A YEAR'S CYCLE IN THE GARDEN 179 



varying with the season, and the kind of vegetable. 

 Beans, peas, and corn are usually hilled about the 

 same height, four inches; this should be done early 

 as it prevents them from blowing over. Leek and 

 celery should be hilled as they grow. I usually 

 hill okra, as it is brittle and breaks very easily. 

 Potatoes should not be hilled too early; the proper 

 time is when the flowers appear. I advise hilling 

 cauliflower and cabbage up to the bottom leaves, 

 if they were not planted in drills as suggested last 

 month. This is not because there is any danger of 

 their blowing over, but to keep the roots farther 

 from the heat and drought. 



Thinning Out. The thinning out of crops such 

 as beets, carrots, etc., must be done when the 

 plants are very small. Go over a row, and pull 

 out the plants between the two points which are 

 to be covered. If you happen to leave two or three 

 in a clump it will not matter very much as they can 

 be thinned again later on in the season. 



Approved distances for thinning the plants are 

 as follows: 



Beans, 6 inches apart Lettuce, 9 inches apart 



Beets, 3 inches apart Okra, 8 inches apart 



Corn, 3 inches apart, by hill Parsnips, 5 inches apart 



8 inches in row Onions 3 inches apart 



Carrot, 3 inches apart Salsify, 3 inches apart 



Kohlrabi, 4 inches apart Turnip, 6 inches apart 



Leek, 6 inches apart 



Some of the early sown peas must now be brushed, 

 but never do this until after they have been hilled; 

 and in placing the brush be sure always to slant it. 



