166 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



Continuity (cabbage) for spring sowing, and Black 

 Seeded Bath (cos) and Hammersmith Hardy Green 

 (cabbage) for autumn sowing. 



Birds and slugs are specially fond of lettuces, and, unless 

 they are checked will do considerable damage. Thread 

 cotton along the rows to keep off the winged depredators, 

 and dust lime or soot around the plants as a precautionary 

 measure against the dreaded slugs. 



Tough or bolted lettuces should not be discarded, but 

 cooked as spinach. 



Radishes, like lettuces, require a quick growth or they 

 will be of a fibrous texture and a rank flavour. Select 

 ground that is rich, and choose a sunny open position for 

 the early and late crops, but a sheltered cool position for 

 the mid-season crops. Sow seed out of doors every 

 fortnight from the middle of March to late September, 

 and during the remainder of the year on a hot-bed. 

 Prepare the latter by placing a six-inch layer of good 

 soil on a heap of manure, not too hot, and cover it with a 

 glass frame. When the green leaves are an inch high 

 air should be admitted on fine days by lifting the window 

 light an inch or more. 



In all cases the surface of the soil must be worked 

 until a fine condition is obtained ; it should be quite free, 

 for instance, from stones or lumps of earth. The seed 

 is then scattered broadcast and the surface gently raked. 

 Later, a certain amount of thinning-out will be needed, 

 and, when this has been done, a half ounce of sulphate of 

 ammonia per square yard will considerably assist quick 

 growth ; this artificial, however, must not be applied if 



