Gardening for Amateurs 



959 



the frames will need careful attention in 

 regard to protection at night. The sides of 

 the frame may have to be banked up with 

 fresh manure in addition to mats being placed 

 over the glass. I have seen whole crops 

 destroyed by a sudden fall of temperature 

 in May owing to carelessness in this respect. 

 The Cantaloupe Melon so much used by 

 the French growers is the best variety for 

 this method of culture. One of our English 

 Melons has been tried for this purpose 

 Hero of Lockinge but not found nearly so 

 satisfactory as the Cantaloupe. The fruits 

 may sell at any price from Is. to 3s. 6d. or 

 4s., according to size and the state of the 

 market demand. Early fruits usually sell 

 at higher prices than later ones, and as they 

 do not require much more labour or forcing 

 material, it is obvious that this crop should 

 be got on the market early in the season. 



Radishes. The frames for these should 

 be got ready at the end of the year or early 

 in January. The heat must not be of an 

 unduly forcing nature, but gentle and of 

 sufficient warmth to ensure quick germina- 

 tion and rapid development. The natural 

 soil may be rough and stony in the early 

 stages of a French garden, and it may be 

 necessary to sift enough for covering the 

 seeds the first year or two. As a rule it is 

 sufficient to sow thinly upon the surface and 

 rake the seeds into the soil until all are 

 covered. Radishes should never be thickly 

 sown, and yet there must be enough seed 

 put on for a crop or the pullings will be 

 light. It is perhaps wise for the beginner 

 to sow too thickly rather than too thinly, 

 though he must thin the young plants as 

 soon as they germinate if he finds they are 

 so thick that they will not have sufficient 



IN THE FRENCH GARDEN 



autumn and early winter. Plant out Straw- 

 berry runners. 



August. -Endive may again be sown 

 during this month if a late supply is required. 

 The plants from earlier sowings will be ready 

 for planting out on open borders. Place 

 them about 1 foot apart. During dry 

 weather water must be given, not only to 

 start the plants, but to keep them growing. 

 Another sowing of Carrots may be made to 

 provide pullings from the open in spring. 

 These outdoor Carrots compare rather un- 

 favourably for flavour with those grown in 

 warm frames. Strawberries may still be 

 planted. 



September. To secure very early Cauli- 

 flowers, sow at the beginning of September 

 in a well prepared piece of ground outside ; 

 the young plants from this sowing may be 

 pricked off under cloches or in frames. Do 

 not " coddle " these plants, but ventilate 

 freely. If Early London Cauliflowers have 

 been sown, pot them up singly in small pots 

 when large enough to handle, or plant them 

 out 3 or 4 inches apart in a cold frame. 

 Early plants of Endive will be ready for 

 blanching this month, it should first be 

 ascertained if there is a demand at this 

 season. Plant out Violets in frames. 



October. If a commencement has not 

 already been made, start securing the requisite 

 amount of manure, so that the whole is not 

 fresh and rank when the beds have to be 

 made. Sow Early French Cabbage Lettuce 

 under frames or cloches, and also Early 

 French Cos. The young plants are after- 

 wards pricked out an inch or two apart. 

 All must have air in mild weather, but 

 during frost protection must be provided. 

 Tie up, or blanch in some other way, supplies 

 of Endive as required. 



November. Further sowings of Lettuce 

 of both kinds and also of Cauliflower may 

 still be made. Give ample supplies of air 

 to the growing crops in mild weather, even 

 removing the lights entirely when the days 

 are dry. Look over Lettuces and Cauliflower 

 plants and remove decaying leaves, which 

 are best burnt. 



December. The work for this month is 

 similar to that of November, except that no 

 sowings of seeds will be needed. Repair 

 frames and repaint and glaze as needed. 

 Make mats, look over packing crates and 

 put them in repair. Towards the end of 

 the month a few frames may be made 

 up in readiness for sowing early in the 

 year. 



