Page images
PDF
EPUB

as nearly to cover them. Towards the end of this month, part of them may be forced, by placing large pots over them, and covering them with warm stable dung: the young heads will thus be fit for use by Christmas. Elford Rhubarb may be forced in the same manner, or by planting the roots in large pots, and placing them in the Mushroom-house near the flue. Clear Artichoke plants from their old stalks, and cover up the heads with half-rotten dung, to keep off the frost. Cut down the haulm or stems of Asparagus; dig the alleys, and cover the beds with mould three or four inches deep. Lay into the ground Purple and White Broccoli, if it has not been already done in the last month. Take up the tuberous roots of the Scarlet Running Kidney Bean, and preserve them in dry sand, in a cellar excluded from the frost; or they may be preserved by placing them close together on a dry warm border, covering them six inches deep, and placing a hot-bed frame over them, and covering the surface again six inches deep with old tan. In taking up the roots, care must be taken not to injure the stem, but to cut it down to within a foot of the crown of the root: this part must also be carefully covered with old tan, to preserve it from the frost. In April these roots must be planted out again, when they will produce another abundant

crop.

December.

Trench and manure ground for spring crops. Force Asparagus, Elford Rhubarb, and Sea Kale. In the early part of the month lay in Purple and White Broccoli, unless it has been done already.

Earth up Peas and Beans, where the tops are advanced from early sowing; also Cardoons and Celery, for the last time. The finest ridges of Celery should now be covered with litter or soft meadow hay, to keep off

severe frost, or the tops will rot, and this will in time extend down to the root.

Cover the Mushroom beds thickly with clean dry straw, and do not let the Mushroom-house descend to a lower temperature than 50 degrees of Fahrenheit's scale.

Look over the Cauliflower plants in frames, and pick off all decayed leaves. Every day the weather is mild and dry, let the glasses be taken off, that the plants may have free air; but let the lights be put on every night. When the weather is very wet, keep the lights over them; but at the same time, if mild, let them be raised at the back of the frames, to let in a large portion of air to the plants. In severe frosty weather, keep the plants constantly covered with the glasses, and other covering of mats, straw, fern, and other long litter; and apply long litter also round the outsides of the frames, when the frost is very rigorous. Cauliflower plants under hand-glasses must be treated in the same manner. Lettuces in frames and under hand-glasses require similar treatment.

[blocks in formation]

58. Rue.

59. Sage. 60. Salsafy.

61. Savory.

62. Savoys.

63. Scorzonera. 64. Scurvy-grass. 65. Sea Kale. 66. Shallots. 67. Skirret.

68. Sorrel.

69. Spinach. 70. Tansy.

71. Tarragon. 72. Tetragonia.

Thousand-headed Cabbage, 9.

73. Thyme.

74. Turnips.

Vegetable Marrow, 30.
Winter Cress.

75. Winter Greens.

« PreviousContinue »