Late Celery And Leeks

These may be planted in trenches. If the weather is dry, water and shade until the plants start growing afresh.

Disease In Potatoes

If wet, muggy weather should prevail in July, brown patches are likely to show on the leaves of the Potatoes, principally on the under side. If they spread, an offensive smell will be given off. Inasmuch as spraying with Bordeaux mixture (see Chapter I (Jan. The Opening Year).) actually encourages the growth of Potatoes, apart from its action in destroying the spores of fungi, growers should never hesitate to practise it. The mixture should be put on with a spraying nozzle, either fitted to a syringe for hand use or to a knapsack pump, as then it falls like dew and adheres. When applied through the rose of a water-can, it runs off again. Care should be taken to get the under side of the leaves coated. One application will suffice if the spell of wet weather is brief, but a second should be made if the weather continues muggy.

Potato Disease On Tomatoes

The Potato disease sometimes spreads to the allied plant - the Tomato. In this case the way is not quite so clear, as it is not desirable to spray Tomatoes when they are nearly ripe. While the fruit is quite small there is no harm, but at later stages an effort should be made to check the disease by pinching off the affected leaves and dusting the others with lime.

Planting Winter Greens

The planting of Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Savoys should be completed.

Caterpillars On Greens

Large white butterflies may be seen fluttering about green vegetables in summer, and as many of them as possible should be netted and killed to prevent their laying eggs, or there will be a bad attack of caterpillars. Every caterpillar that is noticed on the plants should be picked off and destroyed.

Fig. 55. - Potato Disease (Phytophthora).

a. Diseased portions of tuber.

b. Diseased leaves. c. Sound leaves.

d. Cuticle with a cluster of conidiophores.

e. Stomata. f. Spores. g. A conidium germinating.

Sowing Cabbages For Spring

Those folk - and they are numerous - who like to have a good bed of Cabbages in spring may sow a little seed towards the end of July. The soil should be well pulverised and moist. The drills may be drawn a foot apart and half an inch deep. Flower of Spring and Ellam's Early are almost equally good.

Solving Onions For Spring And Early Summer

It is common to make a sowing of Onions about this time, to yield young plants for spring salads, and to supply plants for forming early bulbs. In former days Flat Italian Tripoli and Giant Red Rocca were used for this purpose, but nowadays the Lemon (Golden) Rocca is preferred. A1 and Ailsa Craig may also be sown now.