1 88 VEGETABLES FOR EXHIBITION 



The earlier sowings should be made under glass during 

 February and March, using boxes two feet long, one 

 foot wide, and four and a half inches deep, and make 

 provision for good drainage. 



The best compost consists of two parts good loam, 

 one part rotten leaf soil, and one part spent Mush- 

 room bed material. Well mix and cover the crocks 

 with the rougher parts of the soil. The boxes should 

 be three-parts filled and the compost made moderately 

 firm. Sow the seed evenly all over, leaving them 

 about one inch apart, and cover with half an inch of 

 the finer soil, giving afterwards a thorough watering. 

 A gentle heat is all that is required, a vinery or green- 

 house answering admirably. As soon as the seedlings 

 are well above the soil remove the boxes to a cold 

 frame or other glass structure where a sturdy growth 

 is possible. Gradually admit air, thus hardening them 

 off until they can be placed out of doors in an open 

 yet protected situation before planting. Make the 

 first sowing towards the middle of February, continu- 

 ing at intervals of a fortnight for succession. Each 

 plant should be lifted with a small hand fork. Plant 

 double lines, allowing three inches between the plants 

 and four inches between the lines. Stake and protect 

 the plants with nets at the same time, and give a dust- 

 ing of fine cinder ashes as a check to slugs. If the 

 weather be fine when planting water in freely. Later 

 sowings should be made in the open and the seed 

 dibbled in twice as thickly as it is required, thinning 

 out when the plants are sufficiently advanced, and 



