An old teaspoon
is a capital transplanter ; but it is Avorth Avhile to purchase for
a trifle a French transplanter, as it Avill amply repay its cost.
This instrument is not unlike a pair of sugar-tongs, Avith a
cheese scoop instead of the boAvl part. This scoop is sharp-
edged, and enters the ground easily. Then by pressing the
tongs the earth between the scoops is pressed together, and
the plant comes out absolutely unharmed. But Avhatever
means is taken to ensure the desired end — leaving the roots
undisturbed — it must be ensiu’ed ; for vegetables checked in
their groAvth Avill never recover themselves.
Insects. — Care is the best preservative. Soot and lime
does much, but kerosene oil is incomparably the best for
India. Tavo tablespoonsful rubbed up Avith some bahool gum-
Avater, and mixed Avith tAvo gallons of Avater, Avill, if sprinkled
over a seed-bed, keep aAvay most insects.
The folloAving list gives brief details of the best Avay to
raise most garden seeds : —
1. Artichokes (^Artichuk). — Sow in seed-beds in August.
.Soil lightened by leaf mould, sand, and enriched Avith
manure. Transplant when six inches high into prepared
places three feet apart. Manure again in January, and
Avater cojjiously. It is not necessary to soav seed Avhere
plants of a good sort already exist. In such cases strong
suckers about fifteen inches high should be cut out of the
old roots, taking care to choose those Avhich can be so cut
^3^ The Complete Indian
with plenty of young roots. These should be treated as
seedlings. Ihrive in salt soils, and will stand any quantity
ot manure.
2. Jerusalem Artichokes {Artipeacli) thrive in sandy light
soils well enriched. Plant the tubers in May like potatoes ;
ridges two and a half feet apart, tubers three inches deep.
Once in a garden it is difficult to eradicate them, but it is a
mistake to let them grow again from the small tubers left
behind in digging the crop. In England, big tubers are
selected and planted in rows for next year’s crop. This
might be done with advantage in India.
.3. Asparagus {l^allagas'). — Sow in drills in August, each
seed about two inches apart; soil highly manured. Trans-
plant in November to specially prepared beds. Dig a trench
at least four feet deeji, two feet wide, and fill up with alter-
nate layers of six-inch well-rotted coav manure, and eight
inche.s garden mould, until the bed is about six inches above
pie sui rounding level ; another trench may be dug alongside,
just leaving a water channel between. The last two layers
of earth and manure should be mixed, and the young plants
(or divided old roots) put in about eighteen inches apart. In
planting them a large shallow hole should be dug, and the
loots spread out carefully in every direction, the object being
to get the bed a network of shoot-bearing roots. The crown
of the plant should be two inches below the surface. The
beds must be kept free of weeds, o]ien, and neatly dressed to
two feet wide ; and twice a year top-dressings should be given.
As asparagus beds have to last for several years, it is well in
making them to work in a good quantity of ground bones,
as this is the most lasting of all manures. The results will
surprise those accustomed to the usual green tendrils called
“ pallagus ” by the mMi.
Page 93
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
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An old teaspoon
is a capital transplanter ; but it is Avorth Avhile to purchase for
a trifle a French transplanter, as it Avill amply repay its cost.
This instrument is not unlike a pair of sugar-tongs, Avith a
cheese scoop instead of the boAvl part. This scoop is sharp-
edged, and enters the ground easily. Then by pressing the
tongs the earth between the scoops is pressed together, and
the plant comes out absolutely unharmed. But Avhatever
means is taken to ensure the desired end — leaving the roots
undisturbed — it must be ensiu’ed ; for vegetables checked in
their groAvth Avill never recover themselves.
Insects. — Care is the best preservative. Soot and lime
does much, but kerosene oil is incomparably the best for
India. Tavo tablespoonsful rubbed up Avith some bahool gum-
Avater, and mixed Avith tAvo gallons of Avater, Avill, if sprinkled
over a seed-bed, keep aAvay most insects.
The folloAving list gives brief details of the best Avay to
raise most garden seeds : —
1. Artichokes (^Artichuk). — Sow in seed-beds in August.
.Soil lightened by leaf mould, sand, and enriched Avith
manure. Transplant when six inches high into prepared
places three feet apart. Manure again in January, and
Avater cojjiously. It is not necessary to soav seed Avhere
plants of a good sort already exist. In such cases strong
suckers about fifteen inches high should be cut out of the
old roots, taking care to choose those Avhich can be so cut
^3^ The Complete Indian
with plenty of young roots. These should be treated as
seedlings. Ihrive in salt soils, and will stand any quantity
ot manure.
2. Jerusalem Artichokes {Artipeacli) thrive in sandy light
soils well enriched. Plant the tubers in May like potatoes ;
ridges two and a half feet apart, tubers three inches deep.
Once in a garden it is difficult to eradicate them, but it is a
mistake to let them grow again from the small tubers left
behind in digging the crop. In England, big tubers are
selected and planted in rows for next year’s crop. This
might be done with advantage in India.
.3. Asparagus {l^allagas'). — Sow in drills in August, each
seed about two inches apart; soil highly manured. Trans-
plant in November to specially prepared beds. Dig a trench
at least four feet deeji, two feet wide, and fill up with alter-
nate layers of six-inch well-rotted coav manure, and eight
inche.s garden mould, until the bed is about six inches above
pie sui rounding level ; another trench may be dug alongside,
just leaving a water channel between. The last two layers
of earth and manure should be mixed, and the young plants
(or divided old roots) put in about eighteen inches apart. In
planting them a large shallow hole should be dug, and the
loots spread out carefully in every direction, the object being
to get the bed a network of shoot-bearing roots. The crown
of the plant should be two inches below the surface. The
beds must be kept free of weeds, o]ien, and neatly dressed to
two feet wide ; and twice a year top-dressings should be given.
As asparagus beds have to last for several years, it is well in
making them to work in a good quantity of ground bones,
as this is the most lasting of all manures. The results will
surprise those accustomed to the usual green tendrils called
“ pallagus ” by the mMi.