_- April 1, 1909 
Operations for the Month 
a 
_ As winter approaches our chief concern 
in cultivating is to keep the soil warm and 
sweet Any beds that are being formed 
at this season should ke so arranged as to 
attract heat and throw off moisture, quite 
contrary to the summer arrangement. 
Ridged land is always preferable for 
vegetables, being drier and warmer owing 
‘to a greater extent of surface being 
exposed to the sun. Perfect drainage is 
‘essential to successful vegetable culture, 
and, therefore, existing drains should be 
‘looked to, to ascertain that they are 
working properly, or a good system pro- 
vided where this has been neglecte}. 
Keep the garden quite free from weeds 
and take away all old and useless vege 
tables and remains of vegetables to a 
‘yubbish-heap, where they can rot and 
become useful manure for the garden, 
‘If it is thought proferable to burn them, 
carefully preserve the ashes for spreading 
over and digging into the ground. 
ore ae _ ARTICHOKE, 
This vegetable is cultivated for the 
‘immature flower heads, of which the 
fleshy receptacle, commonly called the 
‘bottom, and the lower part of the leaves 
of the calyx, are the parts used. It is a 
cultivated form of the wild cardoon, a 
native chiefly of the Mediterranern sea- 
coast. Sowarow (which will probably 
plant out in rows about 6 feet apart. The 
artichoke will succeed fairly well: on 
- moist soils, if not too AD provided the 
neat be well manured. ¢ 
~ Asraracvs. 
“ready for some plants as soon as this can 
be done. The ground should be trenched 
being well mixed up with the surface soil 
“as it is being dug. It is not necessary to 
make a very large bed, for a few plants 
even will give an occasional dish if the 
plants are looked after; and if the soil 
happens naturally to suit them the supply 
‘before the Christian era. 
_ be sufficient) in light, rich deep soil, and 
a It would be advisable to get a bed 
18 inches or 2 feet deep, some manure 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
The Vegetable Carden, 
s 
will be considerable, When the ground 
has been dug up the surface should be 
left as rough as possible until the time 
comes for planting. Asparagus likes a 
rich sandy deep soil, but it will grow 
fairly well in almost any kind of soil that 
has been well prepared, 
the sea-coast of Europe, and has been in 
cultivation from remote times and long 
growing wild in the sandy interior of 
Russia, far away from the sea-coast, but 
probably the soil there is saline. 
= Brosp BEAns. 
The soil best suited to this vegetable is 
a heavy clay loam, although it will grow 
and bear well in almost any kind of soil. 
We would advise you to sow a few rows 
only for early crop, and defer the general 
sowing for a few weeks. 
‘well, and if it is poor apply plenty of ~ 
horse or cow dung, and if this has been 
well rctted, all the better. 
manure is used, apply little or no 
sulphate of ammonia. or nitrate of soda, 
Use 
lime an potash. Sow in rows from two 
according to the 
variety, for the dwarf-growing kinds may 
to three feet apart, 
be sown closer together than the tall... 
The seed should be sown about four or 
five. inches apart in the rows, and two 
inches deep. 
BRUSSELS Sprouts. 
Sow the ‘seed in a box or seed-bed.. 
When the plauts are big enough they must - 
be moved to well dug up but not too 
heavily manured ground that has been. 
prepared for them. The growth must not 
be forced, or else the young sprouts will 
not form well. Plant'in rows about two 
feet six inches apart. The plants to 
stand about two feet from each other in 
the rows. 
CABBAGE, 
Sow seed as largely as may be thought 
necessary. Plant out, also, any young 
‘cabbages that may be available. They 
should not be pulled out of the seed-bed, 
but taken up carefully, without breaking 
more roots than can be avoided. The 
It is a native of.. 
It is found. 
Dig the ground. 
Jf artificial — 
bone-dust or superphosphate of 
in a bed or 
13 
Early Jersey Wakefield and Early Dwarf 
York are both good small varieties. The 
Sugar-loaf is also a good kind. Every 
garden should have a few plants of the 
red cabbage, which comes in very useful 
for pickling. If not required for that 
purpose, it may be eaten in the ordinary 
way. Itshould be noted that cabbages 
are greedy feeders, and need rich, soil and | 
abundance of manure, 
Carror. 
Seed may be sown largely. Early _ 
Shorthorn and Improved Intermediate are 
good varieties to sow at the present time — 
Some good advice, and particulars as to 
sowing, was given in the March issue. 
peu CAULIFLOWER. 
This vegetable should be grown largely . 
for it is well liked by almost everyone, . 
Sow the seeds thinly in beds of nicely | 
prepared _ light. soil, and transplant in 
good rich soil which has been trenched - 
and well manured, in rows of from 2 ta 
24 feet each way. 
CuLeraic, or Turnip- Rooted Celery. a 
Sow the seed ina box of nicely prepared | 
soil, Prick out, like celery. When the 
plants are about six inches high, plant 
out in rich free soil, in rows 18 inches 
apart and a foot in the rows. 
Cuusry, Rep and Wutrs. 
Sow a pinch of seed in a box or pot.- 
When the plants come up, and are large 
enough t6 -shift, ptick them out in a 
small bed, where they can grow strong 
and hardy. Plant out a few seedlings 
into very well manured ground, ‘if any ~ 
are ayailable.. ; 
+ Orgss and Musrarp, 
Sow in light rich soil in drills half an 
inch deep and 8 inches apart, and SOW 
SRC. 
“ENvIVE, 
‘If plants are available, they may -be 
planted out largely, Sow a little more 
box, and when three 
or four inches high, plant out in good 
vich soil, which has been trenched and 
well manured, in rows a foot apart each 
way, 
Heres. 
Sow 1n pots, boxes, or seed- eae. and 
afterwards trausplant, 
