THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



167 



not, really. Hence, if owing to the weather, &c., 

 important operations are deferred, many important 

 results anticipated at the proper time will be deferred 

 also, if not entirely nil. 



Transplanting Seedling Plants is an impor- 

 tant operation, upon the proper performance of which 

 much depends. More good crops of vegetables are 

 destroyed in the seed-pans and seed-beds than owing 

 to any indifferent system of after-culture. Such 

 tender young seedlings, overcrowded for any length 

 of time together, and overdrawn, are, to say the 

 least, so enervated that they cannot possibly re- 

 assume such a degree of initial vigour as to 

 ultimately grow into the most meritorious of their 

 kind. " Pricking out " such tender 

 sucklings, or transplanting them 

 thickly together in an early stage, 

 so as to insure strength to each, 

 prior to another and sometimes a 

 third and final transplanting, is 

 in practice greatly neglected. Thus 

 are observed seed-pans with Celery, 

 &c., placed aside for a convenient 

 time for such work, whilst the first 

 transplanting should have taken 

 place, and progress in growth be re- 

 ported. Thus the delay limits future 

 growth, and often is the cause of 

 that " bolting," or running to heart, 

 or " seed," so often complained of. 

 Nature has a very wonderful power 

 in the revival of her checked and 

 stem-hardened seedlings ; not suffi- 

 cient, however, to reassure full 

 vigour. With a loss of time, a limit of season takes 

 place, which cannot be reimbursed. It will appear, 

 therefore, an act of folly to sow seeds so early, and to 

 subsequently permit them to suffer in the infant and 

 far most delicate state of existence. 



Doing Work in Season has an important bear- 

 ing on the whole ultimate success. Thus all seedling 

 plants should not only be transplanted as quickly as 

 possible after the attainment of the necessary size, 

 and the knowledge that they cannot make further 

 advance within the limits of seed-pan or seed-bed, 

 but, as regards such as are transplanted into open 

 borders, a showery season should always if possible 

 be selected for the operation. When this is not prac- 

 ticable the later part of the day should be chosen, 

 and superficial waterings, with aid from temporary 

 shadings, applied. None of these things should be 

 left to chance, in the belief that the examples treated 

 will succeed somehow. These remarks apply par- 

 ticularly to Celery, Lettuce, Cauliflower, and similar 



subjects, which depend upon an uninterrupted 

 growth from the seed-leaf onward, to insure the full 

 measure of success. Similarly, hoeing done just 

 when the ground is changing from moist to dry is 

 far more efficient and more easily done. Waterings 

 undertaken before the soil is parched have, with half 

 quantities, double merit and assistance to all roots. 

 In a word, to succeed thoroughly throughout this de- 

 partment, a large amount of foresight must constantly 

 comm^and the position and the labour. 



Exhausted Crops.— Do not permit these to re- 

 main on the ground beyond such time as they are in 

 profitable use. Whether they consist of stalks of the 

 Brassica tribe, haulms, vines, or " running " and seedy 

 Spinach, Lettuce, &c., they prove not 

 only unsightly, but tend to greatly 

 impoverish the soil. In the case of 

 ^ all such, wherever permitted to re- 

 main beyond their wonted time, it is 

 easy to determine that labour is either 

 excessively handicapped, or the gar- 

 dener is indifferent as to the futiu-e. 



Brussels 



CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. 



Brussels Sprouts, or Brus- 

 sels Borecole {Brassica oleracea, 

 var. sabauda). French, Chou de 

 Bruxellcs ; German, Kopfkohl Grilner. 

 ■ — The vegetable so popularly named 

 " Brussels Sprouts," from the fact 

 that it was originally introduced 

 Sprouts. from the neighbourhood of Brussels, 



has ever proved one of the most 

 reliable and useful for winter uses. It is most con- 

 stant in form, and hardy. Its efficient culture is 

 very simple. 



Sow seeds, as recommended for Broccoli, during 

 the months of March and April. Where convenience 

 exists, it will repay to sow chem somewhat earlier 

 in boxes, or broadcast within frames. The young 

 seedling plants cannot be prepared and permanently 

 planted too early, whatever system be followed. So 

 soon as large enough, plant them out, from two to 

 three feet apart, in any generous soil, which has 

 been prepared also as for Broccoli. Though two- 

 feet distances will be ample as regards the last-sown 

 and late young seedling plants, it is economy in the 

 end to give abundant room to the early ones, with- 

 out which the plants cannot grow to a large size, 

 and a good crop of fine sprouts cannot possibly be 

 secured. Care must be taken not to plant the young 

 plants too deeply ; though they are known to produce 

 roots around the buried stalks when they are buried, 

 the growth is retarded rather than improved ulti- 



