THE TUENIP.] 



PEACTICE OF HORTICULTUEE. [vegetable markow. 



SEA-KALE. 



This fine esculent is little inferior to aspa- 

 ragus, and a great deal more abundant, with 

 less cost. The ground prepared for it should 

 be well manured, and trenched to a depth of 

 three feet. It should also be forked up, and 

 the bottom spit of the trench loosened. Sow 

 the first week in April, thinly upon a bed in 

 an open part of the garden, or in straight 

 lines three feet asunder; the plants in each 

 row to be eighteen inches apart. During 

 August and September, or earlier, should the 

 young plants be in a vigorous state, a little 

 salt and soot, dissolved with manure water, 

 may be applied once a fortnight. The follow- 

 ing spring, about the beginning of April, take 

 them up, carefully shortening the roots to 

 seven inches. Tlieu plant them out in deeply- 

 trenched ground, as already stated, in rows 

 four feet apart, and two feet from plant to 

 plant, placing the crowns of the roots a couple 

 of inches below the surface. 



SPINACH. 



This vegetable is not particular either as to 

 soil or season ; and it makes its appearance 

 early in the spring, when there is no great 

 abundance of culinary plants in the market. 

 It is sown in shallow drills, with a width 

 between each sufficient to allow the hoe to be 

 worked. Sow in the latter end of March, and 

 again in the middle of June, in order to ensure 

 a succession of leaves, the size and succulency 

 of which entirely depend on the richness and 

 moisture of the soil. This is the only vege- 

 table, in common use, that has the male and 

 female flowers on different plants — a circum- 

 stance which gives no trouble in the raising of 

 seed, as it is certain to happen, that, among a 

 considerable number of plants, there will be 

 some of both sexes. 



THE TURNIP. 



Mr. A. Henderson says, that turnips, to be 

 tender and mild, must be grown rapidly, re- 

 ceiving no check of any kind from the day the 

 seed is put into the ground. Tiiey delight in 

 a generous, well-worked soil, abounding in 

 manure, and thoroughly incorporated to'"-ether 

 —filled, in fact, with the vegetable manure of 

 980 



previous years. Under such circumstances 

 the fly becomes unknown, and the flavour is 

 delicious, the bulbs being tender and delicate. 

 Perhaps the row system is the best for garden 

 culture ; and the distance between should vary 

 from two to fifteen inches, and, in the row 

 form, to six inches. Very clean culture, scari- 

 fying and stirring the ground, jvith early 

 thinning, is requisite. The fly must be averted ; 

 and charred ashes, and chimney or charcoal- 

 dust, used in the dry state, is quite a preven- 

 tative for this pest. Sow Early Dutch in a 

 sheltered situation in the middle of March ; 

 the Early Stone monthly, till July, when a 

 good breadth of a hardy sort (say the Orange 

 Jelly) should be put in for winter use. There 

 is another excellent variety, called the Chick 

 Castle Black Stone, for winter use ; and, for 

 this purpose, should be sown about the latter 

 end of July, and middle of August. The 

 American Strap Stone is also very superior in 

 quality and flavour, being quick in growth, 

 and very white and crisp. 



VEGETABLE MARROW. 



This is both a valuable and a profitable 

 vegetable. The celebrated green, long-fruited 

 variety, named Prince Albert, and the long 

 white one, are the best in cultivation. It is 

 better to sow the seed in a gentle hot-bed, or 

 under cover, about the middle of April, when 

 they have four rough leaves. Plant them in a 

 rich soil, and in a warm and sheltered situa- 

 tion, about the third week in May, taking 

 care, at first, to cover the plants over with an 

 inverted flower-pot at night, or other similar 

 contrivance. When hot dung is to be had, 

 about four barrowfuls, buried in the ground, 

 greatly assists them : the earth that is taken 

 out ridge up round the plants. Tiiis will pro- 

 tect them ; whilst the hot dune will be of sreat 

 benefit in giving the young plants a vigorous 

 start ; after which they will require no extra 

 care. In dry weather they require an abundance 

 of water ; and, at the least, once a week, a 

 thorough good soaking of liquid manure, 

 washed in afterwards with clear water — always 

 applied in the evening. 



The pumpkin and the squash are treated in 

 the same manner as the vegetable marrow ; 

 but they are not so generally esteemed. 



