MAY] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 397 



PROPAGATING AROMATIC, POT, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS, BY 

 CUTTINGS AND SLIPS, ETC. 



You may yet, if attended to in the early part of this month, pro- 

 pagate the various kinds of pot, medicinal, and aromatic plants men- 

 tioned on page 215, and in like manner as there directed; hut they 

 will now require to be frequently watered, and if shaded for some 

 time after planting, the better. 



SUPPORTING PLANTS FOR SEED. 



Now support the stems or stalks of such plants as were planted for 

 seed. The onions and leeks in particular will require this care, for 

 the stalks of these will be run up to a good height, and if they are 

 not secured in due time, the winds and heavy rains will break them 

 down. 



The best method of supporting these plants is to drive some firm 

 stakes into the ground along the rows, placing them about two or 

 three yards asunder; then let some thin long poles, or strong lines, 

 be fastened from stake to stake, close along each side of the seed-stalks. 



Let the advancing stems of the different kinds of cabbages and 

 other tall growing plants, that are now shooting to seed, and are sub- 

 ject to be borne down by wind or wet, be likewise supported by plac- 

 ing stakes to them and tying them thereto securely, or by any other 

 more convenient method. 



CARDOONS. 



The cardoons which were sown in March or April ought now to be 

 thinned where they have risen too thick, that the plants may have 

 room to grow and get strength by next month, when they should be 

 planted where they are to remain for landing up to blanch. 



Thin them to about four or five inches distance, or some may be 

 pricked six inches asunder on a nursery-bed, to remain till next month, 

 when the whole should be transplanted finally. 



Grive water immediately to those that you prick out, and if sunny 

 weather, shade will be necessary for a few days. 



DESTROYING WEEDS. 



It is in vain to expect good crops, and folly to go to the expense 

 of seed or labor, unless you keep them free from weeds, and parti- 

 cularly while they are young ; therefore, more than common care 

 should now be taken to destroy weeds throughout the whole garden, 

 but more especially among the young rising crops. It is now the 

 most important work in the garden ; the hoe should be applied be- 

 tween all the rows of peas, beans, cabbages, and every other kind 

 growing in drills, and the weeds which are close to the plants be 

 pulled up by the hand. 



The onions, carrots, leeks, parsneps, and all other close and low 



