184 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



a first crop, and the practice is to be commended. On cold damp 

 soils, and we may say on clay lands everywhere, it is a waste of seed 

 and labour to sow now, but every district has its peculiar capabilities, 

 and each cultivator must judge for himself ; our business being to 

 remind all alike according to our knowledge of facts and considera- 

 tion of the interest of our readers. In any case, Beans sown now 

 should be put on well-drained land in a sheltered spot. 



CARROT to be sown in frames, and successive sowings made every 

 three or four weeks until February. 



CAULIFLOWERS will be turning in now, and possibly those coming 

 forward will be all the better off for being covered with a leaf to pro- 

 tect the heads from frost. If the barometer rises steadily and the 

 wind goes round to north or north-east, draw all the best Cauliflowers 

 and put them in a shed or any out-of-the-way place safe for use. 



CELERY. Hard frost coming after heavy rain may prove destruc- 

 tive to Celery ; and it is well, if there is a crop worth saving, to cut a 

 trench round the plantation to favour escape of surplus water. If 

 taken up and packed away in a dry shed, the sticks will keep fresh 

 for a long time. 



HORSE-RADISH to be taken up and stored ready for use, and new 

 plantations to be made as weather permits and ground can be spared. 

 PEA. The sowing of Peas now is not recommended for the 

 community at large, but for those only who are so circumstanced that 

 they may adopt the practice with some prospect of success. If it is 

 determined to sow, select for the purpose a nice, dry, light, well- 

 drained sunny border, and make it safe from mice, slugs, and sparrows. 

 Any of the first earlies will serve the purpose, and it will be advisable 

 to sow two or three sorts rather than one only. 



POTATOES may be planted on dry, sandy soils, in very sheltered 

 quarters, but not on damp, heavy land. 



SEA KALE to be lifted for forcing. This delicious vegetable may, 

 indeed, be forced for the table in this month ; but it is not advisable 

 to be in such haste, for a fine sample cannot be secured so early. It 

 is the easiest thing in the world to force, the only point of importance 

 is to have strong roots to begin with. Any place can be utilised 

 for the purpose where a temperature of 45 or 55 can be maintained, 

 such as Mushroom-houses, cellars, pits, or old sheds. The plants 

 may be put thickly into pots, boxes, or they may be planted in a bed ; 

 but in any case light must be excluded to insure thorough blanching. 

 By these simple means a regular supply may be obtained until the 

 permanent beds in the open ground come into use. 



