184 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
PEEPAEING AUTUMN AND WINTEE VEGETABLES. 
BY WILLIAlt COLE, 
Head Gardener, Ealing Park, Middlesex, \Y. 
LTJHOUGH the various quarters in the kitchen garden 
will, at the present moment, he mostly occupied with 
growing crops, plenty of work requiring attention will 
be found. In the Srst place, the hoe must be plied 
vigorously amongst growing crops to keep down weeds 
and to loosen the surface soil ; the main crops of Brussels sprouts, 
broccolis, and kales of all kinds should be planted shortly ; and 
the seed of many things for autumn and winter use must be 
sown. 
With reference to hoeing the ground, it may not be necessary to 
say much beyond directing attention to the importance of keeping the 
weeds down and the surface soil loose. If the weeds are allowed to 
grow unchecked they will mature a crop of seed and scatter it in all 
directions, and when the autumn rains come the seeds will germinate 
and a vast amount of labour be entailed in destroying them. This 
work will be found more difficult by-and-by than it is now, as the 
ground will be moister on the surface and the sun will not be so 
powerful; consequently a very large proportion will take root again. 
Provided the work is done properly and in dry, sunny weather, every 
weed will perish and incur no further trouble. 
Many years’ observation has shown that crops of all kinds suffer 
less from drought and heat when the surface soil is loose than when 
it is quite firm ; it would not be difficult to explain this seeming 
anomaly, but, for the present, it must suffice to state that it is the 
case. 
In regard to planting the crops of winter greens of all kinds, it is 
with regret I have to acknowledge the existence of the pernicious 
practice of keeping the plants starving in the seed-beds until late in 
the season. It is not desirable to plant broccolis much before this 
month, and if they are put out next month they will do very well ; 
but the kales and sprouts of all kinds cannot well be planted too early. 
When this work is deferred until late in the season, they have not time 
to complete their growth, and the crop is small in consequence. 
Quarters filled with early potatoes should be planted with greens as 
fast as they are cleared ; but if the potatoes are'planted the proper 
distance apart, and there is no chance of their being smothered, they 
may be planted between the rows at once. In certain cases, where 
it is not convenient to plant these things out for a short period, 
select an open piece of ground and prick them out a few inches 
apart each way ; here they will become furnished with fibrous 
roots and acquire a considerable degree of strength by the time the 
quarters are ready for their reception. Another good plan is to 
thin out the seed-bed by the removal of the weakly plants ; but it is 
