MAY. 



C-47 



MAY. 



Cauliflower. Plant out early-sown 18 

 inches apart. Those that have stood the 

 winter should have liquid manure, or, at 

 least, plenty of water, unless they were 

 previously mulched, which prevents evapo- 

 ration, and also feeds the plants. Break 

 the centre leaves over any that may be 

 heading. 



Celery. Prick out that sown in March, 

 giving 6 inches distance from plant to plant. 

 In order that they may get strong, let 

 plenty of good rotten manure be worked 

 into the soil. An excellent plan is to cover 

 a hard surface with 4 inches of rotten dung, 

 over this 3 inches of soil, which having 

 trodden and raked even, prick out the 

 young plants the same distance apart, and 

 water plentifully ; they will form a mass of 

 fibres, and may be cut out with a trowel 

 for planting in the trenches. A little shade 

 will benefit them in sunny weather. 



Chervil arid Parsley . These sown now 

 on a sunny border will be useful in winter. 

 Sow either in drills or broadcast ; tread the 

 seed in before raking ; thin out that which 

 is sufficiently advanced to 9 inches ; plant 

 out the thinnings to the same distance 

 they are said to curl better when planted 

 out. 



Cotwe Tronchuda. This plant is much 

 esteemed in some families for the midrib 

 of the leaf, which is used as seakale. 

 Treat as directed for cabbages generally. 

 All the members of this group like a reten- 

 tive soil, highly enriched with manure ; but 

 the latter is best given in the form of mulch. 

 They then throw out root fibres on the 

 surface of the ground and grow luxuriantly. 



Cress and Small Salading. American, 

 Nonnandy, and Australian cress, and corn 

 salad, to come in in August, should be 

 sown now in shallow drills or broadcast, 

 treading the seed firmly in before raking ; 

 these also will require copious waterings. 



Indian Cress. Nasturtiums, or, to use 

 their proper name, Indian Cress, are often 



grown as salad, and also for the seeds, 

 which in the young state are useful for 

 pickling. Sow in drills in the same 

 manner as peas ; or at the foot of rustic 

 fences, hurdles, &c., which they will soon 

 hide with a highly ornamental covering. 



Endive. The Batavian may be sown 

 now ; it may be useful to use in the same 

 manner as spinach j treat in the same way 

 as lettuce. 



Hamburg Parsley, Salsafy y and Scor- 

 zoneras may still be sown, the treatment 

 of these being very much the same. Sow 

 in drills 15 or 1 8 inches apart, and thin to 

 about 9 inches when up. Their culture is 

 very simple, merely requiring the hoe 

 between them during the summer. It is 

 as well not to give manure before sowing. 



Herbsi Sweet. Balm, mint, marjoram, 

 savory, thyme, and other sweet herbs of 

 this description, may be increased by slips, 

 offsets, or divisions of the roots ; at this 

 time they grow quickly after the operation. 

 They must be well watered. Other herbs, 

 as basil, knotted marjoram, fennel, dill, &c, 

 may be sown on the open ground. They 

 are not generally subject to the attacks of 

 birds, as many other seeds are. 



Horseradish. Pinch out the tops where 

 running to seed, and use the hoe freely all 

 the season through. It will require little 

 other attention the rest of the season. 



Leeks. Thin where forward enough, and 

 plant the thinnings a foot apart, in rows 2 

 feet from each other. Give liquid manure 

 to those that remain, and stir the ground 

 between. 



Lettuce. Sow in drills, a foot or rather 

 more at this time of the year, especially on 

 light ground ; let as many as possible con- 

 tinue where sown. Those transplanted had 

 better be in drills, for the greater facility 

 of watering, an abundance of which they 

 must have in dry weather, to ensure that 

 crispness and milky flavour which indicates 

 a well-grown lettuce. The soil for these 



