AND GUIDE TO THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



101 



Section IV.-EDIBLE FRUITED PLANTS. 



CAPSICUM AND CHILI. 



Pbeparation of the Soil. — These thrive best in a rich, yet light and free soil ; and whether 

 growTi in pots or planted out, the soil should be rich but light. 



Time and Manner of Sowing. — The seed should be sown early in March in well drained pots 

 filled with light sandy soil, and placed in a cucumber frame, or wherever a temperature of about 65° 

 is maintained. Cover the seed to the depth of about half an inch, and keep the surface constantly 

 moist until the plants appear. When the plants are strong enough to handle jiot them off, placing 

 two or three plants in a five-inch pot, and replace them in the warmth. Keep them rather close until 

 they become established, then shift into seven-inch pots ; and when they are fairly established in 

 these, remove them, if intended for the open ground, to a cold frame, and gradually prepare them 

 for planting out by a freer exposure to the air. Those intended to grow in pots under glass should 

 be shifted into ten-inch pots as soon as they require more space for their roots, and be stopped so as 

 to cause them to form bushy plants ; they must be liberally watered and syringed over head during 

 droughty weather. Those intended for tiie open garden may be planted in properly prepared 

 situations towards the end of May, protecting tlicm by hand-glasses or any more convenient con- 

 trivance till they are fairly establislied, and they nmst be liberally watered during hot dry weather. 

 In favoured localities most of the varieties do better planted out than when grown in pots under 

 glass ; but they will not succeed in the open air except in warm dry situations. 



per pkt. 



If ew Giant, long scarlet fruit, foliage vei-y ornamental 0 6 



Long red fruit, fine scarlet 0 3 



Long yellow fruit 0 3 



Cherry, or Bell Pepper, dark red fruit 0 3 



Chili, small red fruited 0 3 



Plum-shaped, fruit orange colour 0 3 



Tomato-shaped, fruit red 0 3 



FRAME CUCUMBER. 



Selection and Preparation of the Soil. — Any rich light soil will answer; but where it can 

 be procured the following compost should be used: — Turfy loam two parts, one part well decayed 

 leaf soil, and one part thoroughly rotted manure two or three years old, adding a little sharp sana to 

 keep the compost open, and allow water to percolate freely through it. 



Time and Manner of Sowing. — For spring and early summer use, sow in the beginning of 

 Januai-y in pots of light rich soil, covering the seeds to the depth of about half an inch, and sow 

 again early in April to secure a supply during summer. To obtain fruit in winter, sow an approved 

 variety about the middle of August ; but without a properly heated structure it is very difKcult to 

 grow Cucumbers during winter. When the plants are fairly up pot them singly in small pots, and 

 keep them near the glass. 



Planting and Cultivation. — The bed for the reception of the plants should have acquired the 

 proper temperature by the time the plants have made three pairs of leaves ; but if the heat is 

 obtained from fermenting materials, the plants should not be planted out until the danger of excessive 

 fermentation is past. Cover the surface of the bed to a depth of two inches with soil, so as to keep 

 down the rank steam without preventing the heat rising and warming the atmosphere. And under 

 the centre of each light put a small hill of the compost about a foot high and a foot from the glass ; 

 put two plants in each hill when at the proper temperature, covering their stems up to the first leaves, 

 one to be trained towards the front and the other towards the back of the frame. The temperature 

 should average from 65° to 75", allowing it to rise 10° with sun-heat before giving air; in doing 

 which care should be taken to guard against cold currents. Keep the plants well supplied with water 

 at the roots, and shut up early on the afternoon of bright days so as to economise the solfir heat. 

 Cover the sides of the hills a few inches deep with soil when the roots appear on the surface, repeating 

 this in ease of the early plants several times ; but later in the season the plants may be finally earthed 

 at once, covering the surface of the bed to the depth of the hills. If a free bearing variety is grown 

 the plants will show fruit almost as soon as they get fairly established ; and frequent attention will 

 then be requisite to keep the shoots nicely regulated, stopping them at the first joint, or immediately 

 beyond the fruit, so as neither to allow them to produce too much wood nor too many fruit at once. 

 If they are properly looked after, well supplied with water at the roots, and moistened over-head on 

 the afternoons of bright days when the weather is warm, they will produce fruit freely for many 

 months in succession. 



This list embraces all the varieties which the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society considered worthy of cultivation. 



per pkt. 



Barnett's Perfection, a splendid fniit, will grow to the length of 3 feet 1 0 



Barr's Pearl Gem, pearly cream, white spine, very handsome fruit, the most delicately 

 flavoured Cucumber in cultivation ; we strongly recommend it ; 3 seeds for \s., 9 seeds 



Butler's Bmpress Sug'enie, a very large handsome fine flavoured variety 1 0 



Carter's Champion, a very superior smooth medium sized variety 1 <• 



Cuihill's Jjhick bpiiic, a very exceiicnt scit ". 1 0 



G 3 



