1076 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



cleansing the house, and avoiding, if possible, seed from an 

 infected area. 



Black Spot is a very well-marked disease. The common name 

 gives a clue to its chief characteristic — the presence of dark- 

 coloured spots. The disease usually manifests itself at the style 

 end of the fruit. Plants so attacked should be burned, and the 

 remainder be sprayed with sulphide of potassium (loz. to igal. 

 of water). Many growers spray as a precautionary measure, 

 and do not wait until the disease asserts itself. The result is 

 that Black Spot and Leaf-Rust iyCladosporiiim fulviim)^ the 

 latter appearing as dark spots on the foliage, are nothing like 

 so prevalent as formerly. 



Turnips. 



A rich, wxll-worked, and friable soil is desirable for the earliest 

 sowing at the end of March or early in April, and a sheltered 

 site should be selected for the first sowing ; and in about 

 three weeks another sowing may be made. Early Milan and 

 Snowball are splendid varieties for sowing up to the beginning 

 of ISIay ; and for use from then to the end of July, Veitch's 



Red Globe, Model White, and Golden 

 Ball are all of proved merit, the last 

 two being specially valuable for exhi- 

 bition. At the end of August, Chirk 

 Castle will be a good variety to sow to 

 stand the winter and supply Turnip 

 greens in early spring ; while bulbs may 



Fig. 690. Turnip Flea drawn at any time if wanted. If 



Beetle. the Turnip-Fly, or Turnip-Flea {Fhyllo- 



treta nemoruni) (Fig. 690) prove 

 troublesome, a dusting with soot early in the morning while the 

 dew is on the plants will check this enemy and give the plants 

 a chance to grow away from it. If Turnips are required during 

 the winter in quantity the roots may be lifted, and, after the 

 tops have been cut off, stored the same as advised for Beet, 

 Carrots, &c. 



Vegetable Marrows. 



Being a trailing subject this vegetable is best grown on old 

 rubbish or manure-heaps unchecked, but cutting all the Marrows 

 immediately they are of sufficient size to use, for if one or two 

 begin seeding further production ceases. Seeds sown at the 

 end of April will be early enough, as they quickly germinate 

 and grow rapidly. When the seedlings have begun to form the 

 first rough leaf they ought to be placed in 5in. pots, employing 

 a compost of fibrous loam with a little decayed manure, and 

 if necessary the plant supported with a neat stake as it 



