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Gardening for Amateurs 



out in a bed at 5 inches apart. Towards the 

 end of June the earliest will have become 

 strong and sturdy and should be planted in 

 permanent quarters 18 inches apart in rows 

 2 feet wide. Rich soil is not advisable, as 

 it produces plants that are not likely to 

 withstand hard frost ; they should follow 

 early Potatoes or early Peas. 



The following are the best varieties : Cot- 

 tager's Kale, Asparagus, Scotch, Dwarf Hardy 

 Curled, and the Tall Curled. The Variegated 

 Kale is a handsome plant, the colouring of 

 the leaves being rich and attractive. 



Broccoli. This is valuable on account of 

 its hardiness ; unlike the Cauliflower, some 

 of its varieties will stand the winter well, and 

 the heads " turn in " in spring. Indeed, by 

 planting suitable varieties of Broccoli a 

 supply can be had from autumn through 

 winter and spring to June. Its cultivation 

 is simple ; it must not be planted in freshly 

 dug or manured ground, but in that which 

 is firm and has recently produced a crop, 

 as, for example, of Strawberries, Leeks, or 

 Parsnips. It is essential that the plants 

 grow sturdily and slowly. This advice refers 

 more particularly to the spring Broccoli. 

 Autumn varieties may be grown in the same 

 way as Cauliflowers. 



For autumn Broccoli sow in March and 

 April out of doors, transplanting the seed- 

 lings 6 inches apart before they become 

 crowded, and finally planting at 2 feet apart 

 in June. The spring varieties should be sown 

 early in April and early in May. Plant them 

 15 inches apart, in rows 2 feet wide, and 

 tread them firmly. 



Good autumn Broccolis are Self-protect- 

 ing and Walcheren ; for mid-winter, Christ- 

 mas White and Winter White ; and for 

 spring use, Late Queen, Model and Purple 

 Sprouting. 



Brussels Sprouts. These are amongst 

 the most valuable of winter and spring vege- 

 tables. Seeds for an early crop should be 

 sown in a cold frame late in February and 

 the seedlings planted out early in June ; they 

 will furnish a supply in autumn. Sow in 

 March for the main crop, and put out the 

 plants at the end of June or early in July 

 15 inches apart, in rows that are 2| feet 

 from each other. This is a crop that ex- 

 hausts the land, and should be planted in 



deeply cultivated soil to which a moderate 

 supply of well-rotted manure has been added. 

 It goes without saying that the ground must 

 be kept free of weeds by frequent hoeing ; 

 further than this no attention is required. 

 Good varieties are : Aigburth, Scrymger'e 

 Giant, Sutton's Exhibition. 



Cabbage. This vegetable is the chief of: 

 the Brassica group, and second only in im- 

 portance to the Potato. It is practically in 

 season all the year round, and will yield 

 crops of greater or less value from any sort 

 of soil provided the land is kept clear of 

 weeds. Thus one finds Cabbage planted 

 in all sorts of positions. But to get this 

 vegetable to give us of its best it must 

 be planted in deeply dug and liberally 

 manured soil on which no member of the 

 Cabbage class has been grown for at least 

 a year. 



A small sowing of the variety Flower of 

 Spring may be made in the middle of 

 July and the young plants put out early in 

 September, 15 inches apart, in rows a simi- 

 lar distance from each other. This first 

 sowing is not satisfactory in some seasons, 

 for the plants " bolt " to seed instead of 

 forming heads. But it is well worth while 

 taking the risk for the sake of the early and 

 delicious heads of Cabbage in March, when 

 good vegetables are scarce. The sowing for 

 the main crop should be made in the middle 

 of August, good varieties being Ellam's and 

 Imperial. Put out the seedlings in October 

 at 18 inches apart. The earliest plants from 

 this sowing will " turn in " early in April 

 and give a supply until autumn, the sprouts 

 which develop after the Cabbages have been 

 cut continuing the supply to that time or 

 even later. If young Cabbages are appre- 

 ciated, two more sowings may be made, one 

 in a cold frame in February, the seedlings 

 from which, if planted out late in March, 

 will be fit to cut in May. Another sowing 

 should be made in March to continue the 

 supply. 



Colewort. -This comes in most useful as 

 a " catch " crop, after the early Potatoes 

 are taken up. The Coleworts form small, 

 shapely heads, and are in season before and 

 after Christmas. Seed is sown out of doors 

 in May, and the seedlings are planted out 12 

 inches apart each way as soon as the ground 



