C I c 



C I N 



apt to run to seed ; and when they are deferred 

 too long, they do not attain a sufficient growth 

 before they are set out. 



All these separate sowings should he perform- 

 ed in as open exposures as possible, the ground 

 being prepared by digging it over into proper 

 beds, and reducing the earth well at the time. 

 The seed should then be sown thinly over the 

 surface, and lightly raked in. In the light sorts 

 of soil, it is the practice of some to tread it in. 



Occasional slight waterings should be given 

 when the weather is dry, and the plants kept 

 clear from weeds, and properly thinned, so as 

 not to draw up too fast. When they are of suffi- 

 cient growth, as from four or five to six inches 

 in height, they should be planted out where they 

 are to remain; which for the more early plant- 

 ings should be as open as possible ; but for the 

 later crops, the more southern sheltered aspects 

 should be preferred. 



For this purpose, the ground should be rich 

 and mellow, being formed into beds about four 

 feet in width, by digging over to a good spade's 

 depth : a line should then be extended the whole 

 length ; and the plants, after being taken up 

 with their roots as perfect as possible, and their 

 tops and roots trimmed when necessary, be set 

 out in rows, ten or twelve inches distance each 

 way, by means of a dibble, a good watering be- 

 ing given immediately afterwards, when the sea- 

 son is dry. In this mode each bed will contain 

 four rows of plants. But they may be planted 

 without having the land formed into beds : the 

 raised bed method is however preferable, es- 

 pecially for the winter crops, and where the soil 

 is inclined to moisture, as keeping the plants 

 more free from stagnant wetness, and prevent- 

 ing their rotting in the winter. In these cases 

 they are often planted at smaller distances, as 

 six or eight inches. Some likewise, for the 

 late crops, form a sort of banks, sloping 

 towards the south, having the breadths of four 

 or five feet, in which the plants are set out 

 in rows as above. In this way the plants 

 stand more dry, and are capable of being pro- 

 tected by frames and mats with greater facility, 

 when the severity of the winter renders it ne- 

 cessary. Where they have been set out close in 

 these cases, some may be drawn out in such a 

 manner as to leave the rest standing at the pro- 

 per distance, which may be planted again in a 

 warm border about February. When plants 

 of this sort are set out in dry weather, it is a 

 good method to make shallow drills, in order 

 that the moisture may be more perfectly re- 

 tained. 



Crops should be planted out in some of these 

 methods every fortnight or three weeks, from 



about the middle of June till the beginning of 

 October, or later; by which means they will 

 come forward in perfection, from the later 

 summer months till the spring following. 



The only culture that is afterwards necessary, 

 is merely that of keeping the plants free from 

 weeds, by proper hoeing ; and when they have 

 attained -their full growth, tying them up, in 

 order that they may be effectually blanched, and 

 rendered sweet and tender. 



Blanching the plants. — This depends almost 

 wholly upon the hearts of the plants being kept 

 perfectly secluded from the action of light, 

 which has been attempted in many different me- 

 thods, as by tying up the leaves of the plants 

 close together with pieces of bass ; by earthing 

 the plants well up ; by placing plane tiles or 

 boards flat upon them, and by transplanting the 

 full-sized plants into the sides of raised ridges, 

 putting them in the earth nearly up to their tops. 

 The two first modes are chiefly employed in the 

 autumn and spring crops, and the last in the 

 winter. 



The two first are the most effectual methods 

 when performed in a perfect manner, as, while 

 they render them quite white and crisp in a re- 

 gular manner, they do not cramp or restrain 

 their growth : the latter is chiefly to be employed 

 in dry soils, and should be done at two or three 

 different times. 



In the third, the hearts are rendered suffi- 

 ciently white and tender, but the growth of the 

 plants is too much restricted, and the business 

 is not performed in so regular or effectual a 

 manner. The last is useful, when there is dan- 

 ger of the plants rotting, by an excess of mois- 

 ture. In whichever way the aetiolation of 

 these vegetables is performed, it should con- 

 stantly be done when the plants are quite dry, ■ 

 in the middle of a fine day, as, when done while 

 they are wet, much loss and injury is sustained 

 by their rotting. They mostly become well 

 blanched in the course of a fortnight, or sooner 

 where the light has been wholly excluded. 



In very severe winters, it is of great use to 

 cover the plants with some light material, so as 

 to prevent their rotting, and being destroyed. 



These plants may be well preserved in this 

 season, also by being placed in dry sand, in a 

 shed, cellar, or other convenient place. 



In saving the seed of these plants, great care 

 should be taken to collect it from the best and 

 most perfect of the different varieties, and to 

 have it perfectly ripened, as without care in this 

 last respect it never answers well as seed. 



CINERARIA, a genus furnishing plants of 

 the herbaceous and shrubby kinds for the oreen- 

 house. 



