THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, July 14, 1857. 
234 
comes, as it is likely the plants will be large enough then. 
If Turnips are wanted a plain digging without dung will do 
for those for use at table, provided the ground be tolerably 
good, and the seed, being sown in showery weather, is quickly 
up, while the digging and preparing are better done when 
dry. Ground from which winter Onions have been removed 
may be dug and prepared for Celery , which may be quickly 
planted when the proper time comes, i.e., when it rains. 
Teas that have been sown wide, with a view to have Broccoli 
planted between them, may have the line of the intended 
row of plants broken up in dry weather, to be ready to plant 
when it is wet. Crops of Cauliflower that have been cut, 
Lettuces that have been used or run to seed, or, in fact, any 
crop whatever that is no longer useful, ought not to remain 
a single day in the ground, but be removed, and the latter 
got ready for something else; for, be it remembered, there 
are few jobs but which are better done in dry weather than 
when wet, except planting, and now and then sowing seeds ; 
but if the preparation of the ground be left until showery 
weather it is very likely the best of that weather may be gone 
ere it is half got ready. It ought, therefore, to be an imperative 
rule in a kitchen garden to remove every useless crop imme¬ 
diately it becomes so, and prepare the ground for the next; 
for, independently of the exhausting influence a runaway crop 
of Lettuce or Spinach has on garden ground, a correspond¬ 
ing benefit accrues to it on being roughly turned up to the 
sun and air; and though it is advisable at all times to make 
the ground fine at planting or sowing time, there is no 
particular reason for making the surface of it so at the time 
of digging. Rough ground, after lying awhile exposed to the 
sun, usually gets into a mellower condition, and is more easily 
broken at top when wanted; besides, being rough, the sun 
and air can penetrate it deeper, and there are no roots for 
their influence to injure. A good turf-beater is an excellent 
thing for small plots when a roller cannot be got to work, 
and seeds and plants seem to luxuriate all the better for the 
soil they have to grow in being previously well scorched by 
a Midsummer sun; and it is needless to say that the appear¬ 
ance of ground got ready for another crop is at all times 
more pleasing than when it is lying in a careless way, 
exhausting itself by Radish, Cauliflower, Lettuce, and other 
crops running to seed. Weeds, we presume, there are none, 
but they are not a whit more exhaustive than the articles 
enumerated; and, as it often happens that periods of dry 
weather are followed by only a short allowance of rain, 
it behoves all to be prepared to make the most that can 
be made of it; for if there even be strength sufficient to 
prepare every inch for cropping during the continuance of 
the moisture the object is not so well performed, for all 
seeds and plants like to have the soil they grow in exposed to 
the sun some time ere they enjoy it. This rule holds good 
in nothing more forcibly than in Celery, which forms an 
important crop in the autumn and winter, and the bulk of 
it ought to be planted this month. 
As more particulars will follow on the treatment neces¬ 
sary for each crop to be sown or planted now the above is 
merely intended as a preparatory measure to insure the 
ground being in readiness; for though in early spring the 
delay of a week or more may not make much difference, at 
this time it is important not to lose a day, for vegetation is 
at that point of advancement that any means taken to hasten 
or retard its progress has more influence than at any other 
time, and the benefit or otherwise of activity or delay will 
be felt at a future day. 
Beaks, Broad. — To the cottager the Hangdoivn and 
White Windsor are the best, the latter for flavour, and the 
former for hardihood and good bearing; but the middle or 
end of June is as late as it is prudent to plant either variety 
except for the table of the epicure. Thus little can be done 
now except nipping off the tips of those in flower to pro¬ 
mote their setting, unless in certain cases wherein the 
process of setting and bearing is purposely wished to be 
detained, when the tips may be allowed to grow on, and 
the bottom florets picked off. A stiff, loamy soil suits Beans 
best, but they will do on light lands, provided there be 
at least eighteen inches of good soil available for them to 
root in. 
