AUGUST. 



686 



AUGUST. 



necessity for steady bottom heat, and close 

 watching as regards watering during the 

 entire period of their growth. These re- 

 marks are applicable also to plants in 

 houses. With regard to melons in pits and 

 frames, the same directions apply to them 

 now as formerly. Where the fruit is swell- 

 ing, keep up a brisk heat and plenty of 

 moisture ; but where it is approaching ripe- 

 ness, let the beds gradually dry off; also, 

 where fruit is setting, maintain a moder- 

 ately dry atmosphere, as they do not set 

 well if kept damp at the time. 



Salading, Parsley, &c. Corn salad sown 

 aow in a cold frame will be very useful in 

 winter. It is merely necessary to place 16 

 inches of earth in the frame, and sowing on 

 that, treading or otherwise matting the sur- 

 face of the soil firmly. Some young plants 

 of parsley planted on the same depth of 

 soil, 6 inches apart, will be also useful in 

 winter. 



August. Kitchen Garden, 

 Work in. 



Artichokes. Cut these down as the heads 

 are gathered, and fork the ground between : 

 they will come up again before winter. 



Asparagus. Keep the beds clear of 

 weeds, especially young plants, which are 

 soon overrun by them. Unless seed is 

 wanted, it is advisable to cut off most of 

 the bearing heads, which would, if left, 

 exhaust and weaken the roots in ripening 

 the seed. It is, however, as well to aow 

 every year, and some of the seed may be 

 left for the purpose. 



Beans. Pull up the haulm of any that 

 have done bearing ; lay the stalks together, 

 and they will soon rot, or dry them, and 

 they will burn. Some may be cut in lengths, 

 and dried for earwig traps, to place among 

 flowering plants. 



Beans, French. A row or two should be 

 left for seed. It is not advisable to leave 



any to ripen on bearing plants, as they cease 

 to yield for the table while ripening seed. 



Beans, Runner. These should be stopped 

 after reaching the top of the sticks : they 

 will set quicker than if left to grow as they 

 please. Give plenty of water at the roots if 

 necessary, but none overhead. 



Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, &c. These 

 should be got out as soon as possible. It 

 is useless to plant them after this month. 

 Broccoli that are about heading should re- 

 ceive plenty of water and liquid manure 

 two or three times a week, to insure their 

 being fine. 



Cabbage. Sow early this month for a 

 full crop of summer cabbage. Sow thinly 

 on an open spot, that they may come up 

 strong, and scatter lime on the ground to 

 protect from birds and insects ; also dust 

 the young plants when up. 



Cardoons. These 'will soon require 

 earthing up. 



Carrots. Early sowings may be taken 

 up and stowed away for use ; but if the 

 ground is not particularly wanted for other 

 crops, it is quite as well to let them remain 

 till required. A little Early Horn carrot 

 seed may be sown early in August, to stand 

 the winter ; they will be useful in the spring, 

 when the winter store is exhausted. 



Caterpillars. The gardener who would 

 have everything thrive and prosper must 

 exercise the greatest vigilance during 

 August. Apart from the necessity of 

 cropping and removing such as have 

 ceased to become profitable, his attention 

 is drawn towards the multitudes of garden 

 pests, which exhibit their effects at this 

 time of the year more than any other. 

 Caterpillars should be looked for, and de- 

 stroyed as quickly as they can be discovered 

 at least, before they fatten on the pro- 

 duce of the garden, which they will do to 

 the deterioration of the crops in a very short 

 time if not prevented. The ravages of these 

 insects produce an effect at once unsightly 



