June 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
159 
once or twice a week, and surplus plants, and those 
termed “ bolters,” signifying running to seed, re¬ 
moved to the cow or the pigs. These things should 
be done at set times if possible. There is another 
old saying very applicable in this case—“ What is 
done at any time is never done.” 
Distances of Crops. —As sound thinning out will 
have to be done during this month, we may as well 
say something of the final distances of the respective 
crops, especially the root crops. We will suppose 
the soil in a state of high culture : if poor, let them 
all stand closer by about one-tliird of the distance 
here laid down. Mangold should he about ten 
inches apart in the row; Swedes about eight inches; 
parsnips about six inches; and carrots, the large 
kinds, about five inches. We speak now of the 
final distance, as left at the last thinning, for we 
woidd thin them out at least three times, and at 
each thinning there will be something for the pig 
or cow. 
Winter Greens. —The month of July is, of all 
the year, the most eligible time to plant the chief of 
those greens and brocolis which must form the 
supply through the ensuing winter. The allotment 
holder at this period, therefore, should consider what 
may turn out most profitable, and, in doing this, he 
must reckon on what live stock he will possess 
through the ensuing winter. As a general remark, 
we should say that the tliousand-lieaded cabbage is 
the first on the list, as to producing a great bulk of 
material from any kind of soil. Next to this we 
would place the green hale, which is notoriously 
hardy, and will thrive in most soils; moreover, it has 
the merit of being a capital vegetable for man as 
well as beast. The thousand-headed cabbage, how¬ 
ever, will produce its sprouts earlier in the spring, 
being very excitable. The Savoy we dare not re¬ 
commend, as it is too wide in the shoulders, and 
does not thrive well in inferior soils. In addition to 
these come the various brocolis; and we frankly 
confess that we should like to see the cottager enjoy¬ 
ing his head of brocoli occasionally, if only for his 
Sunday’s dinner, because, when boiled in the same 
pot with a piece of mellow bacon or pickled pork, it 
is, in our opinion, a dish for monarchs, that is to 
say, provided they could bring the hearty unpam¬ 
pered appetite of the brown cheeked cottager to bear 
upon it. As for brocolis, however, as they must for 
the present be classed among luxuries, we must be 
rather chary in our advice, it so happens that some 
brocolis produce a large amount of material for the 
pig or cow, besides the head. This is not altogether 
dependent on kind, but on period of planting as 
well. We would therefore recommend those to the 
cottager from which a great deal of residue in the 
trimming goes to his live stock. Moreover, in spring 
he has few dainties; we would, therefore, try to per¬ 
suade him to plant a few spring brocolis directly on 
some tolerably open spot, and for this purpose we 
recommend the ordinary late Sulphur, Melville's late 
White, and the Wilcove, or Somers’ particular late 
White. A few of each, or all of any one sort, will do. 
This being accomplished, he may try to get a few 
plants of the Walcheren brocoli, a few Gape, and a 
dozen of cauliflower plants, and pop them in between 
some other crops, as a succession about the middle 
of July. The latter will furnish his table occasion¬ 
ally from September until Christmas, and the former 
will do the same through March, April, and May. 
Coleworts. —We advised in June (p. 103) tliat a 
good bed of these should be sown about the middle 
of that month. These will bo nice plants by the 
middle or end of July ; and we do advise the cottager 
to cram a few in every nook or corner that can be 
spared. We would not by any means suffer them to 
throw out crops of greater bulk and more profit, but 
we do recommend their being planted, at this period, 
on all portions in which there is not room enough for 
greens, brocolis, Swede turnips, &c. Coleworts are 
merely early and close hearting cabbages, sown at a 
peculiar season: this gives them their peculiar cha¬ 
racter. Much of their growth is made in a low 
temperature, in proportion to the amount of light, 
and hence their character of being compact, or, in 
other words, producing a great amount of useful 
food in a small compass. On good open plots, such 
may be planted fifteen inches between the rows, and 
nine inches between the plants in the row; if, how¬ 
ever, they are put among other growing crops which 
shade much, a little more room must be given. 
Lettuces. —During July, say about the first week, 
and again about the middle, it will be found good 
jrolicy to sow a bed of lettuces. The soil should 
have a little manure incorporated with it. We 
recommended a suspension of the sowings during 
a part of May and June, on the ground that the 
plants run to seed if sown during that period, and 
during the heat of summer attain but little size. 
The July sowings will not be liable to these ob¬ 
jections, and will serve to fill any blanks that may 
occur. We know of no crop more profitable to the 
cottager than the lettuce ; and although for his own 
eating he may sow a little of the Bath cos, yet for 
pig-feeding we think that the old Hammersmith cab¬ 
bage lettuce is the most profitable, for it may be 
planted at only six inches square apart, and it is 
astonishing what an amount of pig feed they will 
produce at that distance, provided they are not 
pulled for use before going to seed—say two feet in 
height. It is scarcely too much to affirm that swine 
in general are more partial to the lettuce than to any 
other green food; and, when their nutritious quali¬ 
ties are taken into consideration, it is no wonder 
that pigs should thrive so fast as they do on them. 
We do heartily wish we could persuade cottagers in 
general to devote some attention to their culture, 
being persuaded that their merits in economising 
other and more expensive food is not by any means 
appreciated. Those who have an open plot to spare 
may grow them broadcast. The manure should be 
rotten, and need not be dug in above six inches in 
depth. When the plants are up they may be hoed 
out precisely the same as turnips; indeed, for field 
culture this is the very plan. 
Salads, Pickles, &c. —We hope that some little 
advance has been made in these luxuries, if we may 
so term them. Red cabbage of a spring sowing may 
yet be planted, and even nasturtiums sown in a 
warm corner, provided the seed be soaked in warm 
water for six or eight hours previously to sowing. 
The latter makes a very useful general pickle. A 
row of celery should be planted now, if not already 
done, and, towards the end of the month, a bed of 
radishes and cresses. The American or winter cress 
should be chosen. This will be in cut all the winter 
and spring. 
Runner Kidney Beans. —Again we repeat, as soon 
as your runners get to the top of their stakes or 
lines pinch their tops off. Take care to water them 
liberally in dry weather—drought is fatal to their 
long bearing: care should also be taken to pick off' 
all overgrown pods, unless it be a few for seed. It 
is surprising how a few of those lusty pods exhaust 
the plant. 
