HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. 



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cow-dung are the best manures to use. The roots of this can 

 be easily forced by placing them in a heated pit or dung frame. 

 When a supply is required early in November, the roots should 

 be placed in a temperature of about 65° for about four weeks 

 before it is wanted ; but it is a good plan to place a certain 

 number of roots in heat once a fortnight, until it becomes fit to 

 cut from the open borders. Season of forced roots, from No- 

 vember till April ; from the open air, from April till June, or 

 later. 



French Beans. — This crop requires rich light soil for an early 

 crop, and should be sown on warm borders early in April, and at 

 regular intervals till the end of July in the open air. It is easily 

 forced, and grows well in the winter and spring months in the 

 sharp heat of the Pine stove. It takes from six to seven weeks 

 after sowing in winter and spring to become fit for use, and from 

 five to six when the days become longer, and at these intervals 

 successional sowings should be made. Season for forced plants, 

 October till July. I may just mention that the French Bean 

 transplants well, and I have treated them in this manner, and 

 found them come much earlier than from seed ; although the 

 crop may not be so heavy, still earliness is very important. 



Broccoli. — This crop should be sown in May, and again in 

 June for the latest planting, as it often survives the winter when 

 the first batch of plants gets destroyed by frosts. In dry soils and 

 moderately good seasons a continuous supply of good heads can 

 be produced from the time Cauliflower ends in November till it 

 comes into season again in June. Deep rich soil, tramped firm 

 before planting, will give good results, while on light, hungry, or 

 gravelly soils they are often worthless on account of clubbing. 



Brussels Sprouts. — The seed of this requires to be sown early 

 in spring, either in March or beginning of April ; these should be 

 planted out in May, and will be ready for use in September. 

 They should always be planted 3 feet apart each way, for nothing 

 is ever gained by crowding this class of plants. Another sowing 

 should be made in May ; from these plants a supply should be 

 obtained till April. 



Cabbage. — A typical vegetable in the kitchen garden, and one 

 that cannot be dispensed with. Land for this crop should be 

 heavily manured. For spring use sow the seed the beginning 

 of August, and plant out in September. For summer use sow 



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