MAY. 



646 



MAY. 



necessary for the plants that are kept 

 within it. 



May. Kitchen Garden, Work 

 in. 



Artichokes, Globe. Stir the earth well 

 about them, and reduce the shoots to three, 

 Mid draw the earth well about the roots. 

 The offsets taken off may be planted in 

 threes, 4 feet apart one way and 5 feet 

 another, giving a copious watering till 

 they have taken root. 



Asparagus. New plantations of aspara- 

 gus may still be made, but it must be well 

 watered, unless rain occurs. Sow asparagus 

 seed where it is to grow, and thin the plants 

 to the proper distance. Beds that are in 

 bearing should be kept clear of weeds, and 

 the ground stirred occasionally, adding a 

 sprinkling of salt, which improves the 

 flavour. In cutting, use a rough-edged 

 knife, and insert it close to the head to be 

 cut, to avoid cutting others in the process. 



Beans. These may still be sown ; about 

 the end of this month some will be in full 

 bloom ; pinch out the tops of such to hasten 

 the setting of the flowers. Black fly fre- 

 quently infest the tops of the beanstalks, 

 and this renders their removal all the more 

 necessary. Indeed, it is the only way to 

 get rid of the fly. 



Beans, French. These may be sown 

 plentifully this month ; they will be found 

 oceedingly useful, as they follow the main 

 crops of peas, and are both delicate and 

 wholesome. Sow in drills 3 inches deep 

 and 3 feet apart. Earth up those that have 

 made a pair of rough leaves, after thinning 

 to four or five inches. These should have 

 no manure, as that is likely to make them 

 run all to haulm. 



Beans, Runner. May is the best month 

 for sowing runner beans in open ground. 

 Being climbers of very quick growth, they 

 must have plenty of room. Sow in rows 

 feet apart, or sow IO or 12 feet from row 



to row, which will allow of planting ridge 

 cucumbers between ; drill them in 4 or 6 

 inches deep, or dib them in clusters or 

 circles, of five or six beans in each cluster ; 

 these being 6 feet apart, they may be grown 

 with fewer sticks, and look more natural. 

 The Giant White and other varieties have 

 all the same habit ; but that most usually 

 grown is the Scarlet Runner, which is 

 unsurpassed either for flavour or produc- 

 tiveness. 



Beet. Sow the white as a substitute for 

 spinach, and also silver beet to be used as 

 seakale ; treat same as the red. 



Borecole and Brussels Sprouts. Seed of 

 these varieties may yet be sown ; treat these 

 in the same manner as broccoli. 



Broccoli. This being a good time for 

 sowing late sorts, as Purple Sprouting, 

 Miller's Dwarf, &c., care should be taken 

 to have a good supply of them ; they are 

 invaluable in the early springtime. Give 

 them an open situation ; sow broadcast, 

 each sort separately, and rather thinly. 

 Walcheren sown now will be very useful 

 in the autumn ; plant out early sorts that 

 are large enough before they get shanky. 



Cabbage. To hasten the hearting of 

 those that have stood the winter, tie them 

 in the same way as lettuce. Plant out 

 early sown ones, and sow again for succes- 

 sion. 



Cardoons. These may be treated in a 

 similar manner to celery ; and may yet be 

 sown they will grow large enough for 

 every purpose ; there is no advantage in 

 having them over large. 



Carrots that are advancing should have 

 the small hoe employed between them, as 

 nothing benefits these more than continu- 

 ally stirring the surface of the soil ; thin 

 them to the proper distance. Fresh sow- 

 ings may still be made. Early Horn 

 Carrot sown now will be very useful in the 

 autumn, and should be sown thicker than 

 larger sorts. 



