Gardening for Amateurs 



1079 



doors or under cover is from August to early 

 in April. Mushrooms are an uncertain crop 

 in hot weather, maggots often proving very 

 troublesome. 



A bed ought to remain in profitable bear- 

 ing for six weeks or two months. Sometimes 

 it happens that beds spawned in autumn do 

 not produce Mushrooms until the following 

 spring, so they should not be condemned 

 hastily. 



When the surface of the beds becomes dry 

 it is necessary to give water, using that 

 which is tepid ; if the weather is warm and 

 dry, give a good soaking, applying it through 

 a rosed can. In cold weather water should 

 be given sparingly. 



The particulars already furnished apply 

 to Mushrooms grown in a shed or other 

 building. The chief distinction between 

 these and outdoor crops is that the beds 

 under cover are usually flat and about 12 

 inches deep, while little covering of straw is 

 needed. 



Woodlice are the greatest pest of Mush- 

 room beds. Pieces of Carrot laid on the beds 

 and flower-pots containing a little hay are 

 the best traps ; boiling water poured into 

 the crevices and holes in which they are 

 hiding kills a large number. 



Mustard. For mixing with Cress this 

 is valuable and indispensable. From early 

 March to the end of September sow thickly 

 out of doors, on a warm border in spring and 

 in partial shade in summer. Water frequently. 

 Mustard should be cut young, or the flavour 

 becomes pungent and strong. For winter 

 supply sow on the surface of fine soil in 

 shallow boxes placed on the shelf of a warm 

 greenhouse. By sowing frequently a con- 

 tinuous supply is easily maintained. The 

 White Mustard is the best. When Mustard 

 and Cress are grown together, Cress should 

 be sown two or three days in advance, for it 

 grows less rapidly than Mustard. 



Onion. This is one of the most useful 

 crops of the kitchen garden, and is deserv- 

 ing of all the care and skill that can be 

 brought to bear on its cultivation. It succeeds 

 best when planted on land which has been 

 deeply stirred and heavily manured for a 

 previous crop Celery, for instance. 



Spring-sown Onions. Let the land be dug 

 deeply in spring, raked over smooth with a 



wooden rake, and trodden down on a dry 

 day before sowing takes place. Sow for 

 main crop in drills 12 inches apart in March ; 

 commence to thin as soon as the plants are 

 large enough to handle, using those pulled 

 out for salad. It is better not to thin Onions 

 too severely if they are wanted only for 

 home consumption. The bulbs will not be 

 so large, but they will keep longer, and the 

 crop will be heavy. If large Onions are 





Finely-grown Onions 



wanted for exhibition, thin the seedlings to 

 7 inches . apart, and water once every ten 

 days or so during their season of growth with 

 well-diluted manure water. . Larger bulbs 

 may be obtained by sowing in small pots in 

 warmth early in February, and growing the 

 plants singly in 4-inch pots until early in 

 April ; they are then planted out 15 inches 

 apart in rich soil and watered during summer 

 as mentioned above. 



As soon as the tops droop and are partly 

 dead, towards the end of August or early 



