IB73-] 



CALENDAR. 



289 



are planted seltlom do well. Sturdy 

 vigorous plants are always to be pre- 

 ferred. Crowding of winter crops can- 

 not be reasonably expected to give 

 good returns. Frost and damp are 

 sure to make great havoc if the winter 

 should be severe. Draw neat drills 

 for the plants ; when planting is done 

 the soil should be pressed gently to 

 the roots instead of wedging in the 

 collars only. We fiud this practice 

 is still common with the non-experi- 

 enced. Keep each kind of crops by 

 itself as much as possible, so that 

 good breadths can be trenched, or dug 

 up when the crop is taken off. Avoid 

 the too common system of cutting up 

 the ground with paths across plots, 

 which (though a very old system), 

 wastes ground for no purpose. Dust- 

 ings of lime aud small coal-ashes may 

 1)6 required to keep slugs and grubs in 

 check. Puddling the roots with cow- 

 manure, soot, and soil well mixed, 

 does much to keep vermin off, and 

 helps the plants to withstand drought. 

 ISlanure-water may now help Cauli- 

 flower to finish off fine heads. Wal- 

 cheren Broccoli may be sown for a late 

 supi^ly. Granger's early Broccoli may 

 l)e sown for a chance late crop. Sow 

 Peas twice in the month; an early kind 

 for last sowing may be most suitable. 

 Sow crops of French Beans, Scarlet 

 Runners, and Broad Beans. Top the 

 latter when they come into flower. Stake 

 Peas and Runners as soon as they are 

 4 to 6 inches above ground. These may 

 be advantageously grown by keeping 

 them dwarf, topping back the runners. 

 Sow and plant full crops of Lettuces 

 in shady positions and on Celery ridges : 

 tie up Lettuce to blanch if necessary. 

 Sow Endive in small portions, as the 

 plants often run to seed, till later in the 

 season. Sow full crops of Turnii:>s, 

 Coleworts, Radishes, Spinach, small 

 Salad of every kind. Plant out Pars- 



ley, and sow a good breadth to stand 

 the winter. The leaves are much flner 

 when the plants are left about 8 inches 

 or more apart ; edgings to other crops 

 may be formed with Parsley to econo- 

 mise space. All crops must be thinned 

 as they recpiire it ; when left to become 

 crow^ded they are much injured. Dust- 

 ings of soot and a little guano among 

 Onions in showery weather will do 

 much to help them. Tomatoes may 

 now be planted out in open spaces on 

 walls ; a little mulching may be given, 

 and abundance of water when neces- 

 sary. When crops are heavy the 

 plants may be greatly benefited by 

 good soakings of manure-water. In 

 districts where they do well without 

 the aid of a wall, &c., stakes must be 

 given and stopping had recourse to. 

 All useless laterals must be taken off. 

 Prepare a ridge for Cucumbers and 

 Ghirkins ; a little litter mixed with 

 mowings of grass and leaves answer 

 well. First throw the soil right and 

 left, making a bed of four feet or more, 

 place the manure in the space and re- 

 turn the soil ; a portion of good stuff 

 may be given to start the plants into 

 free growth. Vegetable marrows may 

 require similar treatment. They are 

 the better of hand-lights or plant-pro- 

 tectors placed over them, to give them 

 a start into free growth. Where Chi- 

 lies and Capsicums are of good size, 

 they may be planted in a favourable 

 position under a wall, but glass protec- 

 tion brings them on more safely. As- 

 paragus lately planted may be helped 

 by manure-water ; sprinklings of salt 

 will help bearing beds, and destroy 

 weeds. Seakale may be benefited by 

 application of salt. Get all ridges 

 manured ready for Celery without 

 delay. Plant out Cardoons when they 

 are fit. They may be treated like 

 Celery, with plenty of manure and 

 water. M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Succession plants that 

 were shifted into their fruiting-pots in 

 March will now be growing rapidly. 

 Great care is now necessary in watering 

 and regulating the ventilation of these, 

 so as to produce a growth that shall 

 not be stunted on the one hand, nor too 

 succulent on the other. The soil should 

 just be kept as steadily moist, but not 

 wet, as possible, and the same rule 

 applies to the moisture in the air. As 

 soon as ever the thermometer rises to 



about 80° in the morning with sun-heat, 

 let air be admitted, and increase it 

 by degrees till noon, when in steady 

 warm weather there should be a free cir- 

 culation of air about the plants, but al- 

 ways in conjunction with sprinklings of 

 water about the paths, &c. It should be 

 gradually reduced in the afternoons, 

 shutting up with a sun-heat of 85°, 

 allowing it to decline to 70° through 

 the night. Avoid the yet too common 

 practice of heavy syringings overhead, 



