SEPTEMBER: FIRST WEEK 225 



over, and should immediately be put under cover; other- 

 wise they turn green. Most of the white varieties are ready 

 to pull some time before the yellow sorts. 



Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Cos lettuce and endive all 

 require attention as they begin to mature. As soon as the 

 buttons or heads of cauliflower form, they should be pro- 

 tected from sun and rain by tying or fastening the leaves 

 together at the tops. Brussels sprouts will fill up better 

 to the top of the stalks if the heads of the plants are cut out 

 after the sprouts have formed. Most varieties of Cos lettuce 

 require tying to bleach thoroughly; use raffia or soft twine, 

 and tie as near the top of the head as possible. Endive may 

 be either tied up or bleached with two wide boards set 

 A -shaped over the rows. 



Prepare for the Winter's Work Under Glass 



It is time to begin preparations for the winter garden 

 in the frames or greenhouse. If you have not a greenhouse 

 already there is time during the next six or eight weeks 

 to build one and to get your tenderer flowers into it in time 

 to give your old enemy Jack Frost the slip. Nothing con- 

 nected with gardening has changed more during the last 

 ten or fifteen years than methods of greenhouse construc- 

 tion, particularly for small, inexpensive, practical-purpose 

 houses. A house of almost any desired shape or width can 

 be bought in standard units, or sections, which you can 

 put together with little trouble. 



If the compost for winter has not already been made, 

 ample supplies of soil, well-rotted manure, sand, chip dirt 

 or leaf mold, and rotted sod should be gathered together 

 and put under cover. The soil in the frames, which may 

 have become more or less weedy or dried out through the 

 latter part of the summer, should be put into shape some 

 time before you are to use it. In the greenhouse it is well 

 to let the soil in the benches or beds dry out thoroughly a 

 few weeks before putting them in use again. A thorough 

 sun baking gets rid of some insects and disease germs. 



