KITCHEN GARDEN. 



put 4 inches of good rotten dung into the bot- 

 tom ; tread it firmly, and cover with an inch 

 of soil from the sides, then plant a single row 

 in ihe middle of each trench, leaving 7 or 8 

 inches between the plants. Give a plentiful 

 watering, and shade with a board till they 

 strike root. It may be grown also in beds, 4 

 feet wide, with alleys 4 feet between, pre- 

 pared as above. Plant 4 rows in each bed, at 

 from 6 to 8 inches apart, and water and shade 

 as before. To blanch, earth up gradually in 

 dry weather, as the plants progress in growth, 

 repeating the earthing every 2 weeks, at 

 which time care should be taken to gather up 

 all the leaves neatly, and not to bury the heart 

 of the plants. The earthing up may begin in 

 September. See CELEKT. 



CORN, INDIAN (Zea Mays). There are se- 

 veral varieties used at table, but none are better 

 than the common Sweet Corn. 



CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus). The Early 

 Frame and Early Green Cluster are good varie- 

 ties. The LongGreen is chiefly used for pickling. 

 As soon as the ground becomes warm in spring, 

 plant in hills 6 feet asunder each way, putting 

 a dozen seeds in a hill, and covering half an 

 inch deep. Leave finally but three of the 

 strongest plants. The ground must be rich 

 and well manured. For very early use, sow 

 in small pots in a hotbed; turn them into the 

 open ground in May, taking care to protect 

 them from the sun and late frosts. For pickling, 

 plant in the end of June. See CUCUMBER. 



EGG-PLANT (Solanum melongena). Sow in 

 hotbed, or other protected place, very early in 

 the spring, and late in the spring transplant 

 into very rich ground, keeping the plants about 

 two feet asunder. The seed requires much 

 warmth to cause it to vegetate. See EGG- 

 PLANT. 



ENDIVE (Chichorium endiva). Sow at close 

 of spring to middle of summer in shallow 

 drills ; when up an inch or two, thin out to 

 stand a foot apart. In dry weather tie up to 

 blanch as needed. See CHICORY and ENDIVE. 



LF.EK (Jlllium porrum). Sow in seed-bed 

 middle of spring; when the plants are 4 or 5 

 inches high transplant into rows, setting them 

 loosely and deeply into the soil, and leaving 

 space to admit the hoe between them. See 

 LEEK. 



LETTUCE (Lactuca saliva). The Early Cab- 

 bage, brownDutch, Royal Cabbage,CurledIndia 

 and Tennisball are good, and stand the climate. 

 Of the Cos varieties, which are very crisp and 

 tender, but soon shoot to seed, the Egyptian 

 Green Cos can be recommended. Sow in seed- 

 bed from commencement to middle of autumn, 

 protect the plants by a cold frame or with litter 

 as they stand on the ground; early in the spring 

 transplant them into rich ground. For a later 

 supply, sow in drills from time to time during 

 spring and summer; when up a few inches 

 thin out, leaving plants at proper distances. 

 See LETTUCE. 



" M^LON (Cuaimis melo). The Citron, Persian, 



~N<] Murray's Pine-apple are good va 



he canteleup or musk-melon. Plant 



/rich, light soil, at the distance of 6 



Aer, in the latter end of spring, putting 



ft /eeds into each hill, 2 inches distant 



88 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



from one another, and half an inch deep. Thin 

 out to 3 in each hill ; draw the earth from time 

 to time about the hills as high as the seed 

 leaves. Pinch off the top at the first or second 

 joint, as this will strengthen the plants, and 

 cause them to fruit early. Grow no pumpkins 

 or squashes near them. 



MELON, WATER (Cucurbita dtrullus\. The 

 Spanish and Mountain Sprout are good varie- 

 ties. The Citron is cultivated for preserves. 

 Cultivate as for canteleups, but let the hills be 

 7 or 8 feet distant. 



OKRA (Hibiscus esculentus). Plant in good, 

 rich ground late in spring, as it is a very ten- 

 der vegetable. Make drills an inch deep, and 

 3 or 4 feet asunder, into which drop 2 or 3 seeds 

 together, at intervals of about 8 inches, and 

 cover them nearly an inch deep. Thin them 

 out to 8 or 10 inches as the plants advance, 

 and earth up 2 or 3 times. 



ONION. See that head. 



PARSLEY (Jlpium petroselinum). Sow in rows 

 early in the spring. By soaking the seed in 

 warm water some hours immediately before 

 sowing, it will vegetate more speedily. It some- 

 times lies in the ground 2 or 3 weeks before 

 vegetating. 



PARSNIP (Pastinaca xativa). Sow early in 

 spring, in good soil, deeply dug, making drills 

 18 inches apart. When the plants are 2 or 3 

 inches high, thin out to 6 or 8 inches apart. 



PEA (Pisum sativum). Landreth's Extra 

 Early, and Bishop and Russell's Early Dwarfs 

 are the earliest varieties, and good of their 

 kind. Dwarf Blue Imperial, and Dwarf Scime- 

 tar are much esteemed. Knight's Dwarf and 

 Tall Marrowfats are late kinds, but superior to 

 all others for flavour and productiveness. Tall 

 and Dwarf Sugar or string peas are sweet, and 

 productive; they are boiled without shelling, 

 and served up as kidney beans. The dwarfs 

 require sticks from 2 to 3 feet long, the others 

 from 4 to 6, and a greater width between thf- 

 drills. 



PEPPER (Capsicum). Grossum or bellshaped, 

 Large sweet, and Squash or tomato-shaped, are 

 used for pickling; the last variety is the best. 

 The Sweet has a delicate taste, and is used as 

 a salad. Sow in hotbed in March, and trans- 

 plant ; or in the open ground, late in spring, in 

 drills 2 feet apart. When the plants are an 

 inch or two high, thin them out to about 15 

 inches apart in the rows, and hoe them re- 

 peatedly. 



POTATO. See that head. 



RADISH (Raphanus sativus). Short-top Scar- 

 let, Salmon, Red and White turnip-rooted, may 

 be sown in the spring, as early as the ground 

 can be worked. Yellow turnip-rooted and 

 Summer White are best for summer use. 

 White and Black Spanish for winter. Sow 

 these at close of summer, or early in autumn, 

 and when ripe store them in a cellar. For a 

 succession in spring and summer, sow every 

 two weeks. The ground should be light, rich, 

 and well worked. 



RHUBARB (Rheum). Tobolisk, Mammoth, 

 and Giant, are the best varieties, and may be 

 raised bj dividing the roots early in spring, 

 and planting them in rich, deep soil, in rows 4 

 feet asunder and 3 feet distant in the rows. 





