Part 18

TURNIP and winter RADISH seed may be sown from the latter part of July to the middle of August. If the ground is reasonably free from weed seeds it is advisable to sow broadcast, otherwise it is better to sow in drills. In either case, it is well to remember that the plants should be, like the first settlers, without a near neighbor. The size and quality of the turnips and radishes will depend, to a great extent, upon thin sowing of the seed, or, what is still better, a judicious thinning of the plants when young. The largest and sweetest turnips we have ever grown were of the Purple Top Strap-leaved variety, and were grown as a second crop after onions. The seed was sown broadcast, and no further attention given the plants except thinning while young. In the same manner and on similar soil we raised White and Black Spanish winter radishes of excellent quality, that weighed from four to seven pounds each. The Chinese Rose, though not so large, is the handsomest and one of the best winter radishes grown. The California Mammoth is a superb fall radish, but does not keep well in winter. The White Stuttgart is regarded as a summer radish, but I have had it, grown as a winter radish, to keep firm and solid till April.

KALE, or BORECOLE, is a valuable plant for spring greens. The variety called Dwarf German Greens is best for this purpose. Sow seed in drills about September 1st, and give thorough cultivation till the approach of cold weather. When winter sets in, give protection with a covering of straw or similar material, put on so as not to smother the plants. The most effective way of doing this is to place a layer of fine brush or cornstalks between the drills, to a height equal to or exceeding the height of the plants in the drills. Then cover all with a layer of clean straw, six inches deep. The object of putting the brush between the drills is to provide an air cavity between the plants and the covering.

CORN SALAD, or VETTICOST, is a valuable little plant which is used for salad, the same as lettuce. For spring use, sow the seed any time during the month of September, and at the approach of cold weather cover the bed with a few inches of straw or hay. It should be used very early in spring, as it soon runs to seed when warm weather sets in. Although this plant will bear neglect, it will also repay good treatment.

Seed of winter SPINACH and winter LETTUCE should also be sown during the month of September, and the plants should be protected with a covering of straw, or similar material, during winter. Put on part of the covering when the ground begins to freeze, and as the cold increases, add covering till it reaches a depth of four or five inches. In regions where heavy snowfalls can be depended upon, it may not be necessary to protect any of the above-named plants, but here and elsewhere, where winters are severe and the snowfall light, it is of the utmost importance to provide protection, or no success need be expected. Hammersmith is the best winter lettuce, and Round Leaf and Prickly Winter are two good varieties of spinach for fall sowing.

The beds of kale, corn salad, winter lettuce and winter spinach should be arranged side by side, and alongside of the parsnips and salsify, so as not to interfere with the plowing of the ground in fall and in spring. As some of the parsnips and salsify will be left in the ground to be dug at leisure in spring, it is best to have all these vegetables side by side, so that when the parsnips and salsify are dug, and the crop of kale, corn salad, etc., harvested, the whole ground can be plowed at once.

Before closing, a few words in regard to watering and transplanting may not prove amiss.

The best time for watering is in the evening. Though water may be given to the roots at any time, it should never be sprinkled on the foliage in the hot sun, as that causes brown spots or blisters where it comes in contact with the leaves. More injury than good results from beginning to water a plant, and then not keeping it up till the necessity ceases. As soon as the ground begins to get dry after watering, the soil should be stirred with the hoe. When you start to water a plant, do it thoroughly, so as to give the roots a soaking at every watering, or else do not water at all.

The main points to be regarded in transplanting, are handling the plant carefully, so as to injure the roots as little as possible, planting firmly and shading to prevent the sun from withering or scorching the leaves. It should be borne in mind, that it is not nature’s design that a plant should be transplanted, and we ought to show sympathy for a plant as well as for our fellow-creatures.

And now, having taken a walk with you through the kitchen garden, all I have further to say is, may you be favored with seasonable rain and sunshine, for, be it remembered, without the co-operation of the elements all our efforts are in vain.

INDEX.

Aromatic herbs, 176.

Artichoke, Globe, 175. Jerusalem, 175.

Asparagus, 40, 173. varieties of, 43. Barr’s Mammoth, 43. Conover’s Colossal, 43. Purple Top, 43.

Beans, 43. Bush Beans, 46, 180. Best of All Dwarf Bean, 46. Black Wax, 180. Burpee’s Perfection Wax, 44. Champion Bush Bean, 48. Early Valentine, 180. Golden Wax, 46, 180. Limas, 50. Dreer’s Improved Lima, 50. Extra Early Lima, 50. King of the Garden, 50. Pole Beans, Snap Varieties, 48, 185. Burpee’s White Zulu, 48. Dutch Case Knife, 186. Golden Wax Flageolet, 48. Large White Lima, 185. Lazy Wife’s, 48. Southern Prolific, 186. White Creaseback, or Best of All, 48, 186.

Beets, 51. varieties of, 52. Burpee’s Improved Blood Turnip, 54. Eclipse, 52, 187. Edmand’s Early Turnip, 52. Long Blood Red, 187.

Blackberries, 161. Gregg Black Cap, 161. Wilson, Jr., 161. Wilson’s Early, 161.

Borecole, 192.

Cabbages, 54. Early or Summer, 54, 181. Early varieties of, 61. Early Flat Dutch, 181. Early Jersey Wakefield, 61, 181. Early Summer, 61. Extra Early Etampes, 61. Extra Early Express, 61. Fottler’s Brunswick, 181. Vandergaw, 61. Late or Winter, 55. Late varieties of, 61. Burpee’s Surehead, 61, 187. Danish Ball Head, 63. Large Late Drumhead, 187. Late Flat Dutch, 187. Short-stem Drumhead, 63.

Cantaloupe, or Musk Melon, 69. varieties of, 72. Burpee’s Netted Gem, 72. Emerald Gem, 72. Montreal Green Nutmeg, 74.

Carrots, 67. varieties of, 67. Danvers Half-long Orange, 67. Early Very Short Horn, or Golden Ball, 68. Ox Heart, 68. Red Saint Vallery, 69. Short Horn, 67.

Cauliflower, 65, 181. varieties of, 66. Burpee’s Best Early, 67. Early Snowball, 66, 182. Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt, 66, 182.

Celery, 74, 189. varieties of, 80. Boston Market, 190. Crawford’s Half Dwarf, 190. Crimson or Red Celery, 82. Dwarf Golden Heart, 81. Golden Self-blanching, 81.

Celery, White Plume, 82.

Chicorée, 191.

Chives, 175.

Cold frames and hotbeds, 21.

Compost, 166.

Corn Salad, 192.