I074 ^^'^^ BOOK OF GARDENING. 



followed by other batches every fortnight to the middle of 

 March, a constant supply of Seakale will be produced from 

 Christmas to the end of April, The temperature advised for 

 Mushrooms is also suitable for forcing Seakale. 



Shallots. 



Shallots are by many preferred to Onions, not only for culinary 

 uses, but also for pickling, the contention being that they are 

 milder in flavour. Any fairly good rich soil will grow this 

 vegetable admirably. The bulbs should be planted singly ift. 

 apart, and buried up to the neck ; if the roots push the bulbs 

 out of the soil, as they sometimes will, they ought to be pressed 

 back again. ^Veeds, if troublesome, may be hand-pulled, or kept 

 under by the Dutch hoe. In the autumn, when the tops decay, 

 the bulbs should be lifted, allowed to dry thoroughly in the 

 sun for ten days or so, and then stored away the same as 

 Onions. Probably the best Shallot is Veitch's Exhibition Purple ; 

 it is large, firm, and handsome. 



Spinach. 



A moderately-deep, rich, friable soil is most suitable for this 

 crop, w^iich is always welcome, as it comes into use at a period 

 when vegetables are none too plentiful. The first sowing may 

 be made in February on a warm border in drills ift. apart, 

 afterwards thinning the seedlings to 6in. apart : unless thinned, 

 the plants crowd each other, and the foliage is much smaller 

 than it otherwise would be. Later sowings may with advantage 

 be made between rows of Peas, sowing both at the same time — 

 one row of Spinach between two rows of Peas. In this way space 

 in the garden is economised, and the Spinach crop is exhausted, 

 and may be cleared away before it runs to seed and interferes with 

 the Pea crop. It is little use sowing Spinach for summer supplies 

 after the middle of May, as the hot, dry weather causes the seed- 

 ling plants to rush to seed without making leaves large enough 

 to pick. Early in August a portion of the garden that has been 

 cleared of its crop, and is still in a fairly rich condition, may 

 be levelled, and sown with Spinach in drills ift. apart; this 

 will afford frequent gatherings during the winter and spring. 

 For sowing in either spring or autumn the Victoria or Long- 

 standing variety is the best, being equally capable of with- 

 standing hot or cold weather. 



Tomatoes. 



The popularity of this vegetable has caused everyone with 

 a garden to desire to have Tomatoes as early and for as 

 long a period as possible. To attain this end seed should be 

 sown in gentle heat early in January, keeping the plants close 



