182 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTUR*E. 



Sow spring wheats on turnip lands cleared of 

 the roots ; and on dry warm lands sow early peas, 

 rye, and beans. Sow barley or here, and spring 

 vetches, on leys and stubbles, and the seeds of 

 cabbages on well-prepared beds or border grounds, 

 to raise plants for the fields in May or June. 

 Plough leys and slubbles during fresh weather ; 

 and during frosts carry dung, earths, stones, and 

 fuels, as may be required; carry stones to drains 

 and to roads. 



Continue the feeding of live stock as directed 

 last month. Oilcake will now begin to be used ; 

 it much hastens fattening, and greatly improves 

 the quality of the dung. Break or bruise the 

 cake, and place it in troughs. Oats and salt are 

 beneficially used with it. 



Remove all turnips from the fields without delay. 



Flood watered meadows, and lay dung on grass- 

 lands during fine weather; bush-harrow and roll 

 the surface during dry weather, and pick oft' by 

 hand any stones or rubbish that would impede the 

 scythe. Repair fences and gates, spread mole- 

 hills, and all tufts of dung on grass-lands. 



Dig hop-grounds, open the hills, and apply 



strong manures, as the best rotten farm-yard dung, 

 rags, composts of lime and earths, and salt ; all 

 oleaginous subsj;ances answer well. Dress the 

 roots, and cut off the shoots for sets. 



Continue the thrashing of grains, as the straw 

 is required, and sell and deliver the corns ; follow 

 without intermission draining and subsoil plough- 

 ing. 



Plant all kinds of useful forest trees, as oak, ash, 

 elms, and birch. Set osiers in beds and in rows 

 on low damp grounds ; lay the beds dry by means 

 of open dividing ditches, and dig the grounds one 

 year before planting. Cut underwoods and fell 

 timber trees during the whole month, and plash 

 and repair old hedges, and plant new ones in moist 

 weather. 



Never cease to collect manures of every kind, 

 and in all shapes and forms. Earthy substances 

 mixed with decaying vegetables will never in any 

 case disappoint the farmer ; a compost heap for 

 the reception of all such articles is a most indis- 

 pensable requisite on every farm, be it large or 

 small in extent. 



CALENDAR OF GARDENING. 



Dung and leaves, or leaves only, are excellent 

 manure for raising early asparagus and potatoes. 

 Withered grass is mixed with the leaves, and forms 

 a valuable dung for early crops. The weather, 

 although often very cold and showery, with snow, 

 hail, and sleet, becomes milder, and allows the 

 operations of spade and fork during many fine 

 intervals. Peas, beans, carrots, parnsnips, onions, 

 and beetroot, may be sown in grounds prepared 

 during autumn in the effectual manner before 

 described. 



Asparagus plots are placed on grounds dug 

 three feet deep, and dry by draining. The beds 

 three yards wide, in four double rows, and the 

 rows of plants are a foot apart, and an alley between 

 them and at each end; the entire space is 18 feet, 

 the length of the beds being arbitrary. A good 

 natural ground needs not any mending ; an inferior 

 underground must be mixed with turfy loam and 

 farm-yard dung, which raise the beds in height, 

 and left to settle till Lady-day. 



A similar pi-eparation provides for seakale, arli- 

 chokes, and rhubarb, which all remain fruitful for 

 several years. 



Sow twice, or oftener, spring spinach, lettuce, 

 salads, radish ; and at the end of the month sow 

 carrots, onions, leeks, and some early cabbages. 



Of parsley sow a full crop as edgings or in 



beds : sow annually, though the plant lasts for two 

 years. Sow fancy plants, as salsafy, borage, bur- 

 net, angelica, and chervil ; and sow most herbs 

 late in the month, as thyme, hyssop, marjoram, 

 and savory. 



Prepare good soil for garlic and shallots. 



Prune gooseberries and currants, retaining the 

 best young wood, and pruning well to produce 

 large clusters of fruit. Retain about six canes to 

 a raspberry-bush, and collect them neatly into a 

 top. Lay dung on the surface of the ground with- 

 out digging, and remove any wandering suckers. 



Prune well fruit trees, and finish with pears and 

 apple espaliers. 



Strawberries . Plant beds and borders on deep 

 new ground, as Keen's early kind, Queens as 

 mediums, and Eltons for the latest supply. 



Flowers : Sow annuals on rich light soils, with 

 leaf-mould and rotten cow-dung ; the hardier 

 roots, as convolvulus, lupins, sweet-pea, Venus' 

 looking-glass, dwarf lichens, and candytuft. 



In fine dry weather in the end of the month, 

 spread over the beds a thin dressing of fresh 

 virgin earth, rotten cow-dung, or leaf-soil. More 

 effectually renew the beds a foot deep with good 

 fresh earth every year. Nothing equals fresh soil 

 for such purposes. 



