Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/41

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thick, broad-cast, or over the ground, if the weather be dry. Tramp in the seed with the feet; rake evenly and smoothly, and finish by giving the beds a gentle beat with the back of the spade. If drought continues, water them a few times, and they will be up in eight or ten days. Towards the end of October, the strongest plants of this sowing will be fit to plant out. Prepare some rich, well-dug ground; draw deep drills, eighteen inches apart, and dibble the plants one foot apart in the row, on the south or east side of the drills, so as the plants may have all the benefit of the Winter suns, and be sheltered by the tops of the drills from the north and north-west winds. After the frost sets in severely, lay straw thinly across the drills, which will fully protect the plants. On the approach of Spring, remove it; these plants will be ready for cutting eight or ten days carlier than those that have been kept in frames all Winter. The balance of the plants for the main crop must be protected in a cold frame, covered with boards or shutters, removable at pleasure. It may be made by any person, merely taking a few boards about one foot wide; stretch them along in any sheltered situation, to the extent that will hold the required plants of Cabbages and Lettuces (say twenty feet long and six feet wide, which will hold four thousand plants, which, after allowing a considerable portion for failing, will be enough for a large family): Sink in the ground short posts of cedar or locust at back and front, and nail firmly there-to sound boards of oak or pine, the board at the back one foot high, the one on the front six inches; this, when covered, will allow the rain to run off. Throw up the earth close round the outside of the frame, to keep the water from entering under the boards or among the plants. If they are kept wet during Winter they will die off, or what gardeners call "damp off." In fact, the dryer they are kept the more safe they will be. Give air in all clear weather during Winter. In severe frost they should remain covered all day, but expose them fully in mild weather. Take care that mice do not prey upon them