The Culture of Vegetables 



as a change. Sow in a frame during March and later on 

 out-of-doors. Plant out in lines one foot apart and, water 

 well during dry weather. As these plants are needed to 

 be blanched for use, pots may be set over them when dry 

 to exclude air and light. Lettuces should be grown in 

 well-prepared soil which has been trenched, so that it will 

 well retain moisture. Seeds may be sown from the be- 

 ginning of the year up to September to keep up a suc- 

 cession. Like endive they should be planted one foot 

 apart ; and if they do not readily " heart in," tie the top 

 with raffia grass. If allowed to become dry, lettuces will 

 soon run to seed. 



Mustard and Cress. These are grown together, 

 though it is better to sow cress a few days in advance of 

 the mustard. Sow thickly, and do not cover the seed. A 

 week or ten days is usually sufficiently long for it to remain 

 before cutting. Cut when about an inch high before it 

 gets into rough leaf. 



Radishes. These may be sown either broadcast or in 

 drills one foot apart. They need to be on well-worked 

 soil and be kept free from slugs, &c., by putting a ring of 

 lime around the bed. Thin out as required and before 

 they lose their crispness. Frequent sowings should be 

 made to keep up a succession. 



Tomatoes. The great secret in growing tomatoes well 

 out-of-doors is to get plants well forward, so that they may 

 be bearing green fruit when planted out. Sow in late 

 February or early March, and prick off into boxes. As 

 growth proceeds, pot off into five-inch pots and stake until 

 the end of May, when they may be planted out and 

 trained to a south wall or fence. Train on the single 

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