58 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



rows to divide off, systematically, other crops) is now becoming very 

 general, as it is by far the most productive system, and the pods are 

 more easily picked. Beans may be sown from 2 J to 3 feet apart. 

 For small seeds, such as the Brassica tribe, the soil should be made 

 very fine and the drills shallow ; dry weather should be chosen for 

 sowing. A row of Parsley may be sown on an early spot, leaving a 

 good border for sowings to supply autumn and winter. If weather 

 is dry, and the soil in proper condition towards the end of the month, 

 Onions and Parsnips may be sown. Though they both will do well 

 later in the season, we do not like to lose any favourable opportunity. 

 For the Onions, drills drawn 9 inches to 1 foot apart, slightly covering 

 in the dry soil and thoroughly treading, will answer well. Parsnips 

 may be sown in drills 2 inches deep, and the rows may be from 15 to 

 1 8 inches apart. Make the surfaces over newly-sown seed smooth and 

 level with a rake, but at all times avoid treading on newly-sown ground 

 in wet weather. A sloping bank may be thrown up on which to sow 

 early seeds. Leeks may soon be sown in a box, but unless they are 

 wanted very early, a sowing on an early border will answer well enough. 

 Potatoes should be kept cool, but if they are sprouting it would be 

 well to plant them, and keep the tubers free from frost. 



To keep a garden orderly and to make the best of it, all crops should 

 be arranged systematically, keeping each kind as much by themselves 

 as possible, avoiding small patches scattered through the garden, so as 

 to get the ground worked advantageously. Winter crops should be 

 kept together, and for croj>s which require sowing or planting in quick 

 succession, a breadth should be set aside. Salads and Spinach (where 

 ground is scarce) can always be sown between other growing crops, and 

 cleared off in time to do the latter justice. To clear ground at this 

 season, crops of Kale, Brussels Sprouts, &c, may be lifted, and have 

 their roots placed in soil behind a wall or hedge closely together. Celery 

 may also be lifted and placed in sand. Walks may be turned and 

 rolled down firmly, bringing forward all arrears as quickly as possible. 



All tree planting, lifting, &c., left unfinished, should have attention 

 when weather will allow the work to be done. If protection (by canvas, 

 frigi-domo, or otherwise) is to be used for trees on walls, it should be 

 examined and got ready. There is much which might be done by retard- 

 ing fruit-blossoms ; and commencing early with protecting will do much 

 towards that end. Boards lapping over the top of the walls are of 

 great service in keeping the trees dry. If strong sun can be partially 

 kept off by thin material, the buds will expand slowly and be subjected 

 to less extremes of temperature. Apricots may be pruned soon, leav- 

 ing enough of wood to clothe the tree regularly, avoiding crowding. 

 All stunted and useless wood should be cut clean out, and shoots com- 



