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HOCKINGS* GARDEN MANUAL. 



In September prepare a trench as for celery, twelve 

 inches deep and twenty-two inches wide ; fork into 

 the bottom of it well decomposed manure, four inches 

 deep ; sow three or four seeds in patches eighteen 

 inches apart along the centre. As soon as the seed 

 leaf is well formed thin the plants, leaving only the 

 strongest one in each patch ; hoe freqnently among 

 the plants, and water thoroughly with diluted liquid 

 manure. When about eighteen inches high rub off 

 all the side shoots from the crowns to the surface, 

 and add a little earth to support the leaves ; when they 

 are full grown (two feet in height or more), tie up the 

 leaves compactly together with a piece of banana fibre 

 or soft rope, then wind a hay or straw band, moderately 

 tight, round from the bottom to nearly the top, and 

 earth up the same height ; when completely blanched 

 the plants are ready for use. 



CARROTS. 



The Early Horn is a fine flavored early carrot, 

 and, on account of its habit of growth, is adapted for 

 cultivation in soils which would be too shallow for the 

 other varieties. The Intermediate, Long Orange, and 

 Altringham are suitable for deep soils. 



The carrot requires a light, rich, sandy loam, of 

 considerable depth, which should be dug two spades 

 deep, being careful to break all lumps, and to turn in 

 any manure ten or twelve inches under the surface, 

 that the roots may strike down straight and smooth. 



Sowing: The seed soon perishes, and is more 

 frequently bad than any other garden seed. The 

 carrot may be sown either broadcast or in drills one 

 foot apart. As the seed is liable to hang together, it 

 should be well rubbed in the hands, mixed with sand, 

 to separate it previous to sowing ; and as it is very 

 light it should be sown on a calm day. On light soil, 



