i88i.] 



CALENDAR. 



2:tl 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



One of the driest months of March 

 we ever remember, and up to the 10th 

 of April, has passed. Though very 

 trying for both vegetable and animal 

 life, it certainly was in favour of 

 advancing work, and arrears in most 

 cases will be well brought forward. 

 Broccoli beiog early cleared off after 

 its destruction by frost, has given an 

 opportunity of getting extra space 

 cropped with Potatoes, or whatever 

 may be desired. Notwithstanding all 

 our fears, we observe most seeds 

 coming up. Strong clay land, which 

 has gone together like rock, and 

 cracked, has been dusted with line 

 soil, soot, and ashes, which will act 

 as protection from drought and slugs, 

 and stimulate the seedlings as well. 

 Insects and slugs must have every pre- 

 ventive used against them, as there 

 seems to be a great scarcity of birds to 

 clear them off, numbers having been 

 killed by the severity of the frost, 

 AVork of every kind will now increase ; 

 weeds especially will put in an unwel- 

 come appearance, and must be attacked 

 promptly, as destroying them when 

 young is easier than when they get 

 established in the ground. Let gar- 

 dening be ever so well done in other 

 respects, if slovenly and weedy, it may 

 be considered destitute of what is 

 most pleasant and attractive. It is 

 well to make sure that all crops are 

 vegetating, and if it is found that any 

 failures have taken place, make an 

 effort to meet the difficulty by sow- 

 ing at once : most things may yet be 

 sown or planted with tolerable suc- 

 cess. Onions may be begged from 

 any neighbour when their thinning 

 has taken place. They may be planted 

 well soaked with water, and when the 

 surface is dry enough, the hoe may 

 be run between the rows. One of the 

 best crops we ever ha.d was treated in 

 this way, the plants having travelled 

 miles, and been unduly delayed by rail. 

 Parsnips can be easily had in the same 

 way. Leeks and Parsley, which do 

 well when transplanted, can also be 

 raised easily from thinnings if one's 

 own seeds have failed. 



Frost during the period above re- 

 ferred to having ranged from 8° to 12°, 

 is likely to have left its unwelcome 

 mark in many districts. Artichokes 



(Globe kinds) will now show if they are 

 to grow or not. It will be w-ell to plant 

 suckers if they can be had, or sow 

 seed to raise plants for transplanting. 

 They require rich, deeply trenched, 

 and well-drained soil to do them well. 

 Asparagus may now be in full bearing, 

 and it is well to cut the produce sys- 

 tematically all over the ground, taking 

 large and small, which may be sized 

 and separated, and tied into bundles 

 for use. Sprinklings of salt after each 

 cutting will help the crop and keep 

 weeds in check, ^iow broad Beans, 

 Peas, French Beans, and Scarlet Eun- 

 ners at least twice during the month. 

 Champion of England, Ke Plus Ultra, 

 Yeitch's Perfection, and The Baron 

 are good kinds for present sowing ; so 

 also are Tele})hone and Telegraph : 

 stake forward lots. All the foregoing 

 do well on rich, deep land, and not 

 crowded. If the seed is covered with 

 fine ashes and leaf-mould, mixed and 

 mulched (when they come into bear- 

 ing) with manure, they will not read- 

 ily succumb to mildew or be burnt up 

 with sun. Beet may be sown at be- 

 ginning of month. The ground for 

 these roots should be free from manure, 

 but should not be poor and sandy, as 

 some affirm. Such soil gives " stringy " 

 produce. Early crops of Beet may 

 require thinning : where blanks may 

 have occurred, let them be planted up 

 well, soaking the drills in which they 

 are placed. Sow all kinds of Broccoli 

 for successions. Brussels Sprouts may 

 be ready for planting out : they should 

 be placed in drills 2 feet apart, and 

 as much between the plants in the 

 rows. Plant out Cauliflower, and 

 ' sow more for succession. They re- 

 quire rich soil and early positions to 

 get them in quickly ; and a quantity of 

 plants of the same age, planted behind 

 a wall or hedge, will make a succession 

 to them : better to have lots of such 

 crops coming on in small successions 

 than large gluts, to be succeeded by a 

 scarcity. Plant Cabbage thickly, if 

 required, on very rich ground. This 

 crop on poor gritty soil is tough and 

 worthless. Carrots may be thinned 

 and well hoed : a young crop to draw 

 when small and tender may be sown 

 as circumstances may require. Celery 

 j may be often planted out for a first 



