As noted previously, outdoor sowing must be guided by the weather and the state of the soil. Given fine weather and crumbly soil, early Peas, Broad Beans, Turnips, and Spinach may be sown out of doors. Celery, Cauliflowers, Cucumbers, Onions, Lettuces, and Carrots may be sown under glass. The last three will do in frames.

Cabbages For Spring

I have said that I would not give up the space of a very small garden to Cabbages, especially in the suburbs, but a few rows are undeniably useful in country gardens in spring. Growers generally raise them in summer, and plant them in autumn for spring crops. Those who have, or can procure plants now may put them out eighteen inches apart, and make them very firm. They will not be quite so early as those planted in autumn, but probably they will be early enough to be useful.

The Shallot

This cousin of the Onion is a useful crop to grow, especially if a home-grown pickle is in contemplation. It is cheap, it is tasty, it is easily grown. One may buy seed, but it is better to get bulbs, because seedlings will be of no culinary value until another year. Two pounds of bulbs will yield several pounds - perhaps the better part of a stone - by mid-summer. The actual yield depends upon the soil; it will be light in poor, dry, shallow ground; heavy in rich, moist, deep soil. Prepare it soon, by deep digging and manuring, and plant the bulbs nine inches apart in rows a foot asunder. They do not want covering with soil, but only making steady. In due course they will begin to grow, and will form a clump. The only cultivation that need be given is hoeing to keep down weeds.

The Underground Or Potato Onion

Here is a mild-flavoured, productive form of Onion that grows from bulbs like Shallots, bought and planted at the present time. It is a useful vegetable, but one rarely sees it except in cottagers' gardens.