19S 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[July, 



SOWING CARDOONS. 



Cardoons for a late crop may yet be sown ; and it is pro- 

 bable they will succeed, if the winter be not severe. A spot 

 should be chosen as di'y as possible, and the seed sown as 

 directed in May. 



CARROTS. 



About the beginning of this month sow some carrot-seed, to 

 raise crops for use in October or November, and if slightly 

 protected, they will continue good until the spring. 



ARTICHOKES. 



At this season artichokes will be coming into use, and if it 

 be wished to have them of a large size, in order to encourage 

 the main head, all the suckers or small heads, which grow out 

 from the sides of the stems, should be pruned off. Particular 

 care should be taken, immediately after having cut off the 

 head of the artichoke, to break the stalk down close to the 

 ground. This practice, although disregarded by many as un- 

 worthy their notice, is nevertheless of greater consequence than 

 is generally imagined ; for if the stalks be suffered to remain, 

 they greatly impoverish the roots, and exhaust them to such 

 a degree as to injure their future bearing. 



SOWING ONIONS, 



Towards the latter end of the month some onion-seed may 

 be sown to stand the winter, for which purpose a spot of rich 

 ground should be dug in a sheltered, but not a shaded situa- 

 tion. The gi'ound having been divided into beds about four 

 feet wide, proceed to sow the seed moderately thick, and rake 

 it well ; or the seeds may be sown in drills, according to the 

 directions already given for spring crops. About Michaelmas 

 the plants will have attained a sufficient degree of strength to 

 enable them to sustain the severity of the winter, and in the 

 following months of March and April, they will furnish the 

 necessary supplies for salads and other culinary purposes. 



