The Culture of Vegetables and Flowers From Seeds and Roots

Culture of Vegetables and
Flowers From Seeds and Roots,
The

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Culture of Vegetables and
Flowers From
Seeds and Roots, 16th Edition, by Sutton and Sons This eBook is for
the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Culture of Vegetables and Flowers From Seeds and Roots,
16th Edition
Author: Sutton and Sons
Release Date: July 7, 2005 [EBook #16232]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
CULTURE OF VEGETABLES ***

Produced by Paul Murray, Janet Blenkinship and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS FROM SEEDS

AND ROOTS
BY
SUTTON AND SONS READING
SIXTEENTH EDITION
LONDON
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO; LTD.
1921
All rights reserved
PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE, BALLANTYNE AND CO. LTD.
LONDON, COLCHESTER AND ETON

Contents
THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 1
A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 151
THE ROTATION OF CROPS IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 198
THE CHEMISTRY OF GARDEN CROPS 202
ARTIFICIAL MANURES AND THEIR APPLICATION TO
GARDEN CROPS 210
THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 216
THE CULTURE OF FLOWERING BULBS 317
FLOWERS ALL THE YEAR ROUND 355

THE PESTS OF GARDEN PLANTS (=illustrated=) 414
THE FUNGUS PESTS OF CERTAIN GARDEN PLANTS
(=illustrated=) 434
THE FUNGUS PESTS OF CERTAIN FLOWERS (=illustrated=) 447
INDEX 453

THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES
Horticulture has a full share in the progressive character of the age.
Changes have been effected in the Kitchen Garden which are quite as
remarkable as the altered methods of locomotion, lighting and
sanitation. Vegetables are grown in greater variety, of higher quality,
and are sent to table both earlier and later in the season than was
considered possible by gardeners of former generations.
When Parkinson directed his readers to prepare Melons for eating by
mixing with the pulp 'salt and pepper and good store of wine,' he must
have been familiar with fruit differing widely from the superb varieties
which are now in favour. A kindred plant, the Cucumber, is more
prolific than ever, and the fruits win admiration for their symmetrical
form.
The Tomato has ceased to be a summer luxury for the few, and is now
prized as a delicacy throughout the year by all classes of the
community.
As a result of the hybridiser's skill modern Potatoes produce heavier
crops, less liable to succumb to the attacks of disease, than the old
varieties, and the finest table quality has been maintained.
Peas are not what they were because they are so immensely better.
While the powers of the plant have been concentrated, with the result
that it occupies less room and occasions less trouble, its productiveness
has been augmented and the quality improved. All the pulse tribe have

shared in the advance, and a comparison of any dozen or score of the
favourite sorts of Peas or Beans grown to-day with the same number of
favourites of half or even a quarter of a century since will at once prove
that progress in horticulture is no dream of the enthusiast.
Among the Brassicas, such as Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage and
Cauliflower, a series of remarkable examples might be mentioned; and
roots such as Beet, Carrot, Onion, Radish and Turnip afford other
striking instances of improvement. Salads also, including Celery,
Chicory, Endive and Lettuce, have participated in the beneficial change
and offer a large choice of dainties, adapted to various periods of the
year. Indeed it may be truly said that none of the occupants of the
vegetable garden have refused to be improved by scientific crossing
and selection.
The vegetables which are available for daily use offer a wide and most
interesting field to the expert in selecting and hybridising. For past
achievements we are indebted to the untiring labours of specialists, and
to their continued efforts we look for further results. Whether the future
may have in store greater changes than have already been witnessed
none can tell. One thing only is certain, that finality is unattainable, and
the knowledge of this fact adds to the charm of a fascinating pursuit.
Happily, innovations are no longer received with the suspicion or
hostility they formerly encountered. In gardens conducted with a spirit
of enterprise novelties are welcome and have an impartial trial. The
prudent gardener will regard these sowings as purely experimental,
made for the express purpose of ascertaining whether better crops can
be secured in future years. For his principal supplies he will rely on
those varieties which experience has proved to be suitable for the soil
and adapted to the requirements of the household