294 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 6. 
BEGINNING OF THE KITCHEN - GARDEN 
YEAR. 
Although it is improper to say that this month 
begins another year, as is often remarked in gardening 
phraseology, because operations bearing on another year, 
as well as the current season, have been long ago per¬ 
formed—yet it may be admitted, that most of what is now 
sown or planted is done with the expectation of their 
coming into use next year; so that, although the 
weather may give no tokens of it, we are now enter¬ 
ing on the autumn of the gardening world; and our 
floricultural friends will fully bear us out in that view, 
since they are accustomed to call all plants propagated 
after July, “ Autumn struck.” But, as we have an accu¬ 
mulation of work to perform this week, we must leave 
our brethren of the parterre and hothouse, and, with 
spade and rake in hand, see what wants doing in the 
kitchen-garden way. 
As we last woelc urged on our young friends to bestir 
themselves, and get a bed or two of some of the best 
winter Cabbage sown, wo can only repeat the same 
charge now, and supposing that to have been done the 
day our work was published, then, in eight or ten days 
after, a few more may be sown, taking care, at tiie 
same time, that the first lot be properly attended to. 
Now, this is quite as important an affair as committing 
the seed to the ground, because it often happens to be 
so dry, and the ground at times unkind, that unless 
some degree of attention be paid to the newly-sown 
beds, the seed might as well have been sown upon a 
turnpike road. Presuming the ground to have been 
dry, and exposed to the action of the sun a week or fort¬ 
night, it will most likely be a collection of hard-baked 
clods at top. This will more especially be the case if it 
he stiff and retentive. However, as the time has arrived 
for sowing it, compulsory means must be adopted to 
make it fine; beating it with the back of the spade will 
break a part, after which a gentle watering, and a little 
coating of leaf mould, made very line, will enable the 
teeth of the rake to find their way through, and sepa¬ 
rate the lumps left unbroken by the spade, while the 
intermixture of this leafy mould, or some similar 
matter, will prevent the soil running into such a 
hardened mass again; while at the same time it must 
be confessed, that if used in too great a quantity, and 
the seed sown on it without any after care, or shade, it 
is ten to one but the hot, dry weather either scorches 
up the young seedlings, or prevents the seed vege¬ 
tating at all. The reason is obvious; the leaf mould 
does not all at once blend witli the soil, the mixture 
being more mechanical than chemical, the affinity being 
a work of time, not of the moment. However, as it is 
equally grateful to the young plant when kept moist, 
we advise its being used, and after the seed is sown let it 
he at once well watered and shaded, and we have no 
doubt of the result, if some after - watering be also 
attended to, and accidents guarded against. As a 
very homely way, we usually sow our beds on this plan, 
and spreading a few pea stakes over them, which at this 
time become plentiful, either mats are thrown over the 
stakes, or, what is more common, a little of the best 
harvested pea haulm, as free as possible from leaves, is 
scattered over it; this homely plan serves the purpose 
very well, and under such a covering, Cabbage, Cauli¬ 
flower, Lettuce, Endive, See., vegetate in hot,dry weather, 
with a regularity not common even in a favourable 
atmosphere. Care is taken to remove this shading 
piecemeal, or in dull weather, while the plants arc very 
young, and unhurt by its drawing influences. The 
kinds of Cabbage to be sown and planted first are some 
of the small hardy sorts, of which the old early York was 
the type—a kind having the good property of with¬ 
standing the severities of the winter when of a good 
] size, and not running to seed in spring, is the most 
suitable for the first crop—larger and finer kinds might 
follow. Of Lettuce, the Hardy Hammersmith, Broun \ 
Goss, and Brown Dutch are the best, especially the first- 
named, while the Batavian Endive is more hardy than 
the white or green curled. It is too early to sow Cauli- 
Jlower yet. We usually sow ours about the first of | 
September, but adopt then the same plan of shading, 
&c., as we now recommend, if the weather be such as to 
require it. 
Celery must now be planted out for a late crop; but 
for the latest of all, the middle of the month will be in i 
good time. It will be advisable now to look round and 
plant every spare corner with such kinds of Brocoli [ 
as will come into use before the time the ground is j 
wanted again for other crops. The Walclieren is in¬ 
valuable that way, and a large breadth of it ought to be 
planted at once, to follow that planted last month; at i 
the same time, not forgetting to plant some of the 
hardier kinds pretty freely as well, lest the winter turn 
j out more severe than of late years. The Danish, 
Sprouting, and Dwarf Russian, are more hardy than 
those partaking of the Cauliflower breed. 
Plant, also, any spare Greens to come into use early in 
spring; if put in rather thickly they are sure to become 
serviceable when spring sets in, and, occupying little 
! ground, are as profitable as anything else. Cabbages 
planted thickly are invaluable that way ; in fact, as all j 
summer crops are now either clearing off or about doing 
so, consider well what can best be done to make the 
ground productive in the winter months. Spinach will 
have to be sown by-and-by, and Cabbages, &c., planted, 
biit then other crops will be coming up to make way for 
these. 
Break down the necks of Onions if they seem to pro¬ 
long their growing season to an undue period, and when 
ripe, which is easily known by their dead tops and 
loose roots, let them be drawn, and after lying awhile 
to harvest, be carried in, sorted, and put away; the 
latter jobs, however, may be put off until a wet day. 
Potatoes, as they ripen, may also be taken up. It 
rarely happens that Potatoes in a garden are allowed to 
remain in the ground after being fit to take up, the 
demand on the ground for other crops being such as 
often hastens their removal before they are perfectly 
ready. However, those intended for seed ought to have 
every chance to perfect their growth, without which we 
fear next year’s crop will be in jeopardy of falling a 
victim to that disease, which, we are sorry to hear, is 
more prevalent this season than the last one. 
When American, or Golden Cress, is required as an 
adjunct to the salad bowl, it is now time to sow it, and 
be sure not to forget to thin it in time. Radishes might 
also he sown on some cool, shady border, if sufficiently 
moist; the Turnip-rooted kinds are most suitable now, 
but it is too soon yet to sow the principal crop for 
autumn and early winter use. A few Onions may also 
be sown for drawing young, but the crop to stand the 
winter ought not to be sown before the middle of the 
month, and a few Carrots a week or so later, only we 
confess we have little faith in their utility, as they 
generally run to seed early in spring. Dung, and other 
materials, must also be collected for Mushrooms-, and, in 
fact, everything connected with the ensuing season kept 
in mind, so that at the fitting moment whatever may be 
required may be forthcoming. J. Robson. 
THE CUTTING DOWN. 
By the Editor of “ The Cottage Lamp." 
We cannot be too often reminded—surely, we cannot be 
too often reminded, among our pleasures and our toils—that 
we must all die. Those to whom such a subject is tmplea- 
