AUG.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 481 



CARDOONS AND FINOCHIO. 



The cardoons, which were planted in June, will now be arrived at 

 some considerable height, so that you may begin to tie up some for 

 blanching; bind the stalks round, rather loosely, as practised with 

 endive, and draw the earth up to the stems, as you would to celery ; 

 repeat this earthing from time to time, as they advance in growth, 

 till whitened to a sufficient height. 



Earth up finochio, which is full grown, in order to blanch and 

 render it fit for use. 



MELONS AND CUCUMBERS. 



Your crops of melons "and cucumbers, whether in an advancing or 

 fruiting state, should be kept very clean, which will much improve 

 the flavor and encourage the growth of the fruit. If the weather 

 proves .very dry, a gentle watering, now and then, given in the 

 evening, will be of considerable service to the late crops, but more 

 particularly to the cucumbers. 



CARE OF THE GENERAL CROPS. 



All your crops should be kept clear from weeds, using the hoe 

 where it can be done with safety, and where not, they must be care- 

 fully hand-weeded. Earth up your advancing crops of cabbages, peas, 

 beans, and all others that require that treatment. Water all new 

 plantations, and such young advancing seedlings as may be improved 

 thereby. Pull up the haulm and stalks of peas, beans, and cabbages, 

 &c., which have done bearing, and carry them out of the garden, as 

 well as all weeds, hoed or picked up. 



HERBS. 



Cut such herbs as are now in flower to distil, or to dry for winter 

 use, always observing to do it when they are dry, and spread them 

 in a dry, shady place ; for if they are dried in the sun, they will 

 shrink up, turn black, and be of little value. 



You may now, if omitted in spring, or in the preceding months, 

 plant slips of sage, rue, lavender, mastich, thyme, hyssop, and winter 

 savory, &c., but these will not be near so strong, nor so capable of 

 resisting the severity of the winter as those planted at an earlier 

 period. 



Cut down the decayed flower-stems of any kinds that appear un- 

 sightly ; and at the same time it will be proper to shorten all the 

 straggling young branches in order to keep the plants in due compass, 

 which will cause them to produce fresh shoots, and make the plants 

 appear neat during the remainder of the season. This should be 

 done, if possible, in moist or cloudy weather. 



