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beforehand whether your seeds be good, by putting them into 

 water before sowing ; such as are light, and float on the surface, 

 are to be rejected. Vegetable seeds may be sown in boxes and 

 baskets, but not too thickly ; they must be sheltered from the 

 weather, and require great care. The young leaves must be 

 examined every morning, and cleared of all insects, particularly 

 of a small slug or caterpillar : the transplanting must be fre- 

 quent, and the young plants allowed room. Cauliflower, broc- 

 coli, cabbage, celery, and beet, may be thus brought forward, till 

 at the season (August) for planting out they may have attained 

 four to six inches high a sufficient size to be put each in a 

 small basket, from which the plant can be removed without dis- 

 turbing the root, and an early crop secured. 



Put down beet, lettuce, cabbage, turnips, nole-cole, asparagus, 

 beans of sorts, spinage, country gooseberry, and tomato. It 

 being sometimes difficult to get beans to germinate readily, they 

 should be steeped in soft water for twenty-four hours previous 

 to sowing, which will effectually remove this difficulty. 



AUGUST. 



Plants of the cabbage tribe that have been grown in boxes or 

 baskets will now require great attention, both in daily picking 

 off insects and protecting them from heavy rains. A species of 

 caterpillar, dark in colour some smooth and some hairy have 

 been found most destructive in this month. A solution of 

 tobacco, lime, and wood-ashes, effectually destroys them. Con- 

 tinue to sow lettuce, plant out celery, country gooseberry, toma- 

 to, brinjals, cucumber, vegetable marrow, and parsley. 



In sheltered spots and light soils, lettuces may be brought to 

 a very fair state of perfection. 



SEPTEMBER. 



After Cocoanut Day, which usually falls in the end of August, 

 the heavy rains generally cease, and you have passing showers 

 with occasional sunshine. After transplanting, care should be 

 taken to shade the young plants during the day with the shade- 

 baskets, and to preserve them from the wet by earthing up. 



The ground should now be well manured and prepared for 



