Nov. 5, 1 903 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. _ 
ther; as the arsenic and lime combine 
much more rapidly with the aid of heat, 
it would be well to pour the arsenite of 
soda into the liquefied lime while it is still 
fairly hot in in the slaking. Care would 
be necessary to remove the coarse sedi- 
ment first, otherwise a proportion of the 
arsenite might be wasted in the after 
straining. Although up to the present 
the results from its use have not been too 
encouraging, theoretically there is no rea- 
gon why the white arsenic should not be 
boiled up directly with the fresh lime.- 
Those growers who have not received a 
copy of the report on our spraying tests 
carried out last year should apply to the 
Department of Agriculture for it, as it is 
available for free distribution. 
—Journal of Agriculture, S.A. 
Vegetable Garden. 
— ——_o9——_ — 5 
OPERATIONS FOR NOVEMBER. 
By W. S. CAMPBELL. 
Unless the weather is showery during 
this month, and if water is scarce, vege- 
table growing is not likely to prove satis- 
factory, except in those districts where 
the ground had already been thoroughly 
well saturated. The use of abundant 
dressings or applications of farmyard 
manure and the deep cultivation of the 
ground are strongly recommended, for this 
will be found to preserve moisture in the 
soil better than anything else. Should 
the weather prove satisfactory, and good 
showers of rain fall from time to time, 
vegetables of many kinds are likely to suc- 
ceed well. Cucumbers, melons, vegetable 
marrows, pumpkins, and all vegetables be- 
longing to the same natural order, are 
likely to make most satisfactory growth 
during the month, should occasional rains 
fall. In windy places, it would be ad- 
visable to peg down their strong growths, 
or the plants may be greatly injured, un- 
less the shelter of maize, Jerusalem arti- 
choke, or else, perhaps, something per- 
manent can be provided to break the force 
of the prevailing summer winds, and 
especially lessen the effect of hot winds, 
which are likely to visit us at any time. 
Asparagus.—The shoots of this vege- 
table may still be had in the cool dis 
tricts, if all are gathered as soon as they 
are suitable for cutting; but judgmenv 
must be used, to avoid interfering too 
much with the growth of the plants and 
their probable deterioration. The young 
plants should be growing satisfactorily by 
this time. If it is found that the plants 
are blown about much by strong winds, 
they would be all the better for the sup- 
port of stakes, or something to protect 
them. The need for prevention of injury 
by winds is generally overlooked; but 
timely attention is advisable. 
Beans.—French, Lima, Snake, Scarlet- 
runners, and Butter may all be sown if re- 
quired, for any of these tender legumes 
should succeed quite satisfactorily during 
this month, and also during the remainder 
of the summer, provided they can obtain 
a sufficiency of moisture. Any of these 
beans may have their bearing or produc- 
ing period prolonged, if every bean pod is 
gathered before it matures its seed. And 
this is the case with other annual vege- 
tables, such as the pea and broad bean. 
The great effort of the plant, its main ob- 
ject, after arriving at a certain stage of 
growth, is the production of seed, and 
should its efforts be interfered with, such 
as the removal of immature seeds, it will 
renew its efforts to produce them. Should 
any seeds be allowed to mature (they need 
not become what is known as quite ripe) 
the work of the plant has been completed, 
and no further efforts to assure reproduc- 
tion are necessary. 
Beet, red—Seed may be sown from time 
to time during the month, in order to keep 
up a continuous supply. The best variety 
of beet that I have seen is the globe- 
shaped kind, known as Combination. lt 
is remarkably dark in color, both foliage 
and root; and presents quite an ornamental 
appearance when growing. The globe- 
shaped red beets seem to be much liked, 
and will probably be grown, in course of 
time, in preference to the long-rooted 
varieties. If the soil is dry, the seed is 
likely to remain dormant until rain comes 
or water is applied to saturate the soil. 
When the plants come up and are strong, 
thin them out to about 8 inches apart in 
the rows. : 
Carrot.—Sow a little seed in drills about 
from 12 to 18 inches apart. The soil 
should be. deeply and well dug; but it 
would not be advisable to add manure for 
this vegetable. 
