168 THE GARDENER. [April 



better than any other plants. Among bushes and fruit-trees the 

 ground may remain in its rough state, if not wanted for cropping, and 

 free from weeds. All this kind of work can be regulated according to 

 strength of labour. Before expending time in " keeping and dressing," 

 let the primary objects receive attention, which are the sowing of 

 seeds, planting, &c. However, when weeds show themselves, they 

 should be destroyed as early as possible ; it is economy to use the hoe 

 among them as soon as they can be seen above ground. It may be 

 necessary to weed with the hand among crops coming through the 

 soil ; the row^s can be gone over, and the spaces between them hoed 

 well; this is of great importance to the wellbeing of the crop, as well as 

 destroying the weeds. All paths, borders, and plots of ground should 

 now be gone over, and measured out to their size, taking the lengths 

 or widths from the walk-edgings. If borders are round the sides of 

 the walks for fruit-trees, &c., it is necessary to have narrow paths to 

 divide them from the vegetable plots, as well as to walk round 

 without treading upon either. Espaliers, when well managed, are of 

 a double service, by giving crops of fruit, and separating the vegetables 

 from the flower-borders. Nothing can be more distasteful to the eye 

 than to see borders of flowers, however beautiful and well kept, with 

 untidy vegetable ground immediately behind them. Shrubs of an 

 ornamental character are the best plants to use as a screen ; but Sweet 

 Peas, Scarlet Runners, or trained Roses, answer w^ell, though they do 

 not improve the appearance of the borders, there being no relief to the 

 eye. All growing crops require to have the hoe or fork freely among 

 them, keeping the surfaces open and healthy. Where drills were 

 drawn before planting Cauliflower and Cabbage, the hoe passed care- 

 fully among the plants will place the soil around their stems, and 

 act as a gentle earthing-up. On dry sandy soils a little manure or 

 leaf-mould, placed round each plant before hoeing, will be of great 

 service in aiding vigorous growth, and help to prevent premature 

 buttoning. Potato-planting should be brought to a close. When 

 the ground is well prepared and in a loose state, a strong dibbler for 

 planting them will get through the work speedily. Deeply -drawn 

 drills and a coating of leaf-mould placed in them is a good practice 

 when planting, especially for the Kidney kinds. To have them fine for 

 exhibition, planting widely apart, and using fresh turfy soil, will be a 

 great help. Those grown under protection will require covering at 

 nights for some time to come, weather is so deceiving till the end of 

 May. If weather is wet, it will be much against the sowing of small 

 seeds, which must be sown this month ; every dry opportunity lost is 

 a fresh risk. The value of old dry soil, however poor, stored up for 

 covering seeds sown on uncongenial soils, is known to cultivators in 



