i8 7 9- 



CALENDAR. 



195 



Cauliflower under hand-lights may be 

 mulched with rotten manure; this will 

 encourage free growth and help much 

 to prevent the young plants "button- j 

 ing." If weather should be dry and 

 warm, give guano-water in mild form; 

 or when rain falls in what is known as 

 April showers, remove the covers from 

 hand-lights and bell-glasses or clocks, ; 

 where they are in use, for a few hours. 

 Crops of Peas and Beans should be 

 sown for successions about three times 

 during the month. Several kinds, to 

 come in at different dates, may be ; 

 sown at one time. Stake Peas before 

 they fall over, and twist their stems at \ 

 surface of soil. All the Brassica tribe of 

 plants may be sown on a thoroughly 

 prepared border, made firm. Small 

 seeds require little covering, and should 

 not be sown thickly. Drills, we need 

 hardly say, are most suitable for these, 

 and require less labour. The old sys- 

 tem of sowing broadcast is almost out 

 of date. Broccoli for main crops may 

 be sown about the middle of month ; 

 also more Cabbage (a pinch of Bed 

 Cabbage may be of service), Brussels 

 Sprouts, Cauliflowers, Savoys, and Kale 

 of the various kinds. The two latter 

 have been of much value during the 

 late severe winter ; and successions 

 of these, as well as very late Broc- 

 coli, are useful during extra severe 

 weather. Sow for main crop Carrots. 

 James's Scarlet is one of the most 

 useful ; Long Surrey is one of the 

 longest ; Early Nantes and Short- 

 horn are the earliest. Deep, well- 

 broken ground, not too rich, suits 

 these well ; sand and fine siftings 

 from coal - ashes pointed into the 

 ground is an aid in supplying clean 

 growth. Turnips, Spinach, Badishes, 

 and small Salads ought to be sown 

 about every 7 to 10 days. They get 

 so quickly out of use, that it is well 

 to have quantities in close succession. 

 Celery may be sown on a border under 

 a hand-light, or in a frame ; but a few 

 hoops, placed so that a mat may be 

 thrown over when frost is expected, 

 answers well in most cases and posi- 



tions for late crops of Celery. Let 

 the earlier crops be pricked out in 

 frames or in boxes and protected with 

 glass. If they are allowed to be 

 coddled and drawn up for want of 

 light and air, they are sure to run to 

 seed before they are of any use. A 

 little Beet may be sown for a first lot; 

 but it is early enough to sow about 

 end of month, and early in May, for 

 main crops. Deep, well-broken soil 

 suits this root ; hot, dry, very poor 

 soil renders the roots tough, stringy, 

 and colourless. The main crop of 

 Leeks may yet be sown. As soon as 

 the early lot are ready to plant they 

 should be placed in rich, well-culti- 

 vated soil. Early-sown crops should 

 be examined to see that they are safe 

 from slugs, or coming up at all. Sow 

 again where there is danger of failure. 

 Parsley may be sown for edgings where 

 such is required. Plant out main crop 

 of Potatoes, also Jerusalem Artichokes, 

 and Seakale roots of a few inches long. 

 Asparagus may be planted and sown 

 to keep up supplies where much is 

 lifted and forced. Dustings of salt and 

 guano sprinkled lightly over Aspara- 

 gus-beds coming into bearing are of 

 much service in giving large crowns. 

 Guano -water may be used for the 

 same purpose. Preparation should be 

 made for crops of Mushrooms to come 

 in during latter part of May and in 

 June. A bed formed in a cellar or 

 other position, cool and away from 

 sun and heat, is very desirable. New 

 spawn is much safer than old. In the 

 early part of the season, our beds 

 made with old spawn came in thin 

 and took a long time to start into 

 bearing; but at present beds made 

 with far less care are a mass of fine 

 Mushrooms : the spawn was fresh. 

 French Beans may be planted from 

 pots into frames and pits from where 

 Potatoes were lifted : those bearing 

 may be helped with guano- water. Late 

 crops of forced Potatoes should have 

 the lights off them daily. In fact, the 

 latter are only required as protection 



M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Probably succession Pines 

 that are usually shifted into their 

 fruiting-pats in February have not 

 been attended to at the usual time 

 owing to the long - continued and 



severe frost. Their having been sub- 

 jected to such an unusual amount of 

 fire-heat, and left for a month longer 

 in small pots, has increased the possi- 

 bility of their starting prematurely 



