iSyi.] 



CALENDAR. 



143 



and air, they are long in coming up ; 

 then they are weakly and stunted, fall- 

 ing an easy prey to vermin and drought. 

 Some sow their main crops of Broccoli 

 during this month. We have always 

 found April sowings do best, espe- 

 cially in the south of England. The 

 last week of March is early enough 

 for Scotland ; gross growth with this 

 tribe of plants seldom gives the 

 best supplies, as they are easily de- 

 stroyed by a severe winter. Brussels 

 Sprouts for first crop may be sown 

 at once. This is, perhaps, the most 

 valuable of all winter vegetables, and 

 should be grown extensively. Savoy 

 for autumn supply may be sown now — 

 early Ulm is a useful little kind for first 

 crop. Radishes, Mustard, and Cress, 

 may be sown at regular periods, accord- 

 ing to demand ; French Breakfast and 

 Short Top are two of the best Radishes. 

 Turnips may be sown in small quanti- 

 ties where they can be protected ; they 

 run quickly to seed at this season. 

 Carrots for early supply may be sown 

 on a sheltered border, using sand in 

 the soil if it is heavy. Early Horn is 

 suitable for present sowing. Broad 

 Beans may now be sown for succession, 

 and every three weeks to the end of May 

 — Johnston's Wonderful and Taylor's 

 Windsor are two of the best for main 

 sowings. Beck's dwarf Gem and dwarf 

 Fan are useful for borders. The large 

 kinds require drills 2 to 3 feet apart 

 (according to strength of growth), and 

 from 4 to 6 inches between the seeds. 

 Peas may be sown twice in the month 

 if required, and those which may have 

 been raised in boxes, &c., planted out. 

 Champion of England and Dickson's 

 Favourite are still two of the best for 

 present sowing ; single rows kept wide 

 apart, so that cropping between them 

 may be carried out, is the most eco- 

 nomical system of growing them. On 

 rich ground they should be sown thinly. 

 Mice will now be troublesome, and will 

 require to be watched, as a crop is soon 

 destroyed. Stake any Peas requiring 

 it before they fall ovei-. Spinach for a 

 regular supply may be sown in flat shal- 

 low drills every fortnight or less. Toma- 

 toes, Celery, Capsicums, and Vegetable 

 Marrows (for an early crop under glass), 

 New Zealand Spinach, for planting out 

 \inder handlights, may now be sown. 

 The main crop of Celery may be left 

 till the end of the month. Seedlings, 

 when ready to handle, may be lifted 



and pricked out on rich light soil, — an 

 inch or two placed on rotten manure 

 does well ; protection with glass and 

 careful watering are necessary to prevent 

 " bolting." Dwarf Incomparable, Man- 

 chester Champion, Cole's red and white 

 kinds, are among the best, and go under 

 many other names. Nearly all kinds 

 of herbs may be sown this month — 

 tender kinds under glass. Seakale may 

 be planted in rows 2 feet apart and 8 

 inches to 1 foot between the roots, but 

 wider if intended to be forced on the 

 ground. Ground for Carrots, to be sown 

 next month, should be well worked, and 

 the surface turned over. Lime and 

 soot are often used against vermin which 

 attack the Carrot, In some localities 

 Carrots cannot be grown. We do not 

 know a single case in this locality where 

 complete success can be depended on, 

 and we seldom secure a crop free from 

 the attacks of grub. Everything we 

 have seen in print has been tried, but 

 to no great purpose. Last year was an 

 exception. Two pieces of ground were 

 prepared early in March; a quantity of 

 lime-stones was spread on one plot, and 

 allowed to remain till it was all down 

 to powder, and then forked slightly 

 into the surface. The Carrots were 

 sown in the usual way, covering in the 

 seed slightly with wood-ashes and old 

 potting soil. The Carrots were very 

 large, and of the finest quality. On the 

 other plot gas-lime was used, same as 

 the lime -stones, and the result was 

 equally good. Exposure to the weather 

 for a number of weeks rendered this 

 dangerous material harmless. We once 

 crippled a crop of Onions by using gas- 

 lime fresh, Jerusalem Artichokes may 

 now be planted in rows, either single or 

 3 feet apart, and 1 foot between the 

 tubers ; single rows give the finest pro- 

 duce. Potatoes may be planted with- 

 out delay, either in drills or by dibber. 

 If land is heavy, drills answer best; and 

 if the tubers are covered with a little 

 leaf- mould or old turfy soil next them, 

 they will grow more freely : 2 feet 

 between the rows is a fair width, but 

 for very strong-growing kinds 3 feet is 

 not too much; 1 foot or 15 inches be- 

 tween the tubers is enough. When 

 sun and air have free access to the 

 growing crop, the quality is much finer. 

 The herb -ground should be dressed, 

 giving a surfacing of manure where it 

 may be necessary. Some may be lifted 

 and increased. M. T. 



