HOME GROWN VEGETABLES 151 



disease of Cabbages, Turnips, and similar crops. It would be as 

 well to grow Potatoes, Onions, or other crops, and to give all the 

 Brassicas a change, since they are so liable to be attacked on your 

 soil. It is quite possible that the plants were attacked at the 

 time of planting out. They should be examined at planting time, 

 and if affected the roots should be puddled in a mixture of paraffin, 

 soft soap, and soot water. 



Liming Ground for Potatoes 



Q. Please assist me in the following. I have a plot of garden 

 ground (26 poles), to which I intend giving lime. The soil is medium 

 stiff. What quantity would you advise me to give it ? The best 

 time to put on, now (autumn) or spring] Whether to dig or fork 

 it in? I am to crop it with Potatoes again. Constant Reader, 

 Montrose. 



A. Deeply dig your plot, leaving the soil rough on the surface. 

 Then apply 2 pecks of slaked lime (in powder form) per rod of 

 ground. Scatter the powdered lime evenly on the surface, and let it 

 remain so for a few weeks, then fork it in. 



Asparagus 



Q. Can I water Asparagus beds with sea water, and frequently or 

 otherwise 1 R. /?., /. of W. 



A. Seaweed in moderation is a good manure to use in the making 

 of new Asparagus beds, but we have never known or heard of beds 

 being watered with sea water. Unless very greatly diluted, the 

 result of using it, we think, would be disastrous to the Asparagus 

 plants. Asparagus plants thrive best when kept on the dry side 

 during winter, and should be watered only in spring and early sum- 

 mer when growing fast, and again at the end of summer to help the 

 grass plump up good crowns for next year's bearing. Liquid manure 

 from a farmyard is best ; in the absence of this an occasional light 

 dressing of Peruvian guano is the next best, washing it in with a 

 copious application of clean water. 



Saving Seed of Onions 



Q. I have some good Onions, grown from a prize strain, and wish 

 to save seed. Kindly advise. Grower, Chertsey. 



A. Only bulbs of uniform shape and large size, according to the 

 variety, should be selected for seed production. It is found in prac- 

 tice that new forms quickly deteriorate if selection is not rigidly 