Cauliflower.—A little seed may be sown 
in seed-bed or box. A good deal of care 
will be necessary to raise, successfully, 
young cauliflower plants during the sum- 
mer. Attention to watering the seed-bed 
regularly, and to proper shading, so that 
the soil does not become dry, are very 
necessary. 
Celery.—Any well-grown plants may be 
earthed up or blanched by the use © f 
boards or anything that will keep out the 
light from the stems. It is desirable to 
so earth them up or cover them that rain 
or wet may not have access to the stems. 
Plant out from the seed-bed a few plants 
occasionally to keep the supplying going, 
but unless plenty of water is available, it 
will be little use trying to grow celery, 
except a few plants perhaps for use in 
soups, stews, and other made dishes. Sow 
a little seed if any more plants are likely 
to be required, and prick out into small 
beds when large enough to shift. 
Cucumber.—Sow a few seeds where a 
sufficient supply of plants have not yet 
been raised. Pinch the leading shoots of 
plants already growing, and if necessary 
supply with good quantities of water. 
Cress and Mustard.-—Most useful, quicic 
growing salad plants, as easy to raise from 
seed probably as .any plants cultivated. 
They need a good deal of moisture, but a 
very small patch at a time should give a - 
satisfactory return, and may suffice for an 
ordinary sized family. 
Lettuce.—As the summer advances, it 
will be found that sowing the seeds where 
the plants are to grow is the best plan to 
adopt, for in this way the lettuces are not 
so liable to run to seed without making 
hearts, as transplanted lettuces very fre- 
quently do. Sow them in rows, and when 
the seedlings are strong, thin out. Use 
abundance of well-rotted manure, and en- 
courage growth by the application of 
liquid manure if there should be any indi- 
cations of check to growth. 
Melons of Kinds.—Seeds may be sown 
extensively, as after the land has been well 
manured, not in holes, as is sometimes the 
practice, but throughout. 
Okra.—This is a vegetable not much 
used, but useful for some purposes, and 
worth growing. The seed pods, when 
green, make good thickening for soups 
and various dishes. Sow a few seeds in 
box, pot, or seed-bed, ana transplant when 
the seedlings are an inch or two in height 
2 or 3 feet apart, in rather rich soil. 
Peas.—Sow a row or two occasionally to 
keep up a supply, and stick when the 
seedlings are a few inches in height. 
Pumpkin.—Sow extensively seeds, say 
half a dozen together every 8 feet or so 
apart, and when the seedlings come up, 
and have made three or four leaves, thin 
out all buit two, or three at the most. 
Radish.—Sow occasionallv a little seed 
to keep up a supply. 
Rhubarb.—This is a very good time to 
sow seed, if any young plants are required. 
Tomato.—Plant out from seed bed as 
extensively as may be required. Ad- 
vanced plants should be trained as they 
grow to some kind of support. _ Watch for 
signs of disease, and destroy by fire all that 
show signs of the black spot. 
A Remarkable Potato. 
The most remarkable potato in England 
at the present time appears to be a variety 
that has been named Sir John Llewellyn. 
This potato was sent to the Royal Horti- 
cultural Trial Grourds at Cheswick, 1n 1900, 
to compete with 42 other varieties that were 
to be tested, some new and some well-known 
varieties such as Sutton’s Ashlear, Myatt’s 
Ashleaf, Beauty of Hebron, Ninetyfold, 
&c. The whole of the 42 varieties were 
planted on April 19; all made excellent 
growth, and with two exceptions all pro- 
duced good crops free from disease. On 
September 11 the committee were present 
to judge the trial, and the official report 
was as follows:—Sir John Llewellyn, Kid- 
ney, white, eyes shallow, handsome ; the 
heaviest crop in the collection, free from 
disease, haulm tall and robust; award of 
merit. The same year the raiser of this 
new variety grew at Swansea, South Wales, 
the remarkable crop of 23 tonsto the acre 
of sound tubers. This was a_ record 
in itself. In addition to all the good 
qualities stated above, it is one of the 
best table varieties for winter use, being 
white and floury. Messrs. Horne and Sons, 
Cliffe, Rochester, Kent, distributed this 
variety in 1901 at A4o a ton. In 1902, 
although there were as many more produced, 
they realised £40 a ton, while in January, 
1903, they made the same figure. 
