JUNE 173 



or wood ashes. Pea-sticks laid across the trenches will give shade 

 enough with very little trouble. 



CUCUMBERS FOR PICKLING may be sown on ridges. 



ENDIVE is not generally wanted while good Lettuces abound, 

 but it takes the place of Lettuce in autumn and winter, when the 

 more delicate vegetable is scarce. Sow in drills an inch deep and six 

 inches apart. Thin the plants, and transfer the thinnings to rich 

 light soil. They must be liberally grown on well-manured land with 

 the aid of water in dry weather. 



LETTUCE to be sown and planted at every opportunity. A few 

 rows of large Cos varieties should be sown in trenches prepared as 

 for Celery, there to be thinned and allowed to stand. They will form 

 fine hearts, and be valued at a time when Lettuces are scarce. 



MELON. For a final crop in houses sow as previously directed, 

 and grow the plants on in pots, until the house can be cleared of the 

 former set for their reception. The growth should be pushed forward 

 to insure ripe fruit before the end of September. In the event of 

 dull weather at the finish, there will be all the greater need of abun- 

 dant but judicious ventilation, and of a -warm dry atmosphere at 

 night. Before they become heavy every fruit should have the support 

 of a thin piece of board suspended by wire at both ends. 



MUSHROOMS may be prepared for now that the demands of the 

 gardener on the stable are diminishing. The first step towards 

 success is to accumulate a good long heap of horse- droppings with 

 the least possible amount of litter. Let this ferment moderately, and 

 turn it two or three times, always making a long heap of it, which 

 keeps down the fermentation. When the fire is somewhat taken out 

 of it, make up the bed with a mixture of about four parts of the 

 fermented manure, and one part of turfy loam well incorporated. 

 Beat the stuff together with the flat of the spade as the work proceeds, 

 fashioning the bed in the form of a ridge about three feet wide at the 

 base, and of any length that may be convenient. Give the work 

 a neat finish, or the Mushrooms will certainly not repay you. Put in 

 rather large lumps of spawn when the bed is nicely warm, cover with 

 a thin layer of fine soil, and protect with mats or clean straw. This 

 is a quick and easy way of growing Mushrooms, and by commencing 

 now, the season is all before one. Nine times in ten, people begin 

 preparations for Mushroom growing about a month too late, for the 

 spawn runs during the hot weather, and the crop rises when the 

 weather moderates, and the cool autumnal rains occur. 



ONIONS to be sown for salading. Forward beds of large sorts to 



