l6 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to sow thinly at the end of July or early in August, single out the 

 plants at the earliest possible moment, and Nature will do all that 

 is then needed to produce crops of the greatest value in the early 

 autumn and throughout the winter. 



I have, I think, correctly spoken of this as a third cropping during 

 the year, for in the first place we have, as I have said, begun the 

 year with crops sown the previous spring and autumn, and these 

 are followed by the usual spring-sown crops, but then come the 

 autumn months with little if anything left but winter vegetables, and 

 an entire absence of the summer vegetables which were over far 

 too quickly. It is here that another cropping becomes so valuable, 

 and is at the same time so easily obtained. 



The reason why vegetables mature so quickly under the treat- 

 ment recommended is that during the summer months the earth 

 has been storing up the sun's heat and consequently seeds sown at 

 the end of July and in August find a warm seed bed, and not one 

 that has only just escaped the rigours of a severe winter as in the case 

 of spring sowings. The result is that with the first rains of August 

 the growth of the seedling plants is phenomenal. 



But this rapid maturity is not merely due to the stored up heat 

 in the earth, but also to the fact that no check has been caused by 

 transplanting. 



The illustrations accompanying this lecture show something of 

 the phenomenal growth referred to. 



Fig. i is a general view of the plots in our grounds at Reading 

 from seeds sown on July 15 of 191 8. The photograph was taken 

 exactly seven weeks after sowing, at which date we were able to exhibit 

 in this Hall, Peas, Lettuces, Potatos, Spinach, &c:, all in excellent 

 condition, but of only seven weeks' growth. In the foreground on 

 the right can be seen the Cabbage bed, whilst the Peas, Lettuces, 

 Carrots, and Potatos are further in the background. 



Fig. 2 is from a photograph of the Potato plot from tubers 

 planted on July 15, and taken seven weeks after planting. New 

 potatos are always a luxury, but if the plan advocated be followed, 

 an abundant supply of young tubers may be had during the autumn 

 months. It is of course essential that carefully selected tubers from 

 the previous year's growth be kept over for the July planting. Sprout- 

 ing must as far as possible be prevented or retarded, and an open 

 situation be chosen away from trees, where the maximum of sunshine 

 is secured and as little shade as possible. If this is done, potatos of 

 excellent quality may be dug from September onwards, as shown by 

 our exhibits on September 10 and 24, and in this Hall to-day. The 

 varieties which we planted were 'May Queen,' 'Carisbrooke Castle,' 

 'Early Rose,' ' Supreme,' ' Epicure,' and others. 



Some of the rows of Peas seven weeks after sowing were quite 

 ready for gathering. Many gardens are entirely without Peas during 

 August, September, and October, but from sowings made on July 15 

 delicious Peas were staged on September 10, September 24, and 



