Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/141

 absence of moisture the plants will be destroyed by the heat and drought. There are also the

But both of these are subordinate to the Water Cress in every character, and our pages may be occupied with more useful subjects.

these few pages I have endeavored to inculcate upon the student the benefit of being always in time with a crop. Never delay doing to-day, in the hope of having more time to-morrow. Do it at once, if it can be done. Gardeners have not a moment to spare——unoccupied ground, weeds, hoeing, raking, sowing, reaping, digging—preparing poles, rods, stakes, manure, and many other duties, demand his attention at all times. We have never seen a good gardener who did not feel it a pleasure to be in advance of these wants. Get once behind, lose time, and it is hard to make up. Sow early in the season, and if you fail you have time for a second trial; whereas, if you sow late and miss your crop, the opportunity of recovering the loss is gone with it. Sow before or just after rain, but never when the ground is wet. Beware of sowing deep, or in dry weather, or on dry ground. If this cannot be avoided, soak your seeds in water a few hours, sow them, and then water the ground freely. 👉 Gardeners never sleep when the sun is up.