48 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



performed in the usual way by covering with blanching 

 pots or large garden pots, taking care to cork up the 

 hole in the bottom, and to draw some earth round to 

 keep out all light ; or may be effected by covering the 

 beds with leaves or light manure, or with sea sand. 

 Salt is a good special manure. 



SPINACH. 



The prickly spinach is more hardy than the 

 round, and is therefore generally sown for- the winter 

 crops, while the round variety is used for the summer, 

 Occasional sowings may be made during autumn, 

 winter, and spring. Sow thinly in drills two feet apart 

 by two inches deep. Thin out the young plants to 

 twelve inches apart, using the thinnings for culinary 

 purposes. After the plants become well developed all 

 the outside leaves should be gathered as required for 

 use until the flower stalks appear. 



TOMATO, 



There are several varieties of tomatos, yellow and 

 red. They are much esteemed in America, and are 

 extremely wholesome. 



Sow in August and September in a warm, rich 

 border. When the plants are six inches high, thin 

 them out to about three feet apart, and support them 

 with sticks as you would peas ; or put a light trellis to 

 train them on. By this plan they will not grow so 

 rambling, and the crops will be much greater and of 

 superior quality. Stop the plant when the first fruit 

 forms, by pinching off the end of the shoot. Water 

 when necessary. 



" Dr. Bennet, a professor of some celebrity, con- 

 siders it an invaluable article of diet, and ascribes to 

 it very important medicinal properties. He declares : 



