HOME GARDENS FOR SMOKY TOWNS. 359 



parison with the seeds of those I have here of my own 

 growing, is probably the same. Messrs. Carter and Co. tell 

 me that the plant is very little known, and the seed scarce 

 from want of cultivation and demand. I therefore step so 

 far aside to describe and recommend it as specially suited 

 for obtaining large crops on small areas.* 



I also recommend a mode of growing cabbages that I 

 have found very profitable, viz., to sow the seed broadcast 

 in richly manured beds or patches and leave the plants 

 crowding together; cut them down while very young, with- 

 out destroying the centre bud; let them sprout again and 

 again. They thus yield a succession of crops, every leaf of 



ich is eatable. This, instead of transplanting and 

 growing large plants, which, however desirable for sale in 

 the market, are far less profitable for home use. Celery may 

 be grown in like manner, and cut down young and green 

 for boiling. 



Some collateral advantages may de fairly anticipated in 

 cases where the back-yard is fully enclosed by the canvas. 



In the first place, the air coming into the house from the 

 back will be more or less filtered from the grimy irritant 

 particles with which our London atmosphere is loaded, 

 besides obtaining the oxygen given off by the growing 

 plants, and the ozone which recent investigations have 

 shown to be produced where aromatic plants such as 

 kitchen herbs are growing. Lavender, which is very 

 hardy, and spreads spontaneously, might be grown for this 

 purpose. 



Back-doors might be left open for ventilation, without 

 danger of intrusion or of slamming by gusts of wind. The 

 air thus admitted would be tempered'both in summer and 

 winter. By wetting the canvas, which may easily be done 

 by means of a small garden engine, or hand syringe, the 

 exceptionally hot summer days that are so severely felt in 

 London might be moderated to a considerable extent. The 



* I tried the seeds given to me by Messrs. Carter, and find them to 

 produce the same plant as my own, -which I still cultivate very 

 successfully. I now sow it in the spring as a kitchen garden 

 border. 



