168 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Mai/. 



loam, is the soil best adapted for turnips, for if the land be 

 heavy, or excessively rich, a rank taste is imparted to the root, 

 and induces it to run too soon to flower. 



The most successful time to sow the seed is in showery 

 weather, or immediately after rain ; should it be sown in dry 

 or hot weather, a great risk is run of a total loss of the crop. 



A piece of mellow ground should be chosen for this crop, 

 and the seed should be sown moderately thin, and equal 

 in every part; it would be advisable to sow it while the 

 ground is fresh turned up, treading it evenly, and raking it 

 regularly. 



In this month the early crops will require to be again thinned, 

 but this should be done gradually, and not too many taken 

 away at one time. If the seeds have risen very thick, it may 

 be proper to thin the broad-cast crops to three or four inches 

 square, and those which were drilled to two or three inches in 

 line ; at a subsequent period, they should be thinned out to 

 nine or ten inches square, and to five or six in line, if it be 

 intended that the roots should grow to a proper size. 



The operation of thinning should be performed when the 

 rough leaves are about an inch in breadth, or at least before 

 they attain a much greater size, as the work can then be 

 accomplished with greater expedition and facility. 



CUCUMBERS FOR PICKLING. 



For cucumbers to pickle, see Forcing-Garden, 



SEA-KALE. 



If sea-kale were not sown, nor planted last month, let it 

 now be done. For directions, see April. For forcing of it, 

 see Forcing-Garden, 



SOWING ENDIVE. 



Endive may now be sown for an early crop ; at the same 

 time it must be observed, that the sowings of this month should 



