1^73.] 



CALENDAR. 



148 



©aUnUar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



Prepaeatiok for seed-sowing now re- 

 quires prompt attention. If weather 

 should be changeable, the important 

 operation of getting in the crops may- 

 have to be done piecemeal, but on no 

 account should seeds be sown in sodden 

 unworkable soil. Better to wait than 

 have the seed destroyed and the ground 

 injured, which is sure to be the case if 

 it is trodden down when wet. We 

 have, however, more than once, on 

 heavy soils, been obliged to get in seeds 

 by using boards for standing on, and 

 dusting old potting-bench soil into the 

 drills : a large stock of this on hand is 

 more valuable in the early part of the 

 season than is generally believed. It 

 can be got ready by sifting it when 

 weather is wet, &c. A full crop of Peas 

 may now be sown ; a second early kind 

 for a succession, such as Dickson's 

 Favourite, suits well at present. Two 

 or three sowings in moderate quantities 

 during the month will keep up con- 

 tinuous supplies. Those which were 

 sown in boxes, &c., may be planted 

 out when weather will permit. A 

 quantity of leaf-mould placed w^th the 

 roots as planting goes on will do mAich 

 to give them a start. Planting thicklj^ 

 especially on good ground, is a great 

 evil : stake them at once, which will 

 act as protection. Spinach, early Tur- 

 nips, Radishes, &c., may be sown be- 

 tween the rows. Broad Beans may be 

 treated the same as Peas, planting them 

 2i feet, or more, apart. Mazagan is 

 one of the earliest. Sow in rows 

 9 inches to 1 foot apart. Parsley, 

 Hadishes, Early Horn Carrots, Cauli- 

 flower, Lettuce of sorts, Cabbages, 

 Brussels Sprouts, Scotch Kale, Savoys, 

 Broccoli : for an early lot, Walcheren, 

 Snow's, Grange's Autumn, and some 

 others ; but the main sowings may be 

 left till April. The demand and means 

 of growing the quantity of these vege- 

 tables can alone regulate the quantity 

 to be sown. Sow Leeks in a bed for 

 transplanting, also on a space where 

 they may be thinned out and a crop 

 left. Deep drills drawn and the seed 

 sown in them, but slightly covered, 

 answer well, and the Leeks can be 

 earthed up as they reqiiire it ; this 

 crop can scarcely be in j ured by supplies 

 of rotten manure. Parsni2)s and Onions 



I shoifld be sown, if not already done ; 

 Onions should be trodden or well rolled 

 down. Look after birds and other 

 vermin after seeds are sown ; jirotection 

 : with nets may be necessary. Keep up 

 I supplies of small salad by sowing 

 frequently; Golden and American Land 

 , Cress should not be forgotten. Eadishes 

 \ may be covered v%dth litter, exposing 

 them to the sun, and protecting them 

 1 from frost as may be necessary ; but 

 ' frames for these and other earlj'- crops 

 save much labour. Hardy herbs which 

 may require renewing, may be sown 

 under glass, grown on and planted out 

 when tit ; but many kinds do well 

 when sown on a border in April and 

 thinned. The herb ground should be 

 looked over, and stock taken of the 

 quantities, as in some localities many 

 sorts die off more or less every year. 

 Mint and similar kinds do well when 

 divided and planted into well-manured 

 and deeply-dug soil. Prepare ground 

 for Asparagus, by deeply trenching 

 and heavily manuring it ; a quantity 

 of sand and sea-weed is advantageous 

 for mixing with the soil. The finest 

 Asparagus we ever saw was from beds 

 twenty years old, and the ]>reparation 

 was the tilling in of a ditch with all 

 manner of garden refuse. Plant Cabbage 

 in quantity. Red Cabbage should be 

 planted according to what is wanted for 

 pickling. Large heads are not the best 

 for pickling ; we never had more useful 

 I>ickling Cabbage than from what were 

 sown early in March. Plant Potatoes 

 from 2 to 3 feet apart, m rows, ac- 

 cording to the strength of tops and 

 richness of ground. Close planting is 

 very injurious, and we think helj>s the 

 ravages of disease by excluding light 

 and air. Plant Jerusalem Artichokes : 

 single rows, by sides of other crops, 

 give the finest tubers ; close planting 

 with them is also a great evil. Plant 

 out Lettuce fi-om beds which have stood 

 through the winter ; if sheltered by rows 

 of Peas or Evergreens stuck in, they 

 will be much safer. Look after sings, 

 and use lime or small ashes dusted 

 about to keep them in check. Seakale 

 may now be planted, the trimmings cut 

 up into pieces a few inches long, and 

 placed in rich ground : 2 feet between 

 the rows, and 1 foot between the plants. 



