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NOTES ON VEGETABLES FOR THE AMERICAN 

 MARKETS AND HOME USE. 



By W. Harris, Superintendent of the Hill Garden* 

 Beet Root. 



Make monthly sowings from the beginning of August to January, 

 to have beet fit for market from November till April or May. The 

 seed is sown in drills where the crop is to grow, in a sandy, open situa- 

 tion. Allow a distance of 15 inches between the drills, and as soon as 

 the young plants are large enough to handle, thin them out to 9 in- 

 ches apart in the drills. 



The seed should be soaked in luke-warm water for about 12 hours 

 before sowing, then taken out, allowed to drain and sown whilst still 

 damp, and covered to a depth of 1\ or 2 inches. 



Quantity of Seed. — The quantity of seed required to sow a row one 

 chain length is \\ ounces. 



Varieties. — The " turnip-rooted" varieties are best for culture here, 

 and the following are highly spoken of : — Carter's Early Crimson Ball, 

 Egyptian Turnip-rooted, Eclipse, Deicings Improved Blood 'Jurnip, 

 Bassano, Landreth's Very Early, and Early Blood-red Turnip. 



Prices of seed — The price of English seed varies, according to the 

 varity, from 6d. to 2/ per ounce, and American seed from 10 to 20 cents 

 per ounce. 



CARROTS. 



Sow same months as Beet, in the open where the crop is to grow. 

 They require a good light soil which has been previously well dug and 

 manured. The seed is sown either broadcast on a bed, or in drills, 

 but the latter is the preferable method as the young plants can be 

 thinned more uniformly. A distance of 12 inches between the rows 

 and 6 inches from plant to plant is generally allowed. The seedlings 

 are usually thinned twice ; the first thinning when they are quite 

 young, leaving a space of 3 inches between the plants in the row ; a 

 second thinning takes place when the roots are small but of edible size, 

 when everj' second plant should be pulled to allow the requisite space 

 between those that are left to grow. 



Quantity of Seed. — The quantity of seed required to sow a drill one 

 chain in length, or a bed about 16 feet by 4 feet marked off in drills, 

 is one ounce. On account of the bristles on carrot seed it is somewhat 

 difficult to sow with regularity ; it is usual, therefore, to mix the seed 

 with fine sand or sifted dry earth and sow the mixture. 



Varieties. — The short-rooted kinds are worth a trial : — Early Short 

 Horn, Carter's Improved Early Horn, Carter's Summer Favourite, 

 Danvers' Early French Forcing, Early Scarlet Horn, Half-long Red, 

 Extra Early Forcing, Nantes. 



Prices of seed. — English, 4d. to 1/6 per ounce; American, 10 to 25 

 cents per ounce. 



Cabbages, 



Sow seed once a month from the beginning of August to January to 

 have Cabbages from beginning of December to May. 



A good soil, heavily manured is requisite for the production of 

 tender and succulent cabbages. They should occupy the coolest and 



