June.] 



THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



187 



be dry, the drills should be well watered before the beans are 

 planted, and the earth should then be regularly drawn over 

 them. 



All the advancing crops should be cleared from weeds, and 

 a little mould drawn to their stems ; this will strengthen the 

 plants and accelerate their growth. 



HERBS. 



Propagate sage by cuttings, borage and marigold by seed, 

 also savory, thyme, and sweet marjoram by seed, and hyssop 

 by cuttings. Prick out the plants of burnet, borage, sorrel, 

 clary, marigold, angelica, &c., which have been raised from 

 seeds last year. 



Gather mint, balm, and other herbs, towards the end of 

 this month for drying, the most proper time for which is when 

 the plants are nearly at their frill growth and beginning to 

 flower. They must be cut on a di'y day, and those for keeping 

 immediately spread, or hung up to di'y in an airy room, out of 

 the reach of the sun, and where they may diy gradually, as 

 the heat of the sun would affect them too much, and render 

 them of little use. All plants, whether for distilling or drying, 

 should be gathered when almost arrived at their full growth 

 and are beginning to flower ; therefore, if they have not arrived 

 at that state of maturity, the cutting should be deferred for a few 

 days or weeks longer. 



WATERING CROPS OF CULINARY VEGETABLES. 



Gardeners are at variance in their opinions on the merits of 

 watering crops of culinary vegetables, some advocating the 

 practice, and others condemning it. If a system of watering 

 be once commenced, it should be continued until rendered 

 unnecessary by rain, for if it be once begun, and suddenly 

 desisted in before rain falls, the crops will be rather injured than 

 improved by it. Watering sparingly is of little use, and there- 

 fore, if circumstances do not admit of its being prosecuted 

 with an unsparing hand, it is better to desist from watering 

 altogether. During the hot months of our English summers, 

 a liberal supply of water would, no doubt, be beneficial to most 



