Ibsl. 



CALENDAR. 



47 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



In January, for the last two seasons, 

 ground was (as is often the case at 

 this time of year) sodden, and, in 

 many cases, frozen and covered with 

 snow ; therefore no ground work could 

 be advanced except draining, and that 

 was somewhat profitless, from the 

 difficulty of clearing snow and frozen 

 surface before the work could be pro- 

 ceeded with. Nevertheless, the opera- 

 tion is always an important one, and 

 if a fall from the ground can be had 

 at all, there is little difficulty in mak- 

 ing efficient drainage. Where ground 

 is damp and flat, it is well to see to 

 the means of clearing off stagnant 

 water. If a ditch is the receptacle, 

 let it be clear of vegetation, mud, or 

 other obstacles, so that the water may 

 run clear to its destination. We refer 

 to these points, because it often oc- 

 curs that drains are well laid, but by 

 ditches filling, a "back water" is 

 caused, and much mischief ensues. 

 We had to deal with a case of this kind 

 on an old place two years ago, and 

 woods, shrubberies, and kitchen-garden 

 suffered materially. Fruit-trees were 

 dying piecemeal ; but a clearance of 

 the ditches made a great difference in 

 a short time. Where there is stagnant 

 water, one can seldom' calculate on a 

 successful supply of vegetables during 

 the winter, and now is the proper time 

 to judge of the requirements of the 

 ground in this respect. The value 

 of the soil should be tested by its 

 depth, and drains made accordingly. 

 3 to 4 feet is the usual depth; and 

 seldom can one deal with sodden 

 ground with drains much wider apart 

 than 20 feet. Hard ashes from fac- 

 tories may be used, where clay pre- 

 dominates, and several inches nicely 

 placed over the pipes to prevent them 

 filling by rain washing in the clay at 

 the joints. Where drains are formed 

 among trees and shrubs, it is well to 

 use socket-pipes, and the ends should 

 be dipped in tar in process of laying 

 them — the tar to be kept boiling. 

 This makes a suitable preventive of 

 the roots filling the pipes and stopping 

 them. They (the roots) turn from 

 the tar in search of more congenial 

 food. 



When weather is suitable, trench 

 or dig up ground to the action of the 

 weather as it may seem necessary. 



Avoid treading on wet surfaces : there 

 ought to be plenty of work in the 

 store -yard, when it is unsuitable 

 to tread the ground. Trimmings of 

 hedges may be burnt ; stakes for Peas, 

 &c., may be made ; composts may be 

 turned and prepared ; manure may be 

 turned likewise, and, to increase its 

 quality, turf, siftings of ashes, soot, 

 road - scrapings, and other material, 

 may be mixed with it. Potatoes may 

 be overhauled, clearing out any which 

 are decaying. Roots which are stored 

 may be examined. Onions and every 

 other vegetable in store should not be 

 left to themselves. Everything being 

 in order, one can use all energy in pre- 

 paring the ground and gathering in 

 the necessary crops, unimpeded, when 

 the time arrives. Manure may be 

 wheeled during frosty weather, but 

 it should not be turned into the ground 

 at random. Potatoes, Beet, Parsnips, 

 and Carrots do well on land which has 

 been properly prepared with manure 

 for other crops the previous season. 

 Trenching the soil is a good prepara- 

 tion for such crops the forthcoming 

 season. The south border for early 

 croj3s, which require shelter, should 

 now be in readiness, by well digging 

 and breaking the soil : leaf-mould and 

 sand may be serviceable in preparing 

 the soil for seeds or plants. Peas and 

 Broad Beans may now be sown. They 

 do well sown on the surface and the 

 soil drawn over the seed : red-lead or 

 furze will keep mice and rats at bay. 

 Soot and lime, mixed with dry and 

 fine ashes, is suitable for dusting 

 surfaces to keep slugs off. This may 

 be strewed between all crops — Lettuce 

 and Cabbage especially. Cauliflowers 

 in frames require abundance of air : 

 a pan may be sown in light soil for 

 succession, and brought on cool and 

 airy ; so may also Cabbage and Let- 

 tuce. Coddling defeats the object of 

 earliness and hardiness. Horse-radish 

 may be dug up and placed in sand, 

 and ground well prepared by trenching 

 and manuring for planting a fresh 

 supply. If pieces of the roots are put 

 down about 12 inches to 16 inches 

 deep, they will come up strong and 

 useful. Spinach and every other crop 

 should be clear of weeds, and have 

 fine open surfaces. Parsley now re- 

 quires special attention ; a portion, 



