Artichokes, Globe

The heads remaining, if any, should be cut off with a good length of stalk, that they may, if not required for immediate use, be placed in damp sand, in a good place; with this treatment they will remain good for a long time. The larger leaves may then be removed, and the ground dug in a sloping ridge over each row, covering the plants all but the very hearts for the winter.

Asparagus

Dung and leaves may be got together in preparation for another bed if a further supply is required for succession.

Beans, Broad

Sow on a south border, in a dry and sheltered quarter, in rows two to three feet apart, either the long pod or Mazagan, or both if required; or a few sown pretty close together, and protected with long litter, will be fit for transplanting in the spring. Any that are already up should have earth drawn to them for protection and support.

Cabbages

Never be without these, say we; but there are those who may consider two or three sowings in a year sufficient; rather let us have half-a-dozen from choice. It is the most useful of green vegetables; and, although there are particular seasons in which they flourish most, there are often vacant spaces which are better filled up than empty, both for appearance and use, and those plants which have not received a check are infinitely better than those which have been stunted in the seed-bed. Forward plants requiring earthing up should be attended to while the weather is favourable.

Carrots

Those who require a few young ones very early, may sow seed on a slight hot-bed at once.

Cauliflowers

Those which were planted according to last month's directions, in pots for protection, must be carefully watered and aired; young plants watched narrowly for slugs, and kept clear of weeds. Any in frames and under hand glasses must have all the air possible without risk, and be securely protected against sharp frost and heavy rain. The surface of the soil amongst all these plants should be regularly stirred, and a little dry dust sprinkled about them to prevent the green growth, which stagnant air at this season is almost sure to produce. Remove dead and dying leaves, and keep the glasses off night and day in very mild weather, but be prepared to return them at a moment's notice. Where the autumn sowing failed, a pinch or two of seed may be sown in a pan or box, and placed in heat to germinate; and as soon as the plants are large enough to handle, have them pricked out on a slight hot-bed.

Celery

The advanced crops may now be fully earthed up in dry and open weather, as well as those which have made some growth: this is necessary, lest frost set in all of a sudden.

Cucumbers

It is now time that a temporary seedbed was prepared for raising young plants for the hotbed; and for this purpose a one-light frame placed on a good heap of dung will be sufficient, provided the dung is forked up to the depth of a foot every alternate day until the heat has subsided sufficiently. The seed may then be sown in pots, and the pots plunged in the bed. As soon as the plants have two rough leaves pot off two in a forty-eight sized pot, and treat them afterwards as directed in October.

Endive

Blanch as required by placing a slate or board upon them, or tying up, if you prefer it. Such plants as you wish to preserve should be taken up at once and planted in a frame; or, if there be none at liberty, any protected situation, such as the corner of a shed, or outhouse, will do. Here they can be blanched when wanted, just as well as in the open ground.

Herbs

Chervil, mint, and tarragon may be had now in perfection by potting up a few roots, and placing them in gentle heat.

Mushrooms

This is the best season for collecting horse-droppings for the construction of spring beds, which will shortly have to be made up. Established beds should be exposed to the sun and air on a mild, dry day, but be covered up again in the afternoon. If, on uncovering, you find the material wet, it must be replaced by fresh, dry straw. Beds out of doors should be protected from frost and rain by an extra covering of clean, dry straw, and over this a mat or two for the purpose of carrying off the water.

Onions

The August-sown should be frequently-hoed, for the purpose of keeping them entirely free from weeds; besides which, by loosening the soil, the bulbs get more air and more room to swell.

Parsley

As this is an herb always in request, and very susceptible to injury from frost and snow, if very heavy, it will be policy to cover a certain portion with hoops and mats, to protect it; but as this means of pro-tection occasionally fails a safer plan will be to take up a few roots, pot them off, and plant them in gentle heat.

Peas

Some of the earlier kinds may be sown to succeed those sown last month, for the chance of a crop; and any that are up and doing-well should have a little earth drawn over them, with a layer of sand over that, as protection from slugs and frost.

Potatoes

Those in pits must be examined occasion-ally, and where they show no symptoms of disease or fermentation they may be finally earthed up; but if-there be any doubtful ones, it will be necessary to sort them over previous to doing so. Any stored in a heap must be likewise carefully looked over and the injured tubers extracted. A few of the early frame or ash-leaved kidney may now be planted in a slight hot-bed for an early crop.

Radishes

A small sowing may be made in slight heat, to succeed that sown last month, for an early supply. The sorts then recommended will be as good as any for sowing now.

Rhubarb

This may be either forced in the open ground by the aid of dung and leaves, or a few roots may be potted and placed in any structure where sixty degrees of heat can be maintained, for succession.

Sea-Kale

Keep up a succession by similar means to that recommended for rhubarb; it is a vegetable of which you cannot well have too great a supply.

Winter Spinach

It is a common practice with many to pull this crop by handfuls, than which there cannot be a greater mistake, as by so doing the smaller plants get torn up, whereas if each leaf be picked singly the old plants will last much longer, and the young ones attain their full size by the time the former are over.

Words Of Advice

Let the weather be what it may, employment of some kind can always be found; for instance, in frosty weather manure may be wheeled on the ground ready to be dug in as soon as a thaw takes place; in wet weather indoor jobs can be seen to, such as making labels, sorting pea and bean sticks into their various lengths, cleaning seeds, etc, and last, not least, litter, mats, and other protecting materials may be got in readiness for using in cases of emergency. Many a pound has been saved by having these appliances close at hand when a sudden change of weather has taken place. It is also a very good time to collect manures, soils, sand, clay, loam, turves to rot into mould, peat earth, and the droppings of horses and sheep, cow-dung, and other fertilizing subjects too numerous to mention, for the production of vegetables of all kinds.