THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

Storing of Culinary Roots.—Beetroot, being a rather tender root, should now be lifted and stored, and where the roots are still in the ground no time should be lost in getting them under cover, or some of them may be injured by frost. Carrots up to the present time have continued to grow, making early lifting unadvieable, especially as a few degrees of frost do not injure the roots. If the crop is to be stored in an outhouse they should be carefully drawn, adherent soil rubbed off, and the tops cut off about half an inch from the crown. As the Carrot is more likely to decgy than the Beetroot, more care becomes nocessary in storing them, and some dry earth should be used for separating the layers of roots. A carrot-heap may form a bank against a wall, or a cone standing free on the floor ; but in whatever fashion they are Btored, the tops ought to be uncovered, so as to permit of the leaves growing, as they then will do, a little. Carrots may be left in the ground and protected from frost by means of litter or bracken, especially if there is no wireworm in the land. A covering of three inches in thicknebs will be sufficient to preserve them safely in any ordinary wiuter, as if slightly frozen tbey take no harm when left covered whilst thawing. ' Salsafy aud Scorzonera may be lifted and stored as advised for Beetroot, although these root? retain their freshness and good quality much better when allowed to stand where they have grown, a portion of the crop being protected in severe weather in ihe same manner as advised for carrots. Jerusalem Artichokes. — Owing to the drought, these plants were very late in forming tubers, but they have made rapid growth since the rains, and the tubers are now sufficiently large for table use. It may be stated that, so long as the tops remain green, the tubers are increasing in size. £n any case, the roots should be left m the 1 ground and lifted as may be required. Sutton's White, of recent introduction, is a variety in every point superior to the old purple. Various. — The main crop Leeks should be well earthed up to facilitate the blanching of the stems, and being quite hardy plants, no other kind of protection from frost is needed. Celery, if sufficiently advanced in growth, should be moulded up high when the earth is dry enough to use for this purpose, the tops of the ridges being given a sharp slope to shoot off the rain. Celery heads which are full-grown may be^arthd4 so as to cover the leaf-stalks and a portion of the lower foliage.