VEGETABLES ALL THE YEAR ROUND FOR A PRIVATE FAMILY. 351 



made for succession, at intervals of a fortnight, until September, when 

 they must be sown in frames for the November supply ; and in October 

 pot culture should be commenced for the winter, and a sowing should be 

 made every fortnight. The soil for this winter culture must be light and 

 porous ; one half turfy loam, chopped into small pieces, and the other half 

 flaky leaf mould, will suit them. 1 0 shorn 's Forcing ' is a good variety 

 for winter, as also is ' Sir Joseph Paxton.' 1 Canadian Wonder,' ' Smythe's 

 Hybrid,' and 4 Paris Bed ' are good for summer crops ; the last is only fit 

 for outdoor culture. The running varieties, ' Tender and True ' and 

 1 Epicure,' are valuable for summer crops, and keep up a supply without 

 such frequent sowing as the dwarf ones require. 



Beans, Scarlet Bunners (Phaseolus vulgaris multiflorus). — This is 

 one of the most useful vegetables we have for summer and autumn use ; 

 but, owing to its roughness and somewhat strong flavour, it is not always 

 welcome at fashionable dinners. Good varieties are ' Laxton's Czar ' and 

 ' Sutton's Best of All.' Sown at Belvoir May 17, they were ready for 

 use August 5, and continued until destroyed by frost. In seasons when 

 seed is scarce, the roots may be lifted, and preserved in a cellar, in sand, 

 until the following spring. 



Beet (Beta vulgaris). — Beet can be had throughout the year, if a 

 sufficient quantity is grown, by keeping the roots in a cool cellar until 

 the young ones are ready in the spring. The " Turnip-rooted " variety is 

 the best for early use, and may be hastened considerably by sowing under 

 glass in March and planting out later, or by growing it in frames. ' Dell's 

 Crimson ' is a good reliable variety for general use. 



Broccoli and Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis). — These are 

 grouped together because botanically they are the same, as a vegetable 

 for table they are interchangeable, and by growing both it is possible 

 under favourable circumstances to have a supply throughout the year. 

 The season of Broccoli commences about Christmas with ' Snow's Winter ' 

 and ' Sutton's Christmas White.' The former is not so good as it used 

 to be, many of the heads being worthless, and I prefer ' Christmas White.' 

 In the Midlands and Northern districts a cool glass-house is necessary to 

 protect them in severe weather ; they should be lifted and planted inside 

 in November. These varieties are followed by ' Adam's Early,'' a good 

 old friend when true to name (it has deceived me this year, for the first 

 time, by coming in after ' Leamington ') ; the latter should follow early in 

 March and is hardy enough to stand an ordinary winter in the Midlands. 

 1 Knight's Protecting ' follows, and ' Gilbert's Victoria,' which is the best 

 and latest of all the late varieties, finishes the Broccoli season about the 

 middle of June. Cauliflowers sown about August 20 and protected with 

 handlights during the winter then come into use, ' Veitch's Pearl,' ' Early 

 London,' and ' Sutton's King ' in the order named. These are followed 

 by a successional planting-out from the same sowing, of plants which 

 have remained in the seed-bed under a frame all the winter, and have 

 been planted out at the end of April, a few being lifted out of the hand- 

 lights at the same time. When these are over, those sown in April, 

 consisting of the same varieties, are ready, and they carry on the supply 

 until ' Veitch's Autumn Giant ' is ready ; this is followed by 1 Veitch's 

 Self-protecting Autumn ' until the end of the year. It may be useful to 



