IbJil. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



143 



the month. Lettuce and Radishes may- 

 be sown between Potatoes or other 

 crops, — the former for transplanting, 

 and the latter to be off before the 

 Potatoes shade them. Divide and 

 plant Rhubarb : rich well-drained soil 

 suits Rhubarb. Seed may be sown to 

 raise stock. The main crops of Potatoes 

 may be planted forthwith. Opinions 

 as to time of planting vary widely. 

 Some maintain early in March is best, 

 others prefer the middle of April, 

 We consider it the right time between 

 those periods, when the soil is dry and 

 warmed by sun-heat. Parsnips, like 

 Onions, may be sown any time from 

 end of February to beginning of April; 

 the former on deep soil free from rank 

 manure, and the latter on very strong 

 rich soil. Parsley may be sown on 

 early borders ; and the plants which 

 have been raised in pots, &c., and 

 are ready to turn out, should get 

 attention as early as possible. Suc- 

 cessions of Spinach may be sown 

 between bushes, Peas, or any other 

 crops. Turnips cannot be sown with 

 safety for main crops, but small 

 patches may be sown every week on 

 warm borders. Gentle hotbeds may 

 bring them to a useful size, but very 

 early sowings soon run to seed. The 

 planting of Cabbage from store-beds 

 may be done as early as ground is fit 

 to receive them. Though many crops 

 have suifered from frost during the past 

 winter — winter and early spring Broc- 

 colis especially — the plots of young 

 Cabbage are left in capital condi- 

 tion. Rosette Colew^orts, which we 

 were cutting from before frost came, 

 are, with few exceptions, uninjured by 

 frost, and quite tender and useful for 

 present use. The forcing of vege- 

 tables is at this season a simple mat- 

 ter, but to neglect them causes a gap 

 in the supplies: better to have some 

 to spare than too few. 



Asparagus (whether by lifting the 



roots or by glass and manure in the 

 beds) should have constant additions 

 made to the stock being forced. The 

 demand can alone regulate the supply. 

 A lightful started every week will 

 give a moderate supply. It is seldom, 

 when other things are plentiful, that 

 it is relished every day. Give Pota- 

 toes in frames and pits plenty of air 

 and light ; only keep frost and cut- 

 ting winds from them. When they 

 are ripe in pots, they may be placed 

 anywhere in safety from frost and 

 wet till they are used. To have the 

 use of pots and frames, we have often 

 covered the tubers with dry sand or 

 soil till they were used up. Orchard- 

 houses are of much value for storing 

 such things. More Celery may be 

 sown in gentle warmth. Avoid let- 

 ting the young seedlings suffer from 

 drought and want of air. French 

 Beans may be planted in pots or pits. 

 The latter plan gives the best produce 

 with least labour. Thin Carrots in 

 frames, and allow neither them nor 

 forced Radishes to suffer from want 

 of moisture. We often allow warm 

 showers to give them their supply of 

 moisture. Capsicums may be potted 

 off and grown on in heat, with plenty 

 of light and air when suitable for 

 the latter. Ridge Cucumbers may be 

 sown if they are to have glass pro- 

 tection till danger from frost is past ; 

 but towards the end of the month, or 

 in April, is early enough for most 

 purposes. Tomatoes should be treated 

 with care till they are ready to plant 

 out : seed may be sown for succession. 

 Those under glass should not be 

 shaded or cooled unnecessarily. Sea- 

 kale may be covered in the ground to 

 blanch it : fine soil, leaf-mould, or 

 sand answers for blanching. If there 

 is not room for Mushrooms in sheds, 

 &c. , ridges may be formed and spawned 

 outside. 



M. T. 



_ -^-JK *Sf ^i^-*-e— 



^aticcs la Cnrr^sponbcnts. 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

 the Publishers, and communications for insertion in the 'Gardener' to David 

 Thomson, Drumlanrig Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. It will further 

 oblige if all matter intended for publication, and questions to be replied to, 



