198 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



nured, will scarcely grow anything worth collecting. 

 The beds should now be laid out, with the ridges 

 across the hill on sloping ground, to catch every light 

 shower, openings being made at convenient distances 

 to allow of the escape of surplus water in heavy 

 rains. The full space must be allowed between the 

 crops during summer, or they will be drawn and 

 worthless ; ample room and high cultivation are the 

 most economical in the long run. Cucumber and melon 

 plants should be thinned out where over-crowded, the 

 earth loosened among them, and the branches as they 

 extend be fastened down with small wooden pegs. 

 Keep the ground clean and open by the free use of 

 the hoe and digging fork. Sow French beans, melons, 

 brocoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard, and cress, cucum- 

 bers, lettuce, endive, celery, okra, radish, rosella, pump- 

 kin, &c. Transplant for succession in cloudy, calm 

 weather. 



Orchard. — The China peach tree should have the 

 crop thinned as soon as the fruit can be used for 

 cooking, to relieve the trees and improve the size and 

 flavor of the remainder. Mulch such trees to a con- 

 siderable distance around the stems, if not previously 

 done. Clear out all superfluous shoots to throw the 

 whole strength of the plant into the crop, not re- 

 moving or injuring any of the foliage unnecessarily. 

 Prop up such trees as require it. Remove suckers 

 from grape vines, stop straggling branches, and rub 

 off weak, ill-placed shoots, to throw vigor into the 

 leaders for next season's fruiting, as well as the ad- 

 vantage of the present crop. Plant out bananas and 

 pine-apples, for which operation some of the most 

 experienced growers consider this month the most 

 suitable time. Trench land intended for planting next 

 season, to give it the advantage of the summer's sun to 

 sweeten it. 



Farm. — Constant attention should be given to the 

 crops to keep them clean, using the horse -hoe and 



