400 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



culture, and Diagram 73 will explain what is required in this 

 respect. The cottage gardener and allotment holder often enter- 

 tain the desire to compete at local shows, and the most certain 

 way to win prizes for long, shapely parsnips is to adopt the method 

 suggested. 



First a trench of the desired length should be dug out to a 

 depth of three spits (three spades, as indicated). Into the bottom 

 of the trench a layer of old manure should be introduced and 

 thoroughly incorporated with the soil. The excavated soil may 

 now be returned to the trench and the surface be left to the dis- 

 integrating influences of the weather for a week or so. As soon 

 as the soil becomes sufficiently dry the surface should be broken up 

 and raked down to a fine tilth. The seed may then be sown 

 sparingly in drills and the plants be afterwards thinned out to 

 eight or nine inches apart. 



The effect of inefficient, shallow digging is shown in Figure 2 of 

 the diagram. This will inevitably be stunted, split roots, that 

 are absolutely useless for exhibition purposes, and of very little 

 utility for the table. 



If particularly large specimen roots are desired the plan de- 

 picted in Figure 4 may be adopted. This involves the dibbling 

 of a few holes with a pointed piece of wood at least a foot long. 

 The holes are filled with fine rich soil. Five or six seeds are sown 

 in each, and covered to a depth of about a quarter of an inch. 

 When the young plants are up only one should be left in the centre 

 of each hole ; the others should be discarded. When this plan is 

 adopted, the practice of feeding on the surface should be discarded. 



If the soil be made rich enough in the first instance, and if deep 

 trenching, as recommended, has been practised, there need be no 

 fear of the ultimate success that will attend this method of cultiva- 

 tion. 



RADISHES. For a quick-growing crop which may be grown in 

 succession throughout the summer the radish is among the most 

 valuable occupants of the kitchen garden. It does not occupy 

 much room, and its usefulness for salads in early summer needs 

 no emphasis. Its culture is simplicity itself. The seed may be 



