MAY. 



648 



MAY. 



cannot be too rich. The large heading 

 kinds of cabbage lettuce are proper to 

 sow this month, but cos lettuces do equally 

 well. Tie up cos lettuce about a fortnight 

 before using. 



Onions. Seed may still be sown, more 

 particularly for salading, for which purpose 

 thin out the earliest sowings and clear from 

 weeds ; drenching the soil with liquid 

 manure occasionally will benefit these. 

 Give a dredging with soot occasionally, and 

 sprinkle the bed with a dressing of washing 

 soda crushed to powder just before rain if 

 possible. 



Parsnips. Thin out to a foot apart at 

 least ; 18 inches is not too much. 



Peas. To sow now, use any good medium 

 or tall sorts in good soils. Even in poor 

 soils the tall peas, if mulched with good 

 sound manure, will yield immensely. 

 Observe the same rule in sowing these as 

 regards distance as laid down above for 

 runner beans. Earth up and stick any 

 that may be advancing, as they grow 

 quicker now than in former months ; this 

 must be done in time, or they will fall over. 

 Dwarf sorts will not require sticks, and are 

 very useful in some localities. 



Potatoes. Continue to plant if desirable : 

 no fear need be entertained of their doing 

 well. Several good late sorts do as well 

 planted this month as earlier. Earth up 

 those that are forward enough, but not too 

 much : more earth than is just sufficient to 

 cover the tubers is likely to prove injurious 

 to the crop. 



Radishes. Sow for succession. These 

 must be well protected from birds, as they 

 are immoderately fond of pulling them up 

 as they begin to grow. They must be well 

 watered, to prevent them becoming hot and 

 woody. A good retentive soil suits them 

 best at this time. 



Rhubarb. The roots may yet be divided 

 and planted 4 feet apart ; it is a good prac- 

 tice also to sow the seed, which may be 



done at this time. Sow broadcast, and 

 leave the plants till the following spring, 

 so as to judge of the earliest, so that thin- 

 ning is unnecessary till this is ascertained. 

 Roots for forcing may be raised thus in 

 abundance. 



Savoys. This useful vegetable may yet 

 be sown, since moderately sized heads of 

 good colour are better than large white 

 ones the result of too early sowing. The 

 main point in their culture, in common with 

 the rest of this group, is an open situation 

 and plenty of room 2 feet each way is 

 none too much ; they must also receive 

 their final planting before they are drawn 

 up in the seed bed. 



Seakale. This should now be cleared of 

 the litter used in forcing, and the ground 

 forked between the rows, and kept clear 

 of weeds till the following December, 

 unless the season should prove a dry one, 

 when one or two copious waterings should 

 be given, especially to newly raised plants, 

 the roots of which are yet shallow. If the 

 leaves are used, they must not be thinned 

 too much. 



Spinach. This may yet be sown for 

 succession ; but as it is apt to run very 

 quickly, it is advisable to sow on a north 

 border. Give plenty of room ; it is less 

 likely to run than when crowded. 



Turnips. These may do well sown now, 

 if wet or showery weather occur ; sow broad- 

 cast, tread the seed in, and rake soot in 

 with it. This seed germinates very quickly 

 at this time, especially if sown on fresh dug 

 ground. Such as are up should be hoed 

 between and thinned out immediately. 

 Doing this early will be of great advantage 

 to the crop ; the oftener it is done the 

 better. 



Watering. It is not accounted a wise 

 proceeding to begin to water vegetables, 

 for if you begin to do so you will have to 

 continue it. Some vegetables, too, will 

 present a very bad appearance under inter- 



