110 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the faecal deposits of birds and other animals, so that when you hear 

 of British and Italian guanos, your suspicions should be instantly 

 aroused, as it is evident that ho such deposits have occurred in the 

 places mentioned. Some dealers have the assurance to tell the 

 public that they can improve the Peruvian guano, and offer it as 

 Peruvian guano ivith ammonia partially fixed, wherehy its quality is 

 much improved. But some idea may be formed of the value of these 

 improvements when it is stated that the guano not so improved is 

 worth £13 per ton, but after it ia improved by the dealers it is only 

 worth £2 105. per ton. 



THE VILLA KITCHEN-GAEDEN.— No. X. 



BY J. C. CLAEKE, 

 Head Gardener at Cothelston House, near Taunton. 



[HE PAESNIP is a subject requiring a deep mellow soil, 

 and if rather heavy in nature and properly seasoned, 

 it is such a soil as will produce the best results. The 

 seed should be sown in drills, eighteen inches apart, in 

 March, or early in April ; the seed to be buried about 

 an inch beneath the surface, with some fine soil obtained from the 

 surface of the bed by frequent workings of the fork and rake. 

 Previous to sowing, all these kinds cf seed-beds are liable to have 

 the surface battered down by rain ; it is, therefore, necessary, as 

 soon as the seedlings have advanced sufficiently for the cultivator to 

 trace the lines of plants distinctly, to run the Dutch hoe between 

 the drills, so as to loosen up the soil between them. In June, when 

 they have grown to the height of three inches, they should be 

 thinned out to twelve inches apart from plant to plant. The only 

 after culture they require is to keep them free from weeds. There 

 is no necessity to dig the whole of them up in the autumn, as they 

 keep better 'in the ground, and may remain there until Eebruary, 

 when those not used may be taken up and stowed away in any out- 

 building where they will be safe from the air, the light, and the 

 frost. The best sort for gardens is the new Student, the next best is 

 the old Hollmv Croivn. The Jersey parsnips are not desirable. 



Peas. — The first sowing of these should be made on a dry south 

 border, as early in Eebruary as the weather will permit. Garter's 

 First Crojy, and Sangster's No. 1, are the best for the first sowing. 

 A second sowing should be made again in March. The best for 

 this crop is one of the larger kinds of Peas, such as The Champion 

 of England, which is a good second early Pea, or McLean's Wonder- 

 ful. If large Peas are in favour, sow at the same time either the 

 British Queen or Ne Fhis Ultra. These last two will be about 

 sixteen weeks coming into bearing, while the Champion of JEngland, 

 in ordinary seasons, will be in a high state of bearing in a fortnight 

 less ; so that, by sowing both together, they follow each other in use 

 in due order. It is from the want of understanding the characters of 



