1048 



Gardening for Amateurs 



the soil around the plants two or three 

 times during the growing season with soot, 

 taking care to keep this from the centres of 

 the plants. Six weeks before required for 

 market, tie each plant closely together with 

 raffia and earth up on two occasions. The 

 " sticks " are usually sold wholesale in 

 bundles of twelve. The price will be accord- 

 ing to the time of } r ear and the quality of the 

 Celery. Eightpence per bundle is a common 

 figure, though 6d. or even less may be 

 quoted at times. Early in the season Is. 

 a dozen may be secured, but this seldom 

 lasts long. 



Cucumber, Ridge. These are raised 

 much in the same way as Vegetable Marrow, 

 and some years turn out well for the grower. 

 There is a demand at 4d. to 6d. per 

 dozen for good Cucumbers, and small mis- 

 shapen fruits can always be sold for pickling 

 purposes, though, of course, at a reduced 

 price. 



Endive. Seed of this mav be sown from 

 June to August if a demand is found over a 

 lengthened season. Sow Green Curled for 

 the earliest sowings and Green Batavian for 

 later use. Plant out on rich ground as the 

 plants become ready, and when required for 

 market blanch by tying or covering with 

 slates or tiles when dry. 



Leek. This cannot be considered a popu- 

 lar market crop, but it is one that paj-s 

 extremely well when severe weather comes 

 along in winter. The Leek must be put 

 out on rich land if large, thick stems are 

 desired. The crop, strange to say. does 

 not readily nor to any extent respond to the 

 application of nitrogenous manure, such as 

 nitrate of soda, and in consequence the 

 goodness must be in the soil to begin with. 

 Sowings of seed are usually made at the end 

 of March and beginning of April. When the 

 young plants are ready dibble them deeply 

 into the ground they are to occupy in rows 

 1 foot or 15 inches apart, the plants to be 

 6 to 8 inches asunder. The usual method 

 of marketing is to make small bunches of 

 three or four, five or six, according to size, 

 and then make these up in dozens and fasten 

 them securely with twigs. Wholesale prices 

 are somewhere about 2^d. to 4d. per dozen, 

 rather more for really fine stems, but these 

 are rare in our markets. 



Lettuce. For market use Lettuces are 

 chiefly sown in autumn for early cutting in 

 spring. Sown in August and early Septem- 

 ber, they are planted out in October to stand 

 the winter. They are planted beneath fruit 

 trees in many thousands, and when the land 

 is well prepared succeed admirably when 

 the trees are not too dense overhead. 

 Lettuces are also planted in the autumn 

 between rows of Strawberries, and when 

 really early constitute an excellent catch 

 crop for such a position. A variety much 

 grown is Schofield's Winter White ; this is 

 a Cabbage variety. The plants are put out 

 9 to 12 inches apart, hoed in spring, and, 

 if necessary, carefully dressed with nitrate 

 of soda, 1 to 1J cwt. per acre. The Cos 

 varieties are usually a trifle later than the 

 Cabbage sorts in coming on the market, but 

 nearly always command a little more money. 

 The old Bath Cos is much grown, as also 

 is Hardy Winter White. Both require tying 

 to help in the process of hearting. For 

 summer growth or sowing in spring Paris 

 White is still one of the best. There seems 

 to be little inducement to grow summer 

 Lettuces for market, and only where it is 

 known there is a steady demand should these 

 be taken any trouble with by the small- 

 holder. 



Mint. Mint is not greatly grown by 

 smallholders out of doors, except to supply 

 those growers who force it in large quan- 

 tities. It can be grown by division of the 

 roots in autumn or by transplanting young 

 growths with roots adhering in spring ; the 

 latter is the better plan. It is a profitable 

 crop in some districts, prices ranging from 

 2d. to 4d. per dozen bunches, according to 

 the time of year. 



Onion. There is a very big trade done in 

 Green Onions. The seed for these is usually 

 sown early in August and on through the 

 month. The crop is one that can be secured 

 from beneath fruit trees w r here the top 

 growth is not too heavy. Some seasons this 

 is a most profitable venture, other years the 

 crop has to be ploughed in as absolutely 

 unsaleable at a profit. Cost of seed in the 

 first place is a big consideration ; the sub- 

 sequent labour of weeding, hoeing, and 

 tying causing the expenses to mount up. 

 The smallholder with his own family can do 



