May 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
101 
between the embryo seeds in the seed-vessel, and the 
stigma through the style, and when the pollen grains 
burst by the swelling caused by being moistened with 
the viscid matter on the stigma, the fecundating 
principle is carried up or down, according to the 
position of the style to the seeds, and thus fertiliza¬ 
tion takes place. Therefore, all that we have to do 
is to dust the stigma with the pollen when both are 
ripe for the operation, and seeds of the same kind 
will follow in due time; but when we wish to have 
a cross-bred plant from the union of two distinct 
parents, the pollen bags or anthers must be cut out 
from the one that is to bear the seed, and the stranger 
pollen used in its stead. D. Beaton. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Asparagus. —Notwithstanding the late abundance 
of rain, this excellent vegetable should at this season 
be assisted in every possible manner by the applica¬ 
tion of liquid-manure, which, as we have before ob¬ 
served, will, if applied in gloomy and showery wea¬ 
ther, have a much more beneficial effect not only on 
asparagus, but on all growing crops, whether of The 
garden or the field, than when the soil is dry and 
arid from the continuance of fine weather. Liquid- 
manure circulates to a greater extent, .and soaks in 
with far greater expedition to the extreme points of 
the fibrous roots, when the soil is moistened and soft¬ 
ened by damp or rain; and may, at such times, be 
given in smaller quantities, and a much greater de¬ 
gree of strength. The advantage of the application 
of liquid-manure to growing crops may very readily 
bo tested by any one who has a row of cabbages, 
cauliflowers, asparagus, or any other vegetable, even 
in the short space of 24 hours, by applying a mode¬ 
rate soaking of manure to one part, and leaving the 
other untouched. A great difference, both in colour 
and luxuriance, will very soon be perceptible. No 
matter what kind of liquid-manure may be applied, 
all will benefit something. The urine from the stable, 
cow-house, or piggery ; soapsuds and slops of every 
kind from the dwelling-; and where all these can be 
conveyed into one receptacle, and there mixed to¬ 
gether, so much greater will be the benefit. Those 
who have land, and are without such convenient re¬ 
ceptacle, may brew liquid-manure, and apply it with 
much greater economy than they can purchase solid 
manures, to apply whon digging or trenching the 
soil, if they will take 3 tbs. of guano, 2 lbs. of salt, 
and 1 lb. of soot, mixing them together with one 
hogshead of water ; and, if the weather be cloudy or 
showery at the time of its application, this manure 
will require no more diluting; but if the soil is dry and 
the atmosphere clear, it should either be well washed 
in, or diluted, before application, with double the 
quantity of water. All through the spring, summer, 
and autumn months, we constantly apply to all kind 
of kitchen-garden produce liquid-manure, brewed in 
the same way from night-soil, the excrement of ani¬ 
mals or poultry, and soot. The latter is one of the 
best fertilizers for asparagus; and with a little salt 
also added, is most beneficial not only to that vege¬ 
table, but to sea-kale and all the brassica (cabbage) 
family. 
Cucumbers. —Plants, which have for some time 
had leading shoots, should have these thinned pretty 
freely by degrees, until the clearest and strongest vine 
alone is left. The whole of the surface soil should 
be gently stirred over, and a liberal soaking of manure 
applied; and when this is well soaked into the bed, it 
should be covered over to the depth of two or three 
inches with good fresh open well pulverized soil. 
Those on the out-door ridges should have the soil well 
stirred around them, and be at once mulched for the 
vine to run on. 
Melons.— Those that are set and swelling will be 
improved by liberal applications of liquid-manure, 
until nearly full grown, when it must be withheld, 
and abundance of air admitted, to secure a superior 
flavour. The sulphur and lime in the inside of the 
frames must not be forgotten. 
Routine Work. —Plant out in succession the crops 
of cauliflowers and Cape brocoli, and sow again; pre¬ 
pare the ground for the main crops of celery, and, 
between the peas and beans, plant out such crops as 
brocoli, borecole, Brussels sprouts, savoys, and cole- 
worts; keep up a succession of lettuce by sowing in 
drills, and thinning out to transplant, if required. 
Endive should now be sown, and leeks transplanted. 
Dwarf kidney beans and runners sboidd be planted in 
succession, and the hoe and scarifier kept well to 
work amongst growing crops of all kinds. 
James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INEORMATION. 
ALLOTMENT GARDENING FOR JUNE. 
If our previous advice has been carefully followed 
out, most of the cottagers’ crops will be above ground 
by the time this reaches them. The next grand 
point is high cultivation, requiring, of course, un¬ 
wearying diligence. One of the principal points in 
a good course of culture is to suit the process to the 
weather: this, indeed, may be called the fundamental 
maxim. We will venture to say that a cottager who 
carefully attends to this course will accomplish as 
much in one week during overhours as an incon¬ 
siderate man will do in two, taking the season all 
round. 
Weeding. —In the culture of drill crops, it is well 
to seize on the first dry period, as soon as a small 
crop of weeds can be discerned, and run the hoe 
through between the drills, in order to enable the 
cottager’s wife or children to weed the drills without 
mischief. The weeds in a day or two will be so far 
slain as to enable them to see the drill crops dis¬ 
tinctly. The first hoeing through, provided the soil 
is light, and in very line tilth, may be performed 
with the Dutch hoe; few ordinary allotments, how¬ 
ever, we fear, will be under so high a course of cul¬ 
ture as to permit its use. We clo not recommend 
the Dutch hoe on the score of its utility in the cul¬ 
ture of the soil, but as merely facilitating processes 
which at this busy period might otherwise get in 
arrears; for we consider the ordinary draw hoe far 
superior as to the mechanical effects produced on tire 
soil, After the lines or drills are weeded, it is excel¬ 
lent culture to run the small hoe through the plants; 
this should be done when the soil is in a mellow 
state, as the soil is thus rendered more crumbly, and, 
of course, more open to the action of the air, dew, 
and rain. It also becomes a worse conductor of 
heat, and, therefore, the plants are less liable to be 
affected by sudden droughts. As soon as these things 
are accomplished, the cottager may turn to his bed 
crops, and proceed with thinning and weeding, and 
the application of occasional doses of liquid manure 
to crops dependent on very high culture for then- 
profit. 
Insects. — Whilst all this is proceeding, a very 
