If this month should be warm, gardens, like fields, will reap advantage from such agreeable weather. The great advantage of having all things well forward before the short and colder days come round, are reasons which make fine weather specially desirable during the next two months. The "push" of labour will be well over - though seldom is there a scarcity of work in a well - managed garden. Thorough cleaning and surface - stirring should take place during this month, so that nothing in the way of weeds may escape detection. Allowing them to seed gives a store of extra labour for the next season. Where order cannot be maintained, extent of ground should be circumscribed, and all unnecessary ornate portions should be dispensed with : order and neatness should be specialities at the present time. No ground should be vacant an hour longer than is necessary to prepare it for crops.

Scarcity of labour-power is observable in most gardens at the present time; many which were conspicuous for order and good keeping are now notable for weeds and all that is objectionable. This being in the power of proprietors alone to avert, cultivators of such gardens can only complain or protest and struggle on - too often sharing the discredit while they are unblamable. The highly cultivated and fine crop - producing market - gardens stand out in many cases prominently as examples to be imitated, simply because it does not pay to attempt what cannot be well done. A field clean, orderly, and thoroughly cropped, is far more creditable than the walk divided, and prim-bordered kitchen - gardens in many cases clothed as much by weeds as good esculents, - thus making a burlesque of what was intended to afford pleasure, as well as to give good returns for labour expended.

Arrears in planting must now have attention. Where winter crops have been well pricked out, preparatory to transplanting, ground where Potatoes, early Onions, Peas, and Beans are removed, may be put in order at once for some of the Brassica class - Turnips, Spinach, or Lettuce - as demand may dictate. Draw drills for all things planted out; thoroughly water at first; draw some dry surface-soil over the newly watered portion, and - except in rare cases - no further watering is necessary : dribbling instead of a soaking means entire defeat of the object in view. When small seeds are to be sown, give the space a watering the night previous, and set to work sowing the following morning. The clearance of crops should not be left till the last portions are gathered; a littery appearance and delay are caused by such false economy. Market-men cannot be easily imitated by private growers in clearing off the crop - selling it, and manuring and cropping the ground the same day; still the opposite extreme may be avoided as far as possible. Artichokes should not be left on the plants to flower; better to cut them and put what are not required in the manure-heap than allow the plants to suffer.

Asparagus in full growth should not be allowed to become crowded : the plants to be forced are all the better for their purpose when they are kept thin. Broccoli may be planted from the store-beds or borders; but one must consider to what extent they are justified in planting this precarious crop, which has been so generally destroyed during the past three seasons. Stiff slowly grown plants are most likely to stand severe weather - and when planted on ground which has not been broken up for some time, they have a hardier constitution; but this, or laying them down in autumn, did not save many last year; and except those which came from the Channel Islands and Cornwall, the market supply was at a minimum for quantity or quality.

Cabbage may be planted in quantity for autumn supplies. Where those which had the heads cut from them are to stand for autumn and winter supplies, the plantation of successions are of less importance; but a brake of nice Coleworts or healthy young Cabbage in autumn has a fine appearance in a garden, and is very serviceable. Sow for next season's supply from middle to end of month. In southern localities a sowing in September is valuable. Cauliflower may be sown towards the end of month for early supplies. They are, when fit to handle, transplanted on firm ground, to be afterwards covered by a frame or other protection; but glass should not be used till the state of the weather makes it absolutely necessary. "Coddling" is often a greater destructive agent than absence of protection when plants have been prepared for it : shelter on a west or south border suits well in some localities. Celery should be earthed-up for early supplies. Give a soaking of manure-water, then follow it with a drenching of clean water overhead. Keep the hearts clean when earthing is going on, and the stems should be upright. Mulch lately planted lots; short grass answers when no better material is at hand. More may be planted : though it may not grow to large size, it will be firm and sweet, and very servicable.

Lettuce and Endive sow twice during the month. Thin and plant former sowings. A stock of Batavian Endive will be found a useful addition to the salads when good Lettuce is not easily had. The nutty flavour of Batavian Endive is generally appreciated, and the plants are very hardy. Onions may be sown from middle to end of month, according to locality. Some sow as late as September, but it is not safe to risk late sowings in late localities. The Onion crop is often ready to lift during this month, but seldom is it quite ready before September. Bulbs fully developed may be helped in the maturing process by twisting the necks - and we have known some to tread down the tops to prevent late sappy growth : by such aids to maturation the keeping of the crop is materially enhanced. Peas for growing under glass may be sown - dwarf kinds, of course. A quantity may be sown on an early border, and when well forward they can be protected with frames. In pits the same practice may be carried out, and the lights left off till the crop requires their aid. The same answers well with French Beans - only they are tender and require an amount of warmth later in the season.

Osborn's, Williams', and Newington Wonder are very suitable kinds for this purpose.

Spinach may now be sown in large breadths for winter and spring use. Prickly Spinach is the sort generally used for this purpose, but round Spinach is often found to stand well and be of much service. Sow both on deeply trenched well-manured ground. A quantity of old road-parings, turf, or other loose material, turned into the surface a spade deep, acts as drainage; and when all" gets consolidated in spring, the Spinach makes immense leaves of fine quality. Coal-ash sittings mixed with a little soot scattered over the newly sown surface acts as a preventive to vermin taking up their quarters. Spinach transplanted in September in well-prepared ground does well and is hardy. Potatoes may be lifted as soon as they are fit, and those wanted for seed may lie in the sun to become green. Get the ground speedily prepared for winter crops, - not a yard should be vacant at this season, except where ground is superabundant - then it may remain vacant.

It is no use cropping to waste the produce; and as to selling it, few would advise such a course. The requirements to carry on successful marketing are numerous, and only where ground can be treated on market principles can it give proper remuneration. Sow plenty of early stove Turnips and Carrots for drawing young. Make Mushroom-beds outside on spare ground. Thin and transplant Parsley. Remove coarse leaves so that a young stiff growth may be formed for winter. We never had better Parsley than during the past spring, and that was from crops severely trimmed last autumn. The Fern-leaved is exceedingly pretty and hardy. We always find it safe to save a quantity of seed from selected plants. Forced vegetables will now have to be considered, and a proper arrangement made with pits, etc, to keep up successions of French Beans, Potatoes, young Carrots, small salads, Radishes, etc. Protect at night any tender crop if frost should show itself.

M. T.