114 THE GARDENER. [March 



should now be planted in rows 2 feet apart. One foot between the 

 roots in the rows will be enough when they are grown for lifting. 

 Seed for fresh stock may be sown on soil where no stagnant moisture 

 is to be found, otherwise the seed often rots in the ground. Tomatoes 

 may now be sown in heat ; pot them in light rich soil at first, and 

 then turfy loam and manure may be used where it can be had. They 

 require heat till they are of a good size, when gradual hardening is 

 necessary before they are planted out, or planted in large-sized pots. 

 Plant Garlic and Shallots if not already done ; also small Onions, to 

 keep up a supply, if there is any likelihood of scarcity, till the main 

 crops are fit for use. Kidney-Beans need not be sown this month 

 except under protection of a frame. The seed perishes quickly by 

 damp or cold. Garden herbs may be cleared of weeds, &c, fresh 

 surfaced, replanted, or divided if necessary. Mint may be lifted and 

 placed in a little heat to give a supply till wanted. 



Fruit-trees in bloom should be kept dry if possible. Thin canvas 

 or other material, to be drawn down in heavy storms of rain or hail, 

 does good service : the abuse of covering is one of the reasons why so 

 little good is often had from it. Peaches, or any other trees not nailed, 

 should be seen to soon ; and care is necessary, when tying, not to rub 

 off the bloom- buds : thinning the latter, when done judiciously, is of 

 great advantage. On rank-growing trees extra blooming may be of 

 service, but they should at least be allowed room to prevent their 

 smothering one another. Wood-buds may be rubbed off to lighten 

 the trees and give light to the fruit — this, when done early, gives 

 no check to the tree : the top shoots (which may be stopped at 

 fourth leaf), and one or two near the base of old shoots, are generally 

 enough. The best guide is the space which remains uncovered, but 

 there should be no crowding of wood or foliage ; and before trees are 

 in full leaf, it is a practice of ours to mark on the wall any space on 

 which it is necessary to take a leading shoot, as when the wall is 

 covered one cannot always do as they should like, and we always 

 have some old shoots which are to have their places taken by young 

 ones. All well-placed natural spurs should be left on fruit-trees, 

 thinning out wood-buds where they are too thick or wrongly placed. 

 Grafting may be done about the end of the month ; the stock and graft 

 cut to fit each other, (allowing the barks to fairly meet) is one of the 

 principal secrets of a grafter's success. Tie them secure, and place 

 clay or grafting-wax over them to keep out air. There are many ways 

 of grafting. The most simple method is often attended with the great- 

 est success. Cuttings of Currants and Gooseberries may now be made 

 about a foot long, picking off all the buds except three at top : cut 

 close over at a joint ; plant the cuttings in any spare ground to root. 



