182 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



stallion, has already led to a deal of talk about good horse- 

 flesh. Even, then, beyond mere racing purposes, " Euff 's 

 Guide" comes as a very welcome authority. As usual, it 

 has the fullest and most authentic intelligence on sport 

 past and prospective, with the pedigree of evei^ horse 

 that was ov^t last year, as well as the like information ou 



" the blood" of those coming oa. The work abounds in 

 Tables and Summaries, and "Lots" and Laws; and 

 breeders will find it a really " handy book." Like the 

 Shorthorn bull, the thorough-bred horse is the great im- 

 prover of his kind J and in " Eviflf " are written tUe records 

 of his race, 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sow spring wheats on turnip lands cleared of the 

 roots : and on dry warm soils sow oats, early peas, 

 rye, and beans. Sow barley on turnip lands, and 

 spring vetches on leys and stubbles, and the seeds 

 of cabbages on well-prepared beds or borders, to 

 raise plants to go to the fields in May and June. 



Plough leys and stubbles in fresh weather ; 

 during frosts carry dung, earths, stones, and fuels, 

 as may be required. Carry stones to drains and 

 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 along with it. 



Remove all turnips from the fields by the end of 

 the month, 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 off by 

 hand any stones or rubbish that would impede the 

 scythe. Repair fences and gates : spread molehills, 

 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 salts. All oleaginous 

 substances do well. Dress the roots, and cut off 

 the shoots for use. 



Continue the thrashing of grains, as the straw 

 is wanted, and sell and deliver the corns ; follow 

 without intermission draining, and the subsoil 

 ploughing of deep grounds. 



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

 elm, and larch. Set osiers in beds and in rows, 

 on low damp grounds. Lay the beds dry by means 

 of open dividing drains, and dig the ground one 

 year before planting. Cut underwoods and fell 

 timber trees during the whole month, and plant 

 and repair old hedges, and plant new fences during 

 moist weather. 



Collect manures of every kind, and in every 

 shape or form. Earthy matters mixed with de- 

 caying vegetable substances will never in any case 

 disappoint the farmer; a compost heap for the re- 

 ception of all such articles is a most indispensable 

 requisite on every farm, be it large or small in 

 extent. 



CALENDAR OE GARDENING. 



Prepare hot beds of small dung and vegetable 

 refuse, rakings of grass and leaves, for forcing 

 early crops, as asparagus and potatoes. Two 

 objects are obtained — the preparation of much 

 valuable manure, and the use of early crops and 

 fruits, that would not otherwise be got. 



The alternations of weather during this month, 

 in frosts, snows, thaws, and rains, permit the 

 operations of spade and fork in exposing the 

 ground during many fine intervals. Peas, beans, 

 carrots, parsnips, onions, and beet root may be 

 sown on grounds duly prepared in the autumn 

 management. 



Asparagus beds are formed three yards wide, 

 with four double rows,,twelve inches asunder, and 

 alleys between, and spaces on each side. The 

 ground must be deeply dug, and very richly 

 manured with the best farm-yard dung. Bone 

 dust, salt, and guano, and pounded chalk, may be 

 mixed in the beds, which are raised above the level 

 surface, and left to settle down till Ladyday. 



A similar preparation produces seakale, arti- 

 chokes, and rhubarb, and for many years in suc- 

 cession. 



Sow twice during the month, or oftener, spring 

 spinach, lettuce, salads, and radish, and at the end 

 onions, carrots, leeks, and some early cabbages, 



Sow parsley in edgings or in beds, in yearly suc- 

 cessions. Thyme and hyssop are also sown. 



Prepare the best loamy soils for garlic and 

 shallots. 



Fruit Garden. 



Prune gooseberry and currant bushes : the buds 

 will be breaking. Retain a quantity of young 

 wood, spuring but little. Currants require rigid 

 spurring, to produce the fruit in closer clusters. 

 Retain about six canes to each raspberry bush. 

 Cut the stems at the first bend, then collect and tie 

 them at the summit. Mulch over the ground 

 about the plants, but not dig the ground, and re- 

 move the wandering suckers. 



Plant strawberries in beds or borders of deep 

 ground, and use the kinds that are early, and also 

 for a succession. 



Flower Garden. 

 Sow the seeds of annual flowers in pots or pans 

 in fine loams and earths; and placed under pro- 

 tection—lupines, sweet pea, dwarf-lychnis, candy- 

 tuft, and navalwort, are good annuals: When 

 planted on open grounds, a covering of rotten dung 

 or fine earth may be laid over the beds as a cover- 

 ing, or renewed with fresh earths. But the com- 

 mon use seldom requires such applications, 



