THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



217 



during the whole of the time that the lights are kept over 

 them, air should be admitted to them, to prevent their drawing 

 up too slender. 



If any heavy rains come on, it will, under those circum- 

 stances, be necessary to put on the lights again, as a shelter 

 to the plants. A superabundance of moisture would, at this 

 time, be very injurious to the young plants, causing their stalks 

 to turn black, and be the means, perhaps, of entirely rotting 

 them. 



The plants having remained in the bed for about five or six 

 weeks, they should be transplanted where they are to remain 

 under shelter during the winter. 



MICHAELMAS CAULIFLOWERS. 



Some of the cauliflower-plants which were set out in the 

 month of July for a Michaelmas crop, will, towards the latter 

 part of this month, or the beginning of the next, begin to 

 show their heads. They should, therefore, be encouraged 

 in their growth as much as possible, by drawing the hoe be- 

 tween the rows, and drawing the earth up round their stalks. 

 They should also be kept clear from weeds. 



If the weather in this month prove dry, dispose the earth 

 round each stalk in the form of a basin, into which pour a 

 quantity of water; by this means their growth will be so 

 accelerated, that their heads will have attained a tolerably large 

 size in October and November. 



If at this season any neglect be shewn in watering the plants, 

 the consequence will be that the heads will be very diminutive 

 in size. 



WINTER SPINACH. 



The crops of this vegetable directed to be sown last month 

 should be thinned out as they proceed, and completely kept 

 clear of weeds, either by repeated hoeing, or hand-weeding ; 

 the former, however, is always to be preferred, as the neces- 

 sary stirring of the surface encourages the growth of the plants. 

 In wet weather, the latter mode of clearing them should be 



2 F 



