If). Tomatoes {Beldlee Baingini) thrive splendidly. Sow in
June, July, and August in seed-beds, and transplant when
two inches high into well-manured beds. Thence they may
be removed when six inches high to the oj)en ; plant in rows
about two feet ajiart, or what is better, make ridges two feet
broad and plant on either edge. As the j)lants grow, bend
branches or bamboos across the ridge like hoojjs, and train
the tomatoes against them. Any attemjit to stick tomatoes
Housekeeper and Cook 141
at a later period will i-esult in snapping off the best shoots,
while the fruit will never grow so well when the plant is
prostrate. Get the best seed for tomatoes ; they are worth it.
20. Tiiniips (Siilgam) require a light soil, and do well
where other vegetables would starve. Sow in drills, and weed
out to six inches apart; the weedings, if carefully planted, do
very well in India.
21. Parsley (Petercelli), SfC. — Parsley may be kept in pots
all the year round, and the curled varieties are really pretty
in the verandah. Always have parsley, thyme, and marjoram
amongst the pot-plants, and, if possible, chervil. Omelets
and salads will gain thereby.
Tlie following is a brief calendar for the kitchen garden,
beginning with July, when the first English seeds should be
put down.
July. — Sow first sowings of the cabbage tribe, also celery
and tomatoes. Continue sowings of hot-weather vegetables,
and sow Cape gooseberry and roselle. Bud orange tribe, also
roses, including peaches, plums, &c. Manure and earth uji
Jerusalem artichokes.
August. — Continue sowing cabbage tribe. Sow artichokes,
asparagus, and tomato. Begin trial sowings of lettuce, spinach,
,and beetroot ; also, if the season is favourable, a row or two
of peas may be put in a sheltered spot.
September is a very busy month. Regular sowing of radishes
should be commenced, also mustard and cress, &c. Towards
the middle of the month the whole first crop of peas, turnips,
carrots, beetroot, onions, spinach, &c., should be in the ground,
and from this, time fortnightly sowing should go on till the
middle of December. Roses should be pruned in the last
week of September, and strawberry plants put out.
October. — Every kind of English seed may now be sown,
and the gardener needs to be at work all day to keep pace
with the growth of his seedlings and get them into the
ground. Irrigation must be constant, and plentiful food given
to the young plants in the way of manure. It is also the
season for making up the paths and trimming the garden
generally. If help is wanted, October is the month for the
extra coolie. Sow barley for cattle.
November. — Sowings as before, and careful thinning out of
l)eetroots, carrots, and turnij)s. In tlie middle of the month
142
The Complete Indian
cease watering fruit trees and lay open the roots. Put down
rose cuttings and tliose of the orange tribe. Sow barley for
cattle.
Dcccmber.—Vens, turnips, and lettuce may still be sown
till the middle of the month, but the germination will be
slow. Figs, grapes, peaches, &c., should be pruned, and the
open roots, exposed last month, covered in with manured soil.
This should be done at the very end of the month.
January. — Sow cucumbers and squashes in hot-beds for
early crop, and continue sowings of radishes, cress, and small
turnips. Water and manure well towards end of the month
to stimulate spring growth.
Page 97
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
19. Tomatoes (Beldlee Baingini) thrive splendidly. Sow in June, July, and August in seed-beds, and transplant when two inches high into well-manured beds. Thence they may be removed when six inches high to the open ; plant in rows about two feet apart, or what is better, make ridges two feet broad and plant on either edge. As the plants grow, bend branches or bamboos across the ridge like hoojjs, and train the tomatoes against them. Any attempt to stick tomatoes
Housekeeper and Cook 141
at a later period will result in snapping off the best shoots, while the fruit will never grow so well when the plant is prostrate. Get the best seed for tomatoes ; they are worth it.
20. Turnips (Sulgam) require a light soil, and do well where other vegetables would starve. Sow in drills, and weed out to six inches apart; the weedings, if carefully planted, do very well in India.
21. Parsley (Petercelli), SfC. — Parsley may be kept in pots all the year round, and the curled varieties are really pretty in the verandah. Always have parsley, thyme, and marjoram amongst the pot-plants, and, if possible, chervil. Omelets and salads will gain thereby.
Tlie following is a brief calendar for the kitchen garden, beginning with July, when the first English seeds should be put down.
July. — Sow first sowings of the cabbage tribe, also celery and tomatoes. Continue sowings of hot-weather vegetables, and sow Cape gooseberry and roselle. Bud orange tribe, also roses, including peaches, plums, &c. Manure and earth up Jerusalem artichokes.
August. — Continue sowing cabbage tribe. Sow artichokes, asparagus, and tomato. Begin trial sowings of lettuce, spinach, and beetroot ; also, if the season is favourable, a row or two of peas may be put in a sheltered spot.
September is a very busy month. Regular sowing of radishes should be commenced, also mustard and cress, &c. Towards the middle of the month the whole first crop of peas, turnips, carrots, beetroot, onions, spinach, &c., should be in the ground, and from this, time fortnightly sowing should go on till the middle of December. Roses should be pruned in the last week of September, and strawberry plants put out.
October. — Every kind of English seed may now be sown, and the gardener needs to be at work all day to keep pace with the growth of his seedlings and get them into the ground. Irrigation must be constant, and plentiful food given to the young plants in the way of manure. It is also the season for making up the paths and trimming the garden generally. If help is wanted, October is the month for the extra coolie. Sow barley for cattle.
November. — Sowings as before, and careful thinning out of beetroots, carrots, and turnips. In tlie middle of the month
The Complete Indian
cease watering fruit trees and lay open the roots. Put down rose cuttings and those of the orange tribe. Sow barley for cattle.
December.—Peas, turnips, and lettuce may still be sown till the middle of the month, but the germination will be slow. Figs, grapes, peaches, &c., should be pruned, and the open roots, exposed last month, covered in with manured soil. This should be done at the very end of the month.
January. — Sow cucumbers and squashes in hot-beds for early crop, and continue sowings of radishes, cress, and small turnips. Water and manure well towards end of the month to stimulate spring growth.