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must be kept solid, but the soil between the drills should be lightly 

 hoed occasionally. 



"When the bulbs have attained their full size, the leaves are bent 

 down at the neck of the bulb by the back of a wooden rake. This 

 checks the flow of sap and causes the leaves to decay, a ad the bulbs to 

 ripen more quickly. When the leaves wither, the onions are taken up 

 and left lying for 3 or 4 days to dry in the sun, with an occasional turn- 

 ing over ; they are then fit for market. 



Radishes. 



The Radish will succeed in any light, open soil, but rather a shady 

 spot should be selected. To grow them properly, the ground should be 

 dug deeply, and the surface raked fine. The seed is usually sown thinly 

 broadcast in beds about 4 feet wide, and the surface lightly raked over 

 after sowing. In dry weather the beds should be watered early in the 

 morning. 



Tomatoes. 



The seed should be sown in prepared beds or in boxes, and as soon 

 as the plants are a couple of inches high they should be transplanted 

 into another bed, a few inches apart. When they have attained a height 

 of about 6 inches, they may be planted out. If the seeds have not 

 been sown too thickly the young plants may be allowed to remain in 

 the original bed or box till they are strong enough to be transplanted 

 at once to their permanent positions. They like a light, sandy well- 

 manured soil. They should be planted about three feet apart in rows 

 which should be about four feet asunder. A strong stake should be 

 driven in at the root of each to tie the plants to, and particular atten- 

 tion should be paid to stopping the side growths to throw all the 

 strength into the main stem. The Tomato is a gross feeder and should 

 be liberally supplied with mulching material and irrigated freely till 

 the fruits begin to ripen, when they should be kept rather dry at t he- 

 roots. 



Turnips. 



Turnips succeed best in a light sandy soil that had some months pre- 

 viously been well manured ; soil that has just produced a crop of pota- 

 toes, or peas, suits turnips very well. 



Stiff retentive soils never produce good, well flavoured turnips. 



Drills should be drawn about 2 inches deep and 12 inches apart, and 

 the seed sown thinly. As soon as the young plants are large enough to 

 handle, they should be thinned to 3 inches apart, and later on a second 

 thinning will be necessary when every other one should be removed. 

 The surface of the soil should at all times be kept open, and free from 

 weeds. 



Water Melons. 



Melons thrive best in a rich light soil ; the hills should be from six to 

 twelve feet apart each way, according to the richness of the soil. Pre- 

 vious to planting, mix well with the soil in each hill a couple of shovel- 

 fuls of thoroughly rotted manure ; plant four or six seeds in each hill, 

 and when well up, thin out leaving only one strong plant. Pinch off 

 the leading shoots as the plant becomes too luxuriant, and if the fruit 

 sets too numerously, thin out when young, which will increase the size 

 of those remaining and cause them to ripen quicker. 



