JUNE

To some extent the crops will now take care of themselves, and we may

consider the chief anxieties and activities of the season over. Our

notes, therefore, will be more brief. We do not counsel the cultivator

to 'rest and be thankful.' It is better for him to work, but he must be

thankful all the same, if he would be happy in his healthy and

entertaining employment. Watering and weeding are the principal labours

of this month, and both must be pursued with diligence. But ordinary

watering, where every drop has to be dipped and carried, is often

injurious rather than beneficial, for the simple reason that it is only

half done. In such cases it is advisable to withhold water as long as

possible, and then to give it in abundance, watering only a small plot

every day in order to saturate the ground, and taking a week or more to

go over a piece which would be done in a day by mere surface dribblings.



Asparagus should be in full supply, and may be cut until the middle or

end of the month. When cutting should cease depends on the district. In

the South of England the 14th is about the proper time to make the last

cut; north of the Trent, the 20th may be soon enough; and further north,

cutting may be continued into July. The point to be borne in mind is

that the plant must be allowed time to grow freely without any further

check, in order to store up energy for making robust shoots next year.

It is a good plan to insert stakes, such as are used for Peas, in

Asparagus beds, to give support to the green growth against gales of

wind; for when the stems are snapped by storms, as they often are, the

roots lose their aid, and are weakened for their future work.



Beans, both Dwarf and Runner, may be sown about the middle of the

month, to supply tender pods when those from the early sowings are past.

A late crop of Runners will pay well almost anywhere, for they bear

until the frost cuts them down, which may not happen until far into

November.



Broccoli.--- Take advantage of showers to continue planting out.



Cabbage.--Towards the end of the month sow a good breadth of small

Cabbages and Coleworts. They will be immensely valuable to plant out as

the summer crops are cleared away.



Capsicums may be planted out in a sunny sheltered spot.



Cauliflowers that are transferred now from seed-beds must have

plentiful supplies of water, and be shaded during midday for a week.

When the heads are visible it is customary to snap one of the inner

leaves over them for protection.



Celery to be planted out without loss of time, in showery weather if

possible; but if the weather is hot and dry, shade the plants and give

water. The work must be well done, hence it is advisable to lift no more

plants than can be quickly dealt with, for exposure tends to exhaustion,

and Celery ought never to suffer a check in even the slightest degree.

When planted, dust lightly with soot or wood-ashes. Pea-sticks laid

across the trenches will give shade enough with very little trouble.



Chicory.--This wholesome esculent is used in a variety of ways, and is

very much prized in some households. The blanched heads make an

acceptable accompaniment to cheese, and are much appreciated for

salading; they may also be stewed and served with melted butter in the

same manner as Sea Kale. To grow large clean roots a deep rich soil is

required. If manure must be added, use that which is well decayed, and

bury it at least twelve inches, for near the surface it will produce

fanged roots. Prepare the seed-bed as for Parsnips, sow in drills twelve

inches apart, and thin the plants to nine inches in the rows. In October

the roots will be ready for lifting, preparatory to being packed in dark

quarters for blanching.



Cucumbers for Pickling may be sown on ridges.



Endive is not generally wanted while good Lettuces abound, but it

takes the place of Lettuce in autumn and winter, when the more delicate

vegetable is scarce. Sow in shallow drills six inches apart. Thin the

plants, and transfer the thinnings to rich light soil. They must be

liberally grown on well-manured land, with the aid of water in dry

weather.



Lettuce to be sown and planted at every opportunity. A few rows of

large Cos varieties should be sown in trenches prepared as for Celery,

there to be thinned and allowed to stand. They will form fine hearts,

and be valued at a time when Lettuces are scarce.



Melon.--For a final crop in houses sow as previously directed, and

grow the plants on in pots, until the house can be cleared of the former

set for their reception. The growth should be pushed forward to insure

ripe fruit before the end of September. In the event of dull weather at

the finish, there will be all the greater need of abundant but judicious

ventilation, and of a warm dry atmosphere at night. Before they become

heavy every fruit should have the support of nets or thin pieces of

board suspended by wires from the corners.



Mushrooms may be prepared for now. The first step towards success is

to accumulate a long heap of horse-droppings with the least possible

amount of litter. Let this ferment moderately, and turn it two or three

times, always making a long heap of it, which keeps down the

fermentation. When the fire is somewhat taken out of it, make up the bed

with a mixture of about four parts of the fermented manure and one part

of turfy loam, well incorporated. Beat the stuff together with the flat

of the spade as the work proceeds, fashioning the bed in the form of a

ridge about three feet wide at the base, and of any length that may be

convenient. Give the work a neat finish, or the Mushrooms will certainly

not repay you. Put in rather large lumps of spawn when the bed is nicely

warm, cover with a thin layer of fine soil, and protect with mats or

clean straw. This is a quick and easy way of growing Mushrooms, and by

commencing now the season is all before one. Nine times in ten, people

begin preparations for Mushroom growing about a month too late, for the

spawn runs during the hot weather, and the crop rises when the moderate

autumnal temperature sets in.



Onions to be sown for salading. Forward beds of large sorts to be

thinned in good time. The best Onions for keeping are those of moderate

size, perfectly ripened; therefore the thinning should not be too

severe.



Peas may still be sown, and as the season advances preference should

be given to quick-growing early varieties.



Turnips may be sown in variety and in quantity after Midsummer Day.

Sow on well-prepared ground, and put a sprinkle of artificial manure in

the drills with the seed. By hastening the early growth of the plant the

fly is kept in check.