184 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 9. 
apparently favourable to the plants growing well. A 
few dull days, in the midst of dry weather, are to be 
preferred, and to such plants as those of the large 
Cabbage family, which root rather deeply, theae is 
seldom that lack of moisture, in such soils, as to render 
more than one watering necessary; while, on tho dry, 
sandy, or gravelly soils of some districts, they would 
want that assistance almost daily, in order to support 
themselves against the drying influence by which they 
are surrounded. 
Now, in planting out crops on these two soils, it 
is easy to see that two different courses must be 
adopted:—tho stiff, retentive one must be planted 
in dull, dry weather, and when the surface of the 
ground is tolerably dry; while the sandy, or gravelly 
soil must be planted, if possible, in a showery season, 
in order that the plants may derive the full benefit of 
that agent on which they must look as affording 
them the most important portion of their daily food, 
i. e., atmospheric moisture. Theso reasons being given, 
it is easy to see when the best time has arrived for 
planting-out the various Cabbageworts in summer. 
It is next a matter of enquiry as to their size, and 
other particulars, and this is, also, tolerably easy to 
define; for a small, delicate plant, with its leaf-stalks 
elongated, so as to be unable to support the broad 
portion of its leaf, is not at all likely to withstand 
the sunshine of Midsummer, nor the drying effects of 
the dog-days; but such an one may be able to endure the 
change which is rendered comparatively easy, when 
i performed at a time when both the ground and the 
atmosphere is saturated with moisture ; it then speedily 
accommodates itself to the altered circumstances of its 
position, and those leaves, which, at planting out, were 
unable to hold up their proper side to the sun, quickly 
recover strength to do so, and that before any serious 
harm takes place from their reversed position, for the 
latter was done while tho sun had, comparatively, little 
chance to injure them, the air being moist, &c. Let 
j it be observed, that this operation must only be 
performed on such ground as is tolerably free from 
such pests as prey on the young plant, otherwise 
its delicate condition, when in the state wo have thus 
described, will speedily tempt them to its destruction. 
There is a class of plants less robust than the Cab¬ 
bageworts, and equally, if not more, agreeable to 
the stomach of the voracious slugs; these must be 
differently treated, for they cannot well endure the 
j scorching sunshine that the others can, neither are 
they so deep-rooted as to penetrate below its influ- 
j ence ; with these, therefore, some more stringent 
means must be adopted to drive out, or keep at bay, 
those enemies they are so likely to suffer from. 
Usually, repeated workings of the soil will effect that 
purpose; but when that has not been accomplished, 
i the addition of something or other as a repellant to 
them ; for this, nothing is better than soot or wood- 
ashes, which, besides, arc excellent manures; but, in 
addition to their use, the ground must be made very 
fine, and, if it be very dry, it ought not to be planted 
immediately after being watered; but after the top has 
got a little dry again, and when the plants are put in, 
and, if needs-be, watered, take the precaution to scatter 
: some dry ashes, or other offensive substance, over the 
ground, to repel the invasion of the enemy. By this 
means, it is likely the plants will get hold enough with 
the moisture which there exists to withstand the more 
trying part of the season without having recourse to 
the watering-pot, which too often invites the depredators. 
During the past spring, when the slug was making 
; sad havoc amongst many crops, our Peas were saved by 
removing all rough and cloddy lumps from near them, 
and supplying their place with a finer material, to which 
lime, soot, or ashes had been added—the distastefulness 
of these latter substances kept the enemy away until 
the plant outgrew their attacks. Beds of Carrots, too, 
are, especially, favourites with them; and we know of 
many one who had to sow again, and blaming their 
seedsman, had to submit to a very late crop ; whereas the 
fault lay with their own want of care, or, it might be, ! 
want of means; for the season was very awkward, so that ; 
the proper working of the ground, which ought to have j 
been proceeded with at various times during the winter ! 
and early spring, was sadly impeded by the unfavourable 
state of the weather; but when anything like a smooth 
surface was obtained, with a fair average depth of friable I 
soil below, we do not see any reason why a “ good ' 
plant” of Carrots might not fairly be looked for, as 
repeated dusting of lime, commencing about a week or 
so after sowing, ought to preserve the crop, unless under 
circumstances peculiarly favourable to their enemies. 
For instance, we dislike to sow Carrots after a Cab- ' 
bage crop, the latter harbouring so many of theso 
voracious vermin, which only retire underground during 
tho day-time, to come out at night on their maraud 
ing excursions. To stop these gentry, it is necessary 
to seal up, as fast as possible, their place of abode, and 
a fine state of the soil will usually effect this object; 
many will still escape, and these must be deterred from 
committing any ravages, by their journey being made as 
distasteful as possible. 
As much of the after-success of a plant depends 
on its deriving all the advantages it can at planting¬ 
time, and, consequently, avoiding all the evils, it becomes 
a matter of importance to select the most fitting time on 
which to perform these various operations; and not only 
that, but to watch them sedulously afterwards for some > 
time. It is worse than useless to say that everything \ 
depends on the watering-pot, for be assured of it, that ! 
cold well-water (perhaps hard too), is just as likely to 
do harm as good, more especially when given in daily i 
deluges. Much as our plant-growing friends condemn 
the dribbling system, it is infinitely better for out-door 
things than severe duckings of cold well-water; and 
we have been sometimes grieved to see the poor cot¬ 
tager watering his plants as he would a lime-heap, hy 
buckets-full at a time, while his plants were absolutely 
perishing before him. 
In concluding this article on planting, we must not 
omit to enter our protest against another practice we 
have seen adopted, which is, “ puddling” the plants, 
by drawing their roots through a substance of clayey 
mud, made as thick as batter, and planting them with 
what adhered to them; this was bad, because the sealed- 
up condition that the rootlets were in is sadly against 
their after ramifying for food; while the only benefit, if 
it even be one, is, that they, perhaps, do not flag so much 
at the precise moment; but this is dearly bought by the 
difficulties it puts in the plant’s way afterwards. 
J. Robson. 
SWEDISH TURNIP CULTURE. 
(Continued from page 108.) 
The time of sowing is an important consideration, 
and as it necessarily depends upon many circumstances, 
it will be well to name the best time for sowing the 
main crop for general purposes. 
The first week in June, upon tho majority of soils, 
will be found the best season. 
It the crop is required for feeding by sheep on the 
laud late in the spring, the sowing may be delayed with 
advantage until the last week in June; for if the soil be 
kind, and the climate warm, like that of the southern 
and eastern counties, the roots will continue to grow, in 
