JUNE. 



663 



JUNE. 



Vacant wall spaces under and between 

 wall trees, where there may be any, are 

 well filled up by them. 



Carrots. Thin without delay, but not 

 too closely, as some are apt to run, even 

 under the best culture. From 9 inches to 

 a foot is a good average. A succession 

 may be sown any time before midsummer. 



Celery will probably be in condition for 

 final planting towards the end of this 

 month ; the main crop had better be 

 deferred till next month. 



Cress. Sow American and Normandy 

 for succession. 



Endive may be sown this month, as it is 

 less likely to run now than formerly. This 

 seed grows very quickly, and birds do not 

 seem to care about it ; it may therefore be 

 merely sown broadcast, trodden, and raked. 

 Plant out early to insure a good curl in the 

 leaf. 



Leeks. Plant in deep drills, to admit of 

 earthing up ; give an abundance of water 

 in dry weather. Soot dredged over them 

 will stimulate them, and prevent the 

 attacks of insects in a good measure. 



Letiitce. Sow on a north border, but 

 plant in an open situation. It is necessary 

 to sow often to insure a succession. 

 Water the ground thoroughly, or not at 

 all ; surface watering is very injurious. 



Mushrooms. Mushroom beds may be 

 made at this time out of doors ; they will 

 come into bearing in August. Horse 

 droppings, or good short stable dung, 

 mixed with one-third loamy soil, and well 

 worked together till it gives a gentle heat, 

 afford the best material for making the 

 bed ; it must not be heaped up too high, 

 or in too great a body, or it s apt to 

 ferment too violently. Let the bed be 

 firmly put together in a ridge, of conical 

 or pyramidal form, of sufficient pitch to 

 prevent water getting into it; a trench 

 dug round it will take the rain. The bed 

 must be protected at all times from rain 



i before spawning and before casing, and 

 | afterwards covered with about a foot of 

 clean straw, and this, again, with some- 

 thing to keep it together; mats, netting, 

 sticks, or hurdles, will do, although garden 

 mats are preferable. Beds previously 

 made should be looked over occasionally, 

 and, if dry, watered very gently with 

 water, equal at least in temperature to 

 that of the atmosphere. 



Mushrooms, Spawning. Some old cul- 

 tivators, who have no idea of the use of a 

 thermometer, are very successful in the cul- 

 ture of the mushroom, and inform us that 

 the best time to spawn a bed is when it 

 feels of a temperature equal to that of 

 newly drawn milk. Certainly a proper 

 temperature at the time of spawning is of 

 the first importance ; if too cold, the 

 spawn will not work ; too great heat 

 destroys it at once. 80 or 85, perhaps, 

 ought to be the maximum, and 65 the 

 minimum point. 



Onions should receive a final thinning, 

 allowing 8 or 9 inches for the main crop. 

 Use the small hoe as often as possible, and 

 keep them clean. Onions for salading 

 may still be sown. A shady border on t& 

 north side of a wall will suit them. Tree 

 onions, potato ditto, and those planted for 

 seed, will require some support. Drive a 

 few stakes round them, and pass strings 

 from one to the other, or tie to single 

 stakes. If they are allowed to break 

 down, they receive a permanent injury, 

 and the yield is reduced or altogether 

 prevented. 



Overcropping in Spring. Many prin- 

 cipal crops come in this month, and, 

 following suddenly upon a time when the 

 supply for the kitchen garden is somewhat 

 scanty, show the real effect of cropping 

 too abundantly in the early part of the 

 year. 



Peas. After the second week 'this month 

 it is not advisable to sow strong growers. 



