152 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



rapidly. If checked they become hot, tough, and worthless. Much 

 may be done to forward a crop by means of dry litter and mats to 

 protect from frost, removing the protection in favourable weather to 

 give the crop the fullest possible benefit of air and sunshine. Old 

 worn-out frames that will scarcely hold together will pay their first 

 cost over again with the aid of a little skill in growing Radishes. 

 In all cases, the long Radishes are the best to sow early ; the 

 Turnip and Oval-shaped varieties are generally most prized for late 

 sowing. 



RHUBARB should be taken up and divided and planted again in 

 rich moist soil, every separate piece to have only one good eye. Do 

 not gather this season from the new plantation, but always have a 

 piece one year old to supply the kitchen. This method will insure 

 sticks to be proud of, not only for size, but for colour and flavour. 

 The small high-coloured sorts are the best for home use. 



SAVOYS are valued by some when small, and by others they are 

 prized for size as much as for their excellent flavour when well 

 frosted. Large Savoys must have a long season of growth ; therefore 

 sow as soon as possible, either in a frame, or on a rich, mellow seed- 

 bed, and be ready to prick them out before they become crowded. 



SEA KALE. The plantations reserved for latest supplies should 

 not be covered until they begin to push naturally, and then the cover- 

 ings must be put on to cause the sticks to rise white and tender. 

 Open-ground Sea Kale may be uncovered as soon as cut, but a little 

 litter should be left about to give protection, and help the young 

 shoots to rise because the blanching and cutting of the sticks is a 

 severe tax on the plant, and it now has to begin life afresh, and pre- 

 pare for the work of the next season. 



SHALLOT. It is not generally known that when well grown the 

 clumps are bigger than a man's fist, and each separate bulb thicker 

 than a walnut. To grow them well they must have time ; so plant early, 

 on rich ground, in rows one foot apart and the bulbs six or nine 

 inches asunder. Press them into the earth deep enough to hold them 

 firmly, but they are not to be quite buried. 



SPINACH. Sow the Round-seeded plentifully ; if you overdo it, 

 the extra crop can be dug in as manure, and in that way will pay. 



TOMATO. In many gardens the first sowing is made about the 

 20th of this month, and if treated fairly the plants will come into 

 bearing in about four months. Use good porous soil for the seed- 

 pans. Sow very thinly in a temperature of 60 or 65, and get the 

 plants into thumb pots while they are quite small. 



