Frames are seldom seen in India, though in the north
they are of immense use. The best way to make one is to
dig a pit six feet long by three broad and four deep. Fill it
Avith fresh stable manure up to three feet. With large (Avhat
are called D. P. W.) bricks build a loAv Avail round, about
seven inches high in front, and a foot at the back. One roAV
of bricks will do, set in mud. Make a movable framework
of bavd)oo-jdfri, or lattice-work, and thatch with grass. Water
the pit well, and Avhen hot, plunge the pots into the manure,
covering with the thatch at night. This Avill be sufficient to
induce vigorous groAvth to young seedlings, and to bring up
cucumbers. See. The Avriter once took half the floAver prizes
144 The Complete Indian
at a show by being three weeks in advance of otlier com-
petitors owing to these simple frames. The bricks can be
used over and over again.
Floiver Always sow them yourself, and use your
common-sense, remembering that most small seeds are better
for a glass over them till they germinate, and that they
require a very fine, sandy soil. Always date the labels, so
that you may know when to expect the seeds to come up.
Piick out into small pots as soon as possible, and again trans-
plant into single pots.
As a rule, a seedling is ready to prick into the first pots
when it has foui leaves, and into the second pots as soon as
it looks sturdy. Heartsease are the better for transplantation
every ten days. In regard to the special treatment of special
floweis, the authors can only refer the reader to a regular
manual on gardening. All that is aimed at here is to supply
sufficient information to enable some flowers to be grown
with a fair chance of success. Mdli-Jee will tell you that
seedlings are as well put straight from the seed pans into the
beds, and he certainly tells truth when he says they will not
die. Indeed, where the object is simply to have some sort of
blossom, his plan answers admirably ; but if the desire is to
grow blossoms good of their kind, anything likely to check
the growth must be avoided. In the quick soil of India,
under the vivifying sun, much may be left to nature, but in
that case the true gardening instinct remains ungratified, and
the grower feels no pride in the perfection of his plants.
The sowing time for English seeds varies immensely with
the latitude; but, roughly speaking, it is unwise to begin
sowings before August, or to continue them beyond October.
Flower seeds are best ordered in a separate box from the
vegetable seeds, which require to be opened out earlier.
The following brief calendar may prove useful, especially
in Northern India : —
July. — Trial sowings of acclimatised heartsease, gloxinias,
and begonias.
Augiuit. — Asters, heartsease, and cinerarias; also nastur-
tiums, Indian pinks, marigolds, and stocks.
September. — First half, trial sowings; second half, regular
sowings of most annuals, except larkspur, nemophila, lobelia.
October. — First half, sow every seed you jiossess.
Housekeeper and Cook
145
As a rule, it is best in July and August to give trial
sowings only, as much depends on the season.
Always transplant in the evening and shade next day if
neces.saiy.
The following annuals and plants grow well without any
trouble with good soil and water : —
1. Antirrhinum.
2. Alyssum.
3. Beilis pereunis.
4. Calendula.
5. Candytuft.
6. Ceutaurea.
Page 99
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
Frames are seldom seen in India, though in the north they are of immense use. The best way to make one is to dig a pit six feet long by three broad and four deep. Fill it with fresh stable manure up to three feet. With large (what are called D. P. W.) bricks build a low wall round, about seven inches high in front, and a foot at the back. One row of bricks will do, set in mud. Make a movable framework of bamboo-jhari, or lattice-work, and thatch with grass. Water the pit well, and Avhen hot, plunge the pots into the manure, covering with the thatch at night. This will be sufficient to induce vigorous groAvth to young seedlings, and to bring up cucumbers. See. The writer once took half the flower prizes
144 The Complete Indian
at a show by being three weeks in advance of other competitors owing to these simple frames. The bricks can be used over and over again.
Flower Always sow them yourself, and use your
common-sense, remembering that most small seeds are better for a glass over them till they germinate, and that they require a very fine, sandy soil. Always date the labels, so that you may know when to expect the seeds to come up. Prick out into small pots as soon as possible, and again transplant into single pots.
As a rule, a seedling is ready to prick into the first pots when it has four leaves, and into the second pots as soon as it looks sturdy. Heartsease are the better for transplantation every ten days. In regard to the special treatment of special flowers, the authors can only refer the reader to a regular manual on gardening. All that is aimed at here is to supply sufficient information to enable some flowers to be grown with a fair chance of success. Mdli-Jee will tell you that seedlings are as well put straight from the seed pans into the beds, and he certainly tells truth when he says they will not die. Indeed, where the object is simply to have some sort of blossom, his plan answers admirably ; but if the desire is to grow blossoms good of their kind, anything likely to check the growth must be avoided. In the quick soil of India, under the vivifying sun, much may be left to nature, but in that case the true gardening instinct remains ungratified, and the grower feels no pride in the perfection of his plants.
The sowing time for English seeds varies immensely with the latitude; but, roughly speaking, it is unwise to begin sowings before August, or to continue them beyond October. Flower seeds are best ordered in a separate box from the vegetable seeds, which require to be opened out earlier.
The following brief calendar may prove useful, especially in Northern India : —
July. — Trial sowings of acclimatised heartsease, gloxinias, and begonias.
August. — Asters, heartsease, and cinerarias; also nasturtiums, Indian pinks, marigolds, and stocks.
September. — First half, trial sowings; second half, regular sowings of most annuals, except larkspur, nemophila, lobelia.
October. — First half, sow every seed you jiossess.
Housekeeper and Cook
As a rule, it is best in July and August to give trial sowings only, as much depends on the season.
Always transplant in the evening and shade next day if necessary.
The following annuals and plants grow well without any trouble with good soil and water : —
1. Antirrhinum.
2. Alyssum.
3. Bellis perennis.
4. Calendula.
5. Candytuft.
6. Centaurea.