August 5, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
105 
t. ■■ — 
COMING EVENTS 
\A A 
5 
6 
Th 
p 
s 
SUN 
St. Ires (Hants) Show 
8 
7tu Sunday after Trinity. 
9 
M 
Darlastou Show (two days) 
10 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society (Committees at 11 a m.) Show of Plants. 
11 
w 
PREPARING FOR SPRING. 
CAULIFLOWERS, CABBAGES, AND LETTUCES. 
ALE the failures and disappointments that 
occur in gardens are the result of undue delay, 
forgetfulness, or procrastination, and may be 
traced to the time of commencing preparations 
a week or a fortnight too late. That may not 
appear a long period, and easy going or inex¬ 
perienced persons fail to see the importance of 
the loss of a few days; but even that short 
time is momentous and much too precious to 
lose. Failures undoubtedly arise occasionally from too early 
action, but over-haste if perceived in time may be remedied 
by supplementary work. There is no such chance of rectify¬ 
ing errors of the opposite character, and if there is a doubt 
as to the exact time for commencing any operation in gar¬ 
dening it is always better to be a little too soon than too late. 
An instance of this may be cited to make the matter clear, 
while an example of the greater evil of being too late may 
also be adduced. Both pertain to what may be termed 
common crops, yet not on that account the less important. 
A young gardener, in every respect a worthy man—com¬ 
petent in plant culture and the duties of his calling generally 
under glass—has recently taken charge of a very good garden. 
He is sensible of his shortcomings, for unfortunately he has 
not had much experience in kitchen gardening, and regrets 
that he has not made the most of such opportunities as were 
afforded him to acquire knowledge on this branch of his 
vocation. Knowing that Broccolis were over in the spring 
a considerable time before Cauliflowers were ready, he deter¬ 
mined to reduce the blank next May by having Cauliflowers 
sooner; hence sowed his stock of seed for raising plants for 
passing the winter in frames on July 15th. That was an 
error, but remediable, and more seed will be sown during 
the present month, a little about the 15th, and the remainder 
about the 25th. No one knows which sowing will produce 
plants of the greatest service, as everything depends on the 
weather. If the autumn is mild and prolonged the earlier- 
sown plants will get too advanced before winter, and if this 
should be severe and long the plants will “ button ” after 
being put out in spring, if they live to be put out at all. The 
conditions that are unfavourable for the earlier plants will 
be favourable for the later, as with a genial autumn these 
will be quite large enough and be in good condition for 
planting from frames in the spring or wherever they may 
have been preserved through the winter. It is always a 
good plan to make two sowings of autumn Cauliflowers, at 
least so experience has taught me, and the young gardener 
will carry out the plan. As he appeared grateful for the 
hint afforded him its record may possibly be of service to 
others, apart from illustrating the point that it is better to 
be too early than too late. 
He was told to plant out his July-sown Cauliflowers in 
good soil in a sheltered border, or where a little protection 
could be afforded from early frosts, and they might yet get 
No. 319.—Von, XIII., Third Series. 
large enough to commence turning in just before winter; 
and in that case, if dug up and packed closely together in 
frames, or even in a convenient position in the open where 
freshly fallen leaves might be thrown over them on the 
approach of severe weather, they would very likely give a 
number of white close heads about the size of teacups in 
midwinter before his early Broccoli are ready for use. This 
is what I have found on several occasions with plants raised 
from a sowing made before the middle of July. 
The example of the greater error of too late action also 
pertains to one of the most serviceable, even indispensable 
crops of the garden—Cabbages. He who fails in having a 
supply of spring Cabbages, and having them early, is to be 
pitied, for he will not have an enjoyable time in April and 
May after the winter greens are eaten, killed, or expanding 
their flowers on long tough shoots. In July, 1884, an in¬ 
dustrious man having a large garden was desirous of making 
a little money. He was advised to grow amongst other 
things a good plot of Ellam’s Early Cabbage, and to sow the 
seed during the second week in July. He did sow then, and 
was laughed at by his neighbours on the ground that all the 
plants would “bolt.” The gardener at the Hall joined in 
the chorus ; but before he was many months older h8 was 
glad to give the grower 2 d. each for small plump Cabbages 
for a month, until his month-later-sown and later sorts were 
ready for cutting. This fine early breadth of a thousand 
plants was very profitable, as there were no other Cabbages 
ready within miles of them, hence they were readily sold, 
and as they were grown only a little more than a foot apart 
in rows 18 inches asunder they did not occupy much ground, 
and this was vacated in time for cropping with Scarlet 
Runners. It is too late for sowing to insure a similarly 
earlv crop, but yet while there is time let seed be sown of 
approved varieties, and let no one fear they are sowing too 
early. 
Equally valuable in its way is an abundant and early 
supply of Lettuces in spring from autumn-sown plants. It 
is a calamity to have to wait for Lettuces from spring-sown 
seed. Half the summer is over before they are ready. 
Sweet crisp Lettuces are never more welcome than in April 
and May, and they can be had then by sowing in August and 
growing as many plants as possible close to walls or fences 
with a southerly aspect; failing such shelter something can 
be done, even a great deal, by throwing up soil so as to form 
a bank having a sharp slope to the south. This is well worth 
doing when there are no walls and Lettuces are wanted 
early, as they are by most families. 
About the 15th of the month is a good time for sow¬ 
ing for transplanting, sowing again towards the end of the 
month or the beginning of September for remaining in the 
seed beds till spriug. I have known the earlier plants killed 
while the latter survived, simply because these were covered 
with snow, while the others were not, but ought to have been, 
by a few hours’ work bestowed in time when the snow was 
light and dry. If the larger plants survive, as they may be 
expected to do, they will be of great service, and the smaller 
will form a natural succession, not much less valuable in 
turn, for it is not altogether pleasant to have a blank of 
three weeks after the first few early salads have been enjoyed. 
The two best Cos Lettuces for sowing in August are Hicks' 
Hardy Bath Cos, and Old Black-seeded Brown Cos, the 
former generally being ready for cutting first if both pass 
the winter equally well, though it is not more hardy than the 
latter; indeed, if I were limited to one of them I should rely 
on the old favourite. Of Cabbage varieties the Hardy Ham¬ 
mersmith, Tom Thumb, and the Early Paris Market are all 
good, and any or all may be grown. So long as families are 
supplied with early spring salads they do not trouble much 
about the names of Lettuces. 
For insuring a continuance and a certain succession after 
the August and September-raised Lettuces are over and pre¬ 
venting a break in the supply which often occurs then, and 
No. 1975 — Yoi . LXXV., Olt> Series 
