will be all the better off for being covered with a leaf to pro- 

 tect the heads from frost. If the barometer rises steadily and the 

 wind goes round to north or north-east, draw all the best Cauli- 

 flowers, and put them in a shed or any out-of-the-way place safe 

 for use. 



Celery. Hard frost coming after heavy rain may prove destruc- 

 tive to Celery ; and it is well, if there is a crop worth saving, to cut 

 a trench round the plantation to favour escape of surplus water. If 

 taken up and packed away in a dry shed, the sticks will keep fresh 

 for a long time. 



Horse- Radish to be taken up and stored ready for use, and 

 new plantations to be made as weather permits and ground can be 

 spared. 



Pea. The sowing of Peas now is not recommended for general 

 practice, but only for those who are so favourably circumstanced as to 

 have a fair prospect of success. If it is determined to sow, select for 

 the purpose a nice, dry, light, well-drained sunny border, and make it 

 safe from mice, slugs, and sparrows. Any of the first eajlies. will serve 



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