THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES 75 



of two inches of fine soil from an old cucumber bed, 

 and on this sow thinly a row of seeds about the middle 

 of April. The seedlings should be thinned out to 

 about a foot apart. Too much water cannot be given. 

 About the middle of July the soil on either side should 

 be earthed up round the plants, and in October the 

 roots are ready for use. If covered with a little bracken 

 or litter the roots may be left in the ground throughout 

 the winter, and may be dug as required. 



Among the best varieties are the Giant Prague and 

 the Erfurt. 



Leeks 



To have any value, Leeks must be well grown. Small 

 weedy Leeks are not worth having, and in order to obtain 

 the thick, succulent vegetables which alone are desirable, 

 a deep rich soil and careful cultivation are required. 

 Seed may be sown in a warm border or under glass in 

 February. The plants should be well hardened by the 

 end of April, when they should be planted out in trenches 

 prepared by digging out soil a foot wide and a foot deep, 

 and half filling the trench with well-decomposed manure, 

 the whole being well mixed into the soil at the bottom 

 of the trench by digging. Eighteen inches should be 

 allowed between the drills and one foot from plant to 

 plant. Water should be liberally given, and from August 

 onwards the Leeks should be earthed up to blanch the 

 lower part of the stem. Frost has no ill effect on the 

 plants — indeed, it seems to improve the flavour. Among 

 the best varieties are Musselburgh, Lyon, Holborn 

 Model, and London Flag. 



Rhubarb 



Rhubarb requires a well-manured and deeply-dug soil. 



