462 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [JULY 



torn of the beds, dig and incorporate it with the loose earth remaining, 

 and cover the whole with an inch or an inch and a half of the earth 

 from the alleys; plant four rows in each bed at equal distances, and 

 eight inches apart in the rows ; after which, give them a plentiful 

 watering, and stick down small branches of cedar, or of any kind of 

 evergreen shrubs between the rows, to shade them from the sun till 

 well rooted, when the branches are to be taken away. The plants 

 must be kept free from weeds till grown of a sufficient size for earth- 

 ing, which is done with the assistance of boards, by laying them along 

 the rows to support the leaves while you are putting in the earth 

 from the alleys, and removing them as you progress in the business. 

 For the method of preserving the plants in winter see the Kitchen 

 Garden in November. 



Land or earth up your early crops of celery, first breaking the earth 

 fine with the spade, and then laying it up neatly to both sides, al- 

 ways preserving the tops and hearts of the plants free, that they may 

 continue in growth without any interruption; repeat this earthing at 

 intervals of eight or ten days, till the plants are sufficiently blanched 

 and of proper size for use. 



RUTA BAGA, OR SWEDISH TURNIP. 



This variety of turnip is the most important of all, and deserves 

 to be ranked in the first class of vegetable productions. Its quantity 

 of produce, richness of flavor, and extreme hardiness, render it of 

 great importance and give it a pre-eminence over every other kind. 

 The best time for sowing is from the twentieth of June to the 

 twentieth of July, according to the season. The ground should be 

 well prepared and manure scattered pretty thickly over it ; which 

 done, it should be laid off in ridges about three feet apart, two fur- 

 rows together, with the plough, and the seed sown on the top. By 

 this method you give a double portion of the manure for each row of 

 turnips, and a better opportunity of attending to their after culture. 

 When they are of sufficient growth thin them to the distance of 

 twelve inches apart in the row; they will continue growing and in- 

 creasing in size till late in autumn, when, if not used before, they 

 may be taken up and preserved through the winter, in like manner 

 as other turnips (or permitted to remain in the ground), than which 

 they are more hardy, will keep better, and be as fresh in May as at 

 Christmas. 



The flesh of the root is yellow, sweet, and firm, being nearly twice 

 as heavy as a common turnip of the same size; when dressed for the 

 table it is by most people preferred to the garden turnip, and as well 

 as the tops is peculiarly grateful to most sorts of cattle. Skirving's 

 improved is one of the best. 



LETTUCES. 



Thin and transplant such lettuces as were sown last month, water 

 them immediately after, and repeat it as often as necessary till the 

 plants are well rooted. 