Beans, Dwarf Kidney.— The vai'ieties of this useful 
legume are, perhaps, better described by the names given 
than those of any other vegetable. Speckled Dun , White 
Cream, and Liver-coloured , all convey some knowledge of 
the character of the seed. The end of June is as late as it 
is prudent to plant out of doors in a general way. A rich 
garden soil not too light suits them best, and their bearing 
qualities may be much improved by careful and continuous 
picking. The White Canterbury is as good as any for the 
cottager, but the Liver-coloured is equally good on cool- 
bottomed soils. 
Beans, Scarlet Runner. —It is needless saying anything 
in commendation of these, as the cottager is so well ac¬ 
quainted with them. Picking closely, and, if the weather be 
hot and dry in September, watering freely with liquid 
manure, will prolong their bearing; but a good soil, plenty 
of room, and an open situation are essential points to success. 
The Painted Lady and White Runner are both inferior to 
the Scarlet Runner for general use. They may be planted 
until the middle of June, or even later; but the last is cut 
off by the first frost the same as the earlier ones, and is not 
a whit better with regard to bearing at that time. 
Beet, Red. —This requires but little attention at this 
time, thinning being the principal, and that need not be 
done to excess. Ground too rich is at variance with good 
colour, and dung near the surface, as well as very rough 
occasions forking. 
Brussels Sprouts. —These are, perhaps, the most useful 
of all the Cabbageworts, and certainly continue in season 
longer than any one individual variety, not even excepting 
the Cabbage. Sow imported seed as early in the spring as 
possible, or in very late situations they may be sown in the 
August and September preceding. Plant out on good 
ground, and they require little more attention. Two feet and 
a half apart is not too much on good ground, but two feet 
will do on ordinary soils. Earth up at the proper time, and 
they require nothing further than removing the weeds that 
may grow. An application of manure water will increase 
their growth, particularly in August and September, when 
they are more especially in active growth. 
Broccoli. —This is a versatile class, and often attended 
with unpleasant disappointments. Some growers insist on 
the possibility of having good heads of Broccoli all the year 
round from the Walcheren alone; but I would not advise 
any one to depend on that solely, though it may be planted to a 
greater extent than most others. I plant largely of a Purple 
Cape Sprouting , Knight’s Protecting , one or two kinds of 
local celebrity for very late work, and Snow's Winter, as it is 
better not to depend on one kind alone, as seasons alter the 
expected time of their coming into use. A very rich soil 
will grow them best, but is not so well for their standing the 
winter. In many cases Broccoli are planted after the first 
crop of Potatoes, or between rows of Peas. In the latter 
case much of its growth must of necessity be postponed 
until the autumn, but it is very accommodating. At the 
present time planting out late plantations and earthing up 
earlier ones is all that can be done. A little seed of Early 
Cape might be sown at the same time as the Cauliflowers to 
stand the winter, but it is equally as tender. 
Cabbage. —This is certainly the most profitable vegetable 
grown, and generally esteemed. Sow in late situations the 
1st of August, or a week before that. In more favoured 
places the 12th will be soon enough. Something also 
depends on the quality of the variety, as some of the most 
improved kinds have less tendency to run to seed than 
others, and consequently may be sown and planted out 
earlier. Those expected to stand all the summer had better 
not be sown before the middle of August. Those for early 
crops might be sown much sooner, and being planted on some 
warm border, might be removed after cutting in spring. A 
good rich soil, rather stiff than light, suits this crop best, 
and lime may be freely administered, as well as a manure, as 
a destroyer of insect life. 
Carrot. —This is frequently a precarious crop, and seeds¬ 
men are, perhaps, oftener found fault with for failures in 
this than most other things. The fact is the plant comes 
up with such small seed leaves, which, being sweet, are 
great favourites with slugs and other enemies, that the crop is 
devoured by them before it is visible to us. A good liming 
before sowing will be found useful. Sow in April. The 
Early Horn is the best for table, but keeps badly. The 
field Carrot, or Orange, is better for that purpose. Thin 
liberally ancl in time, and if the soil be a suitable one the 
