about lifting even the earliest of the potatoes. It is true that in these days " new potatoes " as a change do stern specially attractive; but in another few weeks there will be an appreciable increase in size. The caches should be lifted just as required, no more than that. They do not keep sound for long. A marketgardener's practice may be of interest to many readers. When the early potatoes are nearly ready 10 lift, runner bean seeds are sown along some of the rows. When the potatoes are all gone the seedlings are well established, and extend the season very well.
Runner beans at all times like a moist root-run. Mulching round the plants (but not enough to smother them) with lawnonowings is vary useful. This conserves moisture and through the agency of worms adds humus to the soil. Any lawn mowings not used in some such way should be mixed with coarser plant waste and weeds to build up a good supply of humus for the winter digging. A compost heap should contain a rich variety of plant waste, with thin layers of earth (and manure, if you can get it) about every six or nine inches. If your compost is well made, you need have no fear of the recurrence of weed seeds, which are destroyed by the heat of putrefaction. There is no smell about a well-made heap.
Old compost is also ideal for putting about the roots of tomato plants now, especially those in pots with swelling fruits. Tomatoes always benefit by a loose mulch round the base. you will soon see the plant put out new roots into it.
MORE SAVOURY PLANTINGS
Celery and leek plants which have spent all or most of their time outdoors will now be nice little fellows for planting out in their permanent
places. Both these vegetables like a rich soil, and rather a good supply of moisture. In fact, celery is a marsh plant. It is a good idea for both of these to dig out a trench if your soil is inclined to be poor, and incorporate into the bottom plenty of old manure or humus well mixed with the soil. After this has settled, the plants can be set out. Celery rows (two per trench) can be eighteen inches apart and the plants about nine inches in the rows. You do not fill in the trench till much later. The same rules apply to leeks, except that on good soil it is possible to plant them by means of a (libber. A hole about nine inches deep is made, and the little plant has the roots carefully tucked away at the bottom under a little earth well firmed. Do not fill in the hole. Pour a little water in. If you use this method, have plants about a foot apart each way. Plenty of space and good feeding certainly pay.
If you have trenches it will probably be necessary to have an intervening space of about two to three feet which can be sown with lettuces, summer spinach, or early peas.
Film
FOR THOSE IN PERIL EALING Studios has given us another sea story—this one about the men of the air-sea rescue service. Until I saw it I had only the vaguest idea what kind of work this service does. Now, after watching this thrilling reconstruction of a typical day's work I feel it is yet one more bit of the war that has come alive. True, the documentary-cum-fiction style may irritate those who like their films straight. But there is so much that is real and true in this one—so much genuine drama and suspense — that I can easily forgive the phoney bits of dialogue. The West End can't take this but it goes to the provinces. Theirs is the gain.—
(General Release.) G. C.