80 THE VILLA GAKDENEK. 



and well manured, occasions less trouble than any other perennial vegetable ; 

 and, if watered in dry weather, it will continue producing leaves the whole 

 summer. In winter, the ground on which it stands ought to be well soaked 

 with liquid manure. For pies and puddings, rhubarb stalks are preferred 

 by many to either gooseberries or apples ; and they are so easily gathered, 

 so wholesome, and so well adapted for children, that no suburban kitchen- 

 garden ought to be without its rhubarb bed. 



124. Selection of culinary vegetables best adapted for small suburban 

 gardens. — Of the cabbages. Knight's early dwarf, introduced in the year 

 1835, and the early Battersea, are the best kinds for the early crops; and the 

 latter will be found suitable for the secondary summer, autumn, and even 

 winter supply. In most cases these will be found sufficient, as late cabbages 

 are seldom grown in suburban gardens ; but, where they are thought desi- 

 rable, the late sugar-loaf may be chosen. Red cabbages are useful for 

 pickling and stewing in the Flemisli manner. The kind usually cultivated is 

 the Dutch red ; but the dwarf red, which is not much known, is more delicate 

 for the table. The dwarf Savoy is a very useful winter vegetable, as its 

 flavour is improved by frost, if not too severe, and it will supply the table 

 with greens from November till spring. Brussels sprouts are a delicious 

 vegetable, and should, if possible, be raised from seed ripened in Flanders, as 

 the plant is apt to degenerate in this country. Scotch greens, or German 

 kale, are very useful winter vegetables, as, when the heart is removed, the 

 stalk contiiuies for some months to send out side shoots or sprouts. The 

 cauliflower is rather a difficult vegetable to grow well, as it requires an 

 exceedingly rich soil, and careful culture. To have it early, it must also be 

 protected during winter ; and, as it is a vegetable that ic brought to market 

 in very great perfection, not being much injured by keeping a few days, it 

 is better to purchase it when wanted, rather than to attempt to grow it, 

 unless there is abundance of room. Purple Cape broccoli is not liable to the 

 same objection, as, if sown in May or June, it will produce a good crop from 

 August till December, unless destroyed by frost. 



Of the leguminous vegetables, the best kinds of peas for a small garden are 

 the blue Prussian, the dwarf marrowfat, and the white Prussian, or poor 

 man's profit; or the white rouncival and Knight's tall marrowfat, where tall- 

 growing varieties are wanted. We would not recommend any early pea to 

 be grown, as these are generally very inferior in flavour to the others ; but, 

 where one is thought desirable, the early Warwick is said to be the best. For 

 a late pea, the late blue dwarf Spanish has been strongly recommended. 

 For beans, where it is thought desirable to grow them, the early mazagan, 

 and long pod are the most fruitful; but the broad and green Windsors are 

 generally preferred for the table. We have already mentioned that the 

 scarlet runner is the most profitable kidney-bean. For potatoes, the ash- 

 leaved and RufFord kidneys are to be preferred for the first crop; but Shaw's 

 early and the champion, though they are both very prolific, and are those 

 generally grown for the London market, we can by no means recommend, 

 either for their mealiness or their flavour. For turnips, the early white Dutch 

 and the yellow Dutch may be chosen ; but the Teltow, or French, is well 

 worth cultivation, on account of its sweetness, and the richness it gives to 

 soups. The Teltow is the smallest of all turnips, not having more leaves on 

 it than a radish; and, when used, it should be only scraped, and not pared. 



