i?2 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



In such cases we should advise the cultivator to abstain from giving 

 water as long as possible, and then to give it in abundance, watering 

 only a small plot every day in order to saturate the ground, and 

 taking a week or more to go over a piece which would be done in a 

 day by mere surface dribblings. 



ASPARAGUS should be in full supply, and may be cut until the 

 middle or end of the month. When cutting should cease depends 

 on the district. In the South of England the i4th is about the 

 proper time to make the last cut ; north of the Trent, the 2oth may 

 be soon enough ; and further north, cutting may be continued until 

 July. The point to be borne in mind is that the plant must be 

 allowed time to grow freely without any further check, in order to 

 store up the material to make tender shoots next year. It is a good 

 plan to insert stakes in Asparagus beds such as are used for Peas, 

 to give support to the green growth against gales of wind ; for when 

 the stems are snapped by storms, as they often are, the roots lose 

 their aid, and are weakened for their future work. Manure water 

 will do great things for Asparagus now, and a dressing of salt may be 

 given with advantage. 



BEANS may yet be sown, but as they are not much in request in the 

 latter part of the season, a small sowing will probably suffice. 



BEANS, KIDNEY, may be sown about the middle of the month, to 

 supply tender pods when those from the early sowings are past. A 

 late crop of Runners will pay well almost anywhere, for they bear 

 until the frost cuts them down, and that may not happen until far 

 into November. 



BROCCOLI. Take advantage of showers to continue planting out. 

 CABBAGE. Towards the end of the month sow a good breadth of 

 small Cabbages and Coleworts. They will be immensely valuable to 

 plant out as the summer crops are cleared away. 



CAPSICUMS may be planted out in a sunny sheltered spot. 

 CAULIFLOWERS that are planted out now from seed-beds must 

 have plentiful supplies of water, and be shaded during mid-day for 

 a week. It is customary to snap one of the inner leaves over the 

 heads to protect them. 



CELERY to be planted out without loss of time, in showery weather 

 if possible ; but if the weather is hot and dry, shade and give water. 

 The work must be well done, hence it is advisable to lift no more 

 plants than can be quickly planted, watered in and shaded, for ex- 

 posure tends to exhaustion, and Celery ought never to suffer a check 

 in even the slightest degree. When planted, dust lightly with soot 



