THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, July 14, 1857. 
235 
result will be satisfactory. A light, sandy soil of a good 
depth is the most suitable. 
Cauliflower. —The best early kind is the one mostly 
used. Sow in late situations under glass about the 20th of 
August, or to the 1st of September. In more favoured 
places the latter period will do without protection. Plant 
out this crop in handglasses, frames, and other sheltered 
places, and give air at all favourable times. Another crop 
may be sown early in spring on some hotbed or other warm 
place, and succession crops until the end of May, or up to 
the middle of June in some places. A rich soil is the most 
suitable for all except the crop standing the winter, which, 
like other things, is hardier by not being over-fed. A late 
variety, called Asculle , is grown for summer and autumn 
use, but is no better than the Early when the latter is good. 
Celery. —The proportion which most gardens present in 
autumn as under this crop is often as much as one-eighth or 
even one-sixth of the whole area. Being a favourite with 
every one it is not to be wondered at that it is extensively 
grown. Sow in some slight hotbed early in March, and 
prick out the plants on some enriched bed or border, to stand 
awhile before they are finally planted in the places where 
they are intended to perfect their growth. Single trenches 
not too deep are best for producing quality; but a good 
broad trench, say six feet, with rows across, will prove of 
service in furnishing a large quantity of tolerably good 
Celery. Liberal waterings of liquid manure when the 
plant is growing will be serviceable, and at all times the 
plant likes moisture. Cole's and Seymour s White and a 
good red are all that are wanted. Let the situation be 
open, and, if the weather be very hot and dry, begin earthing j 
up betimes. If, on the contrary, it be showery, let the i 
plants arrive at a good size first. Let the latest rows intended j 
to stand the winter be blanched with coal ashes being put j 
against the plants instead of the earth, and in very severe i 
weather a covering of litter will be of great service in pro- j 
tecting them ; but in a general way worms and slugs are | 
more destructive than frost, and must be guarded against 
as above. July is the best month to plant the main crop, 
but it may be later or earlier as -wanted. 
Endive. —This useful winter and spring salad may be 
sown at various times from the beginning of June until the 
end of July—the Green and White Curled for autumn and 
winter, and Batavian for spring use. A good rich soil is 
indispensable; and, as the plant during the process of blanch 
ing is covered up, it does not take so much harm as it other¬ 
wise would do from the succulent nature it presents when 
grown on rich ground. Plant about eighteen inches apart 
each way, and blanch by covering each plant with a flower¬ 
pot with the hole stopped up, or a pan will be equally suit¬ 
able. Before severe weather sets in take up a quantity with 
large balls of earth adhering, and plant them thickly in 
some dry, open shed, where they can be protected from frost, 
and where the blanching process can be carried on at the 
same time as described above. 
Lettuce. —Sow various kinds, and at various times and 
places, more especially in dry, hot weather. In a general 
way the Cabbage varieties resist seeding better than the 
Cos. A rich soil, planting out when young, and liberal 
applications of soft water, with now and then liquid manure, 
will generally insure success. The best kinds to stand 
the winter are the small green Cabbage kinds, of which 
the Hammersmith Hardy is the best. Brown Dutch is also j 
useful that way, and the other kinds more or less useful. 
Leek. —Sow in early sprung, and when large blanched 
stalks are wanted plant out in trenches the same as for 
Celery; but in a general way they are preferred green, in 
which case either planting out thinly or effecting the same 
object by thinning must be attended to. 
Onion. —Deep cultivation, plentiful rains in June, and 
early thinning are the principal points that secure a good crop 
of Onions. Sow as early as the ground can well be meddled 
with, thin as soon as they will bear handling, and keep 
the ground stirred as long as it can be done without injury 
to the plants. The Reading and White Spanish are most 
grown, but the Globe is, perhaps, the most useful. For 
standing the winter the Tripoli is best, and the Silver¬ 
skinned is best for pickling. Most things grow well after 
Onions, and the crop being gathered tolerably early in 
average seasons, another may advantageously be planted. 
