312 



CASSELL'S POPULAJft GARDENING. 



carefully take off all minor side-shoots or suckers 

 from each, hoe the soil on each side of the row, and 

 chop down a little soil from the sides of the trenches 

 as a preliminary to earthing up. If the earliest row 

 is sufficiently advanced to permit of this being done 

 about the first week, a second earthing up may be 

 made during the third or fourth week. 



Transplant towards the middle and end of the 

 month seedling Lettuces and Endive on to any open 

 space and rich soil. The result will be fine large 

 plants for late autumn use, and for transplanting in 

 frames, &c. 



Where the main Onion crop does not ripen ofi 

 evenly, sundry large strong-necked ones existing 

 amongst them, go over the bed, and bend the necks 

 of such down, a practice which hastens the bulbing 

 process. So soon as such green stalks contract, and 

 show a ripened aspect, puU the crop up, laying the 

 bulbs bottom upwards in rows to hasten the further 

 ripening process. Give the needful attention to 

 Tomatoes, Cucumbers, &c., well deluging all with 

 water as necessary. Pot off seedling Cucumber plants 

 grown on for winter work. Well hoe all ground re- 

 quiring such attention. 



Septem'ber. 



Prepare ground whereon to plant the main bed of 

 spring Cabbages. Upon light ground the old Onion- 

 bed, especially if well manured and prepared for 

 such, will prove an excellent place whereon to plant 

 them. On the contrary, wherever the ground is of 

 a heavy, tenacious nature, it -will be desirable to 

 manure and dig up a proper space for them, whereon 

 to plant to the necessary extent so soon as the young 

 seedling plants are large enough for the purpose. 

 The Spinach sown as advised will require thinning 

 out ; the better this is done, so will the young plants 

 gain strength for withstanding the frosts, &c., of 

 winter. Thin all out to six inches apart, well hoeing 

 the ground during the operation. 



Take up Potato crops immediately the haulm shows 

 signs of ripening, and should disease show upon any, 

 either cut the haulm down and remove it to a dis- 

 tance, or forthwith dig up the crop. In digging the 

 crop up thus early, however, it is needful to at once 

 remove the tubers to a cool, close, dark shed, or to 

 clamp them at once in the open ground. The latter 

 is preferable, Care must be taken, however, not to 

 place too large a bulk together, otherwise they are 

 likely to ferment and receive great injury. In any 

 case, it is desirable to dig up this crop as soon as 

 possible. The practice of leaving it in the ground 

 after the haulm has died down, too certainly causes 

 undue loss or waste. 



Proceed with earthing up Celery. The process re- 

 quires to be done by degrees, at intervals of about a 



fortnight. Chop a quantity of soil down from tlie 

 sides of the trenches each time, break it up finely, 

 place it against liie plants, and whilst each plant is 

 held bodily in one hand, with the leaves naturally 

 closed together, and their stalks straight, draw the 

 soil with a trowel up around and between each. 

 During dry weather a final watering should be given 

 before the second earthing up. 



Towards the end of the month take up and store 

 Beet-root and Carrots. Dig up each root care- 

 fully, so as not to break them ; twist the leaves off 

 the former, and cut them off the latter, storing them 

 away conveniently for winter use. A cool, somewhat 

 damp place suits both. Carrots will keep fresh and 

 well clamped in the open ground, in the same way 

 as Potatoes are clamped. 



Mildew often attacks late Peas early in the month. 

 A fine dusting with flowers of sulphur is a good anti- 

 dote. The Onion crop shoidd be ripening quickly 

 during dry weather. Turn the bulbs over occasion- 

 ally with a wooden rake, untU the green stalks have 

 become brown and dry, and then harvest ; in doing 

 which remove as much of the decayed stalk as can 

 be detached from each in process of picking them up 

 and transferring them to baskets, for transmission 

 to dry shelves .in sheds, &c. All stiff, seedy-stalked 

 ones should be removed from the general crop, to be 

 stored away. A dry, cool place is most suitable to 

 them. V 



Continue to transplant Lettuces and Endive, as the 

 successional seedling plants upon seed-beds become 

 large enough for this purpose, tying up a. few for 

 early uses as required. Prick out Cauliflower plants 

 when large enough on to an open sunny aspect, 

 where they can advance in sturdy growth, prepa- 

 ratory to placing them in their more permanent 

 winter quarters. 



Sow small beds of Lettuce, Endive, Eadiahes, 

 Cauliflower, and any similar subject, to produce a 

 few late plants or crops, which, as " catch crops," 

 often come in very handy when hard winter 

 weather, &c., tax or injure the more permanent 

 ones. Well thin out the late Turnip crop, hoeing 

 deeply and well between it. Mould up the young 

 Cabbage plantation so soon as active growth is 

 seen to commence,' first making up any vacancies 

 that occur, and deeply hoeing between the rows. 

 Continue to gather all produce immediately it is fit 

 for table, whether really wanted for use or not. Any 

 neglect in regard to this must be avoided. 



Remove all growing shoots from Tomatoes as they 

 continue to form, placing a large slate immediately 

 over the roots of each to keep off rains, a simple 

 practice which is conducive to the more immediate 

 ripening of the fruits. 



Clear old Cucumber plants in an exhausted state 



