i62 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



value, for they neither require a rich soil nor a good season. In 

 years of excessive drought, that have put Cauliflowers, Broccoli, and 

 many other summer vegetables hors de combat^ the Kidney Beans of 

 all sorts braved the weather and bore abundantly. 



BEET. At quite the end of the month sow in drills, a foot or 

 fifteen inches apart, on deep, well-dug ground, without manure. 

 Large Beets are not desired for the kitchen, but rather small, deeply 

 coloured, handsome roots are always valued, and these can only be 

 grown in soil that has been stirred to a good depth, and is quite free 

 of recent manuring. 



BROCCOLI. Make another sowing of several sorts, giving prefer- 

 ence as yet to the early ones. In particularly late districts, and per- 

 haps pretty generally in the north, the late Broccoli should be sown 

 now, but in the midlands and the south there is time to spare for 

 sowing them as yet. Be particular to have a good seed-bed, that 

 the plants may grow well from the first ; if the early growth be starved, 

 the plants become the victims of club and other ruinous maladies. 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS. There must be no delay in sowing for the 

 main crop. Rich soil and plenty of room are essential. 



CABBAGE. Sow the larger kinds for autumn use, and one or two 

 rows of the smaller kinds for planting in odd places as early crops 

 are cleared off. Pigs and poultry will always dispose of surplus 

 Cabbage advantageously, so there can be no serious objection to 

 keeping up a constant succession. Plant out from seed-beds as fast 

 as the plants become strong enough, for stifling and starving tend to 

 club, mildew, and blindness. In respect of club in general, it may 

 be observed that in land deeply dug, abundantly manured, and with a 

 constant change of crops from plot to plot, club is scarcely known, 

 and therefore it may be regarded as a defect of some sort in the 

 movements of the cultivator. Where Red Cabbage is in demand for 

 use with game in autumn, seed should be sown now. 



CARDOONS to be sown on land heavily manured in rows four feet 

 apart, the seeds in clumps of three each, eighteen inches apart. They 

 are sometimes sown in trenches, but we do not approve of that system, 

 for they do not require moisture to the extent of Celery, and the 

 blanching can be effectually accomplished without it. Our advice is, 

 therefore, plant on the level, except the ground be particularly dry 

 and hot, and then trenches will be of great service to promote a free 

 growth, for Cardoons should be large and fat to have their proper 

 flavour. 



CARROT. Sow the main crops. 