Onions deserve one of the best situations in all gardens, . 
and generally are a favourite crop with the cottager. 
Parsley. —Little need be said of this, unless it be to 
advise a second sowing to be made about the end of June, 
or, in case that should be impracticable, to plant out some 
then that was sown in May, and at the end of August to 
cut most of the leaves off. This secures a crop of fresh 
ones before winter; but a late sowing is also useful, as not 
being so likely to run to seed in the ensuing spring. 
Parsnip. — This requires little comment, and at the 
present time no particular treatment; keeping clean from 
weeds, and otherwise removing any that may have a tendency 
to run to seed, is all that is wanted, thinning being done 
long ago. 
Pea. —Few crops may be sown at a greater diversity of 
seasons than Peas, as with the exception of September I 
have known them successfully sown in all the other months; 
but the beginning of August is as late as they can be sown 
for use that year, and it rarely happens they do any good 
after sowing at the end of June. The middle of November 
is also as early as it is prudent to sow to stand the winter, but 
from that time to the end of June successive sowings may 
be put in. The Emperor and Sangster's No. 1 are the best 
early kinds I have tried, and the Champion and British 
Queen the best for a general crop, the latter kinds being sown 
from February up to the beginning of June, after which I 
sow early kinds again. Cool, deep, cultivated ground suits 
Peas best for summer ; but a warm, dry border is best for 
their standing the winter. Mildew is the greatest drawback 
to them in summer, against which there seems no remedy; 
but it may be kept in check by adopting means to insure a 
healthy growth, as watering with liquid manure, sowing thinly, 
and perhaps a dusting with sulphur may be useful, but I 
confess being sceptical on the latter point. 
Radish. —On hot, dry soils it is useless sowing this except 
in spring and autumn; but on these occasions, perhaps, a 
light soil is best. If tried in summer let the Radish be 
sown behind a wall facing the north, and if damp so much 
the better. Quick growth is also essential to crispness. 
Savoy and Kale. —The same remarks hold good here as 
in Brussels Sprouts. 
Spinach. —Sow at various times up to the end of June, 
which will carry on the supply to autumn, and the crop to 
stand the winter may be sown at the end of August. The 
Prickly-seeded is best for winter, the Round-seeded for 
summer. Thin both crops, and let the winter one have a 
dry, warm border. The Round-seeded is often sown between 
rows of Peas for summer use. 
Tomatoes. —Sow in a hotbed in March, pot off, and finally 
plant out early in May against vacant places on walls, &c. 
If the plants become too gross stop them in July, and thin 
them at the same time. If they continue to throw out 
laterals instead of fruit, cut the roots by thrusting in a spade 
all round at the space of eighteen inches or so from the stem. 
Turnips. —Gardens seldom produce good Turnips; the 
ground is generally too rich for them. Stiff, clayey ground 
is said to produce the best flavoured; but for the early crop 
a good south border must be prepared. Sow the Snowball, 
Early Stone , and American Stone for all the crops, and thin 
in time. 
Sweet Herbs. —Most of these being permanent perennial 
plants require no further comment here than a notice to 
propagate all the kinds in proper time, as they all want re¬ 
newing, and they must not always be depended on for grow¬ 
ing on the same ground again. Sage, Winter Savory, 
Hyssop, and Horehound ought to be propagated by cuttings 
put in during moist weather in June. Many other things 
are increased by parting the root, as Mint, Fennel, Penny¬ 
royal, &c., which ought to be done in April. Others, again, 
are reared every year from seed, as Summer Savory, Sweet 
Marjoram, Basil, and Chervil. All these plants, with many 
others, are wanted at various times, and the skilful cultivator, 
by putting in cuttings or seeds at the proper time, secures 
a succession with much less trouble than is generally 
supposed. 
Many other things might be added to the above; but 
enough is said to enable the cottager or the inexperienced 
to know what is most necessary to do at the present time. 
Other information bearing on the season will be forth- j 
coming at the proper time. J. Robson. 
