THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



May As before stated, Canadian Wonder is one of the best 

 ^~^S sorts of dwarf Beans. Both plants like a sunny position, 

 and deep, moist soil. 



Beetroot. — The main crop of Beetroot may be sown 

 now, the seed being sprinkled very thinly in drills drawn 

 not less than a foot apart, and the plants eventually 

 thinned to nine inches asunder. Or two or three seeds 

 may be dropped in the drills in clumps nine inches 

 apart, and the plants thinned to one eventually. The 

 soil should be deeply dug, but not manured. Do not 

 forget to string loose black thread, or to fix fish netting 

 or scares, over the bed when the seedlings show, or the 

 birds will pull them out. Dell's Crimson, Middleton 

 Park Favourite, Cheltenham Green-top, and Blood Red 

 afford a good choice of sorts. All are good. 



Asparagus. — Heads will begin to push freely early 

 in May. They will vary in thickness from that of a 

 cigarette to that of one's thumb. It is best to leave the 

 thin shoots, as they are not very satisfying on the table, 

 and they do good service on the plants, strengthening 

 the crowns and root stocks. Heads as thick as the little 

 finger, or larger, may be cut when they have pushed 

 about three inches above the soil. The knife should be 

 pressed two inches into the earth so as to get a portion 

 of the lower part of the stem. This will be white and 

 hard, unless special methods of cooking are resorted to, 

 but even if only the upper half is eaten the Asparagus 

 is best cut fairly long, as a portion of stem is wanted to 

 handle it by. The bed should be kept clean of weeds. 



Tomatoes. — Late-sown plants in seed pans or boxes 

 should be potted or put a few inches apart in deeper 

 boxes. Harden them in frames, so that they will be 

 ready for planting out at the end of the month. Give 

 them abundance of air. Early plants which are coming 

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