APRIL 163 



CAULIFLOWERS to be planted out at every opportunity, warm 

 showery weather being most favourable. If cold weather should 

 follow, a large proportion of the plants will be destroyed unless pro- 

 tected, and there is no cheaper protection than empty flower-pots, 

 which may be left on all day as well as all night in extreme cases 

 when a killing east wind is blowing. Sow now and prick the plants 

 out early to save buttoning, and they will make a quick return. 



CELERY. Sow in a warm corner of the open ground on a bed 

 consisting in great part of rotten manure. It will happen in a good 

 season that this outdoor sowing will prove the best after all, as it will 

 have no check from first to last, and will be in just the right state for 

 planting out when the ground is ready for it after Peas and other 

 early crops. If Celery suffers at any time a serious check, it is apt 

 to make hollow stems and lack every good quality except size, which 

 is, after all, but a poor quality if the sticks are hollow and watery. 

 Prick out the plants from seed-pans on a bed of rotten manure, on a 

 hard bottom, in frames or in sheltered nooks, and look after them 

 with extra care for a week or two. Good Celery cannot be grown 

 by the haphazard gardener. 



CHICORY. This wholesome esculent is used in a variety of ways, 

 and is very much prized in some households. The blanched heads 

 make an acceptable accompaniment to cheese, are valuable for 

 salading, and may be stewed and served with melted butter in the 

 same manner as Sea Kale. To grow large clean roots a deep rich 

 soil is required. If manure must be added, use that which is well 

 decayed, and bury it at least twelve inches, for near the surface it will 

 produce fanged roots. Prepare the seed-bed as for Parsnips, sow in 

 drills twelve inches apart, and thin the plants to nine inches in the 

 rows. In October the roots will be ready for lifting, preparatory to 

 being packed in dark quarters for blanching. 



ENDIVE. Sow a small quantity in moderate heat for the first 

 supply, in drills six inches apart, and when an inch high prick out on 

 to a bed of rich light soil. 



HERBS. Chervil, Fennel, Hyssop, and other flavouring and 

 medicinal Herbs, may be sown now better than at any other time, as 

 they will start at once into full growth, and need little other after- 

 care than thinning and weeding. Rich soil is not required, but the 

 position must be dry and sunny. 



LEEK to be sown again if the former sowing is insufficient or has 

 failed. 



LETTUCE to be sown for succession, the quick-growing, tender- 



M 2 



