AND GUIDE TO THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



105 



VEGETABLE MARROW, GOURD, OR PUMPKIN. 



Preparation of the Soil. — Pumpkins require a veiy deep, light, rich soil, and if planted in 

 the :ground, select the most sheltered and the wannest situation at command. Dig jnts two feet 

 wide and deep, and fill with well prepared fermenting manure, and cover about a foot deep with soil. 

 The pits should not be less than ten feet apart, and should be prepared about a week before planting, 

 so tihat the soil may be properly warmed by the heat from the' manure. The tops of compost heaps, 

 and hills of decaying leaves, '&c., will, however, afford the best possible situation for the growth of 

 Pumpkins, and where such exist they should be used, before resorting to planting in the ordinary 

 I greund. 



j Sowing and Preparation of the Plants. — Sow early in April, in a pot or pan, filled with 

 J light soil, covering the seeds about half an inch ; place in gentle heat, and as soon as the plants are 

 I sufficiently strong to handle, pot them off into seven inch pots, putting two plants in each, and 

 j replace them near the glass in the warmth. When well established remove to cold frame, and 

 I gradually jjrepare for planting out, by a freer exposure to air, &c. 



Planting and after Management. — Towards the end of May, or as soon as the weather is 

 ! warm and appears to be settled, and the plants ready, plant them out, and protect them for a time by 

 'hand glasses, or other means, and attend to watering until the roots get hold of the soil. Train and 

 regulate the shoots, so as to prevent them from growing too closely together, and stop them if neces- 

 sary, to forward the growth of the fruit. Do not allow the plants to feel the want of water at the 

 roots, but if pJanted on the top of heaps of compost, or in properly prepared situations, watering will 

 ■seldom be necessary. 



per pkt. 



Vegetable Msrrow, small, white 0 3 



„ large, cream 0 3 



.„ custard, a very superior small marrow, handsome in shape and delicate in 



flavour 0 4 



„ „ beautifully striped, new 0 6 



^ cluster, habit compact and bush-like, fine for small gardens 0 4 



Ohio Squash, very superior m flavour, fine variety for soups in winter 0 6 



Mammoth Gourd, or Pumpkin, may be grown to an enormous size 0 6 



The Ro^al Horticultural Society offers £30 in prizes for Vegetable Marrows and Gourds. 



NEW EANCY EATABLE IMARROWS. 

 Each 4</, per Packet, or the Collection for 3s. 6d. 



Vegetable Marrows, Warted, 12 inches. 



„ Pear-shaped, very fine, 10 in. 



„ Melon- shaped, large, and 



extra fine. 

 „ green and orange, 1^ ft. 



„ clear yellow, 10 inches. 



„ yellow, speckled, 9 inches. 



„ „ miniature, 6 inches, 



very pretty. 

 „ „ striped green, very 



handsome. 



For the most extensive list of Ornamental Gourds ever offered for sale, see p. 7G. 



FRUIT SEEDS. 



Strawberry, in sorts, per packet 1/0 | Gooseberry, in sorts, per packet 0/6 



Currants, in sorts, per packet 0/6 



Vegeiable M-amsw, long, 1 ^ ft. 



„ Oval, 10 inches. 



Egg-shaped, ft. 

 Pear-shaped, beautifully 



Barrel-shaped, 2 ft. 



Cream colour, large, 1^ ft. 



Warted, oblong, very hand - 

 some. 1 ft. 



Waited, large, cream, 14 

 inches. 



i Section V.-SALAD PLANTS. 



CELERY. 



Preparation of the Land. — The ground for this crop should be dug into trenches two 

 spades' deep ; a width of one foot being allowed for each row of plants the trench may be intended 

 to hold, banking up the soil on each side of the trench. The distance between the trenches must be 

 regulated by the number of rows the trench may be intended to hold— four feet six inches or five 

 feet will be sufficient for single rows. In all cases let'fche distance between the trenches be such as 

 will furnish sufficient soil for earthing up the plants. The bottom of the trench should be covered 

 six inches deep with thoroughly decayed manure, and this again with two or thi-ee inches of soil, 

 with which it should be well mixed and shghtly trodden down and levelled, and then covered with 

 one or two inches of soil for planting. 



Time and ^L^nner of Sowing. — For the first crop, sow, in January or early in February, in 

 gentle heat, either in a pit or frame, or in pans or boxes, in a warm house. The soil should be light 

 and rich, and the seed covered lightly with finely sifted mould. Sow again early in March, in 

 gentle heat, and towards the end of the month, or early in April, on a wai-m sheltered border, and 



