82 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



one, and which would give the greatest satisfaction on account of their quality. 

 It is the same with Potatoes, although there are more exceptions among them 

 than among any other vegetables. Among Carrots, good strains of Early Horn 

 are finer than any other kind, and the yield is not very much less than the 

 coarsest kinds; indeed, is sometimes greater. It would be well if your readers 

 who are acquainted with specially meritorious varieties were to add them to 

 the above. The kinds named I can confidently rely on myself, but it is pos- 

 sible that some of them do not succeed as well under other circumstances ; and 

 any information will prove of the greatest value, not to amateurs only, but to 

 many others. 



Seeds to be Sown in February, and how to Sow them.— Supposing the 

 ground to be in the condition left by the winter's digging, it will require some 

 preparation before it is fit for sowing seeds. The first caution I would give is 

 not to tread or work it in any way while it is in a wet condition. The object 

 of laying up soil in a rough state in winter is to get it thoroughly pulverised 

 by the action of the weather. But if you commence working it while it is in 

 a wet condition, you not only neutralise all the good effects of the weather, 

 but you will find it dry very slowly. But supposing it to be in fair working 

 order, the best way to begin preparing light and medium soils, which are in 

 good condition for sowing upon, is to level the rough surface with a Dutch-hoe. 

 A majority of amateurs use a rake ; but a rake is a very bad tool for the pur- 

 pose — it makes too fine a surface, thus excluding the drying influence of air 

 and sun, and it fails to stir beneath the surface. If the soil be heavy, or if it 

 be new soil, over which a layer of rotten manure has been spread, to afford food 

 for the seedlings in their first stages, as advised in our last paper, then the use 

 of the fork will be necessary, so as to thoroughly break and mix the soil. If 

 very stony, the stones should be thrown out in the process, and afterwards 

 carefully raked with a good wide-toothed rake (the new American kind is best), 

 with as little treading of feet as possible, especially at the early season of the 

 year. Where the soil is very poor, and when no rotten manure is forked into 

 the surface, a sprinkling of guano ought to be given ; and if part is thus 

 dressed and part not, the difference will be very marked. Rather delay 

 putting in seeds at all than put them in to an ill-prepared or pasty soil. 

 Seeds sown in soil and battered in generally rot; and when they do grow, they 

 come up weakly and unhealthy. Study the calendars and the weather, 

 especially the latter. Gardeners who have to keep up an unbroken supply of 

 table vegetables have to try many shifts to forward crops, such as sowing 

 seeds while standing on boards placed between the rows, to obviate treading 

 the soil, and afterwards covering in with dry light soil kept in store for the 

 purpose. 



Broad Beans may be sown any time now, when the soil is in good con- 

 dition, without any fear for their safety. Draw drills 2^ or 3 inches deep, 

 and from 2 to 2| feet asunder, according to kinds, dropping in the seeds at 

 from 3 to 4 inches apart. In finishing off, do not rake too finely unless the 

 soil is naturally very dry — even then it is best to leave a rough but neat 

 surface. 



Cabbages. — A few may be sown at the end of the month to succeed autumn- 

 sown ones, which may now be transplanted should the weather prove fine. 



Cauliflower. — A few seeds may be sown, but they had better be protected by 

 hand-lights on cold frames. 



Brussels Sprouts and Savoys we always sow at this season in boxes placed 

 in cold frames, and afterwards prick them out whenever the first rough leaf is 



