56 



desired at Christmas, the planting of Ashleai may be 

 deferred until July. Two crops may be obtained in 

 exceptional seasons without quite' such close attention, 

 but there is always a risk, and the practice can hardly 

 be recommended, as it is usually more profitable to take 

 an after-crop of winter greens. 



The Season for Planting. 



The season for planting depends on the climate, soil, 

 variety, and markets available. Treating with out-of- 

 door culture, climate is the first consideration. The 

 frequency and severity of spring frosts control the time 

 at which early varieties may be sown. Latitude does 

 not entirely control this, as inland districts suffer more 

 from frosts than do those near to the sea. The West 

 coast of Great Britain and Ireland possess an earlier 

 climate than is found at similar latitudes on the East 

 coast, because they are more affected by the Gulf 

 Stream ; but even on the East coast the climate is less 

 severe than it is inland. Low-lying districts are more 

 liable to frost than are those at slightly raised elevations. 

 This is shown every year when there is a severe spring 

 frost ; very often when the lower half of an almost flat 

 field is withered the upper portion is so slightly affected 

 by frost as to receive no check. Large open valleys, like 

 the Ouse valley, are very susceptible to these spring 

 frosts, especially, too, in those parts far inland, where 

 the sea has little effect. From Cornwall, by Cheshire, 

 and on to Glasgow, early planting is adopted, because the 

 climate is tempered by the ocean. As showing what 



