EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Cahnliar of Oprations* 



MARCH. 



BY TVILLIAM SAU.N'DERS. 



Vegetable Garden. — Tliis is proverl)iallv a busy month in gardens ; mnch, however, 

 depends npon the state of the weather and the soil. The principal crops should be put 

 in as early as possible. A few days' delay at this time is frequently the only diflerence 

 between failure and success. Those, therefore, who have duly attended to the draining and 

 aerating of the soil will now reap the advantages of their foresight, in the facility with 

 which they can crop the ground, as there is no gain in cropping before the soil is in a fit 

 condition. Clayey loams require especial care : if they are tramped upon or disturbed while 

 wet, the ground will not recover its friability during the season, but will remain lumpy and 

 crack open in fissures during dry weather, to the great injury of the plants growing in it. 



Manure that is applied to early crops should be well decomposed, that its action may be 

 concentrated and immediately eifective. Premising that the ground has previously been 

 deeply turned over, the manure should only be lightly dug in : for early peas, horn carrot, 

 parsley, onions, &c., this is a good method ; but for crops that have to witlistand the droughts 

 of summer, the manure should be put in the bottom of the trench, not less than a foot below 

 the surface. 



Among other things requiring earliest attention maybe mentioned salsify, onions, parsnips, 

 spinach, turnips, beets, parsley, peas, and potatoes ; the two former must be sown early to 

 get anything like a proper crop ; for, unless they get a good growth before warm weather, 

 they are severely checked, and onions are by this means frequently not larger than chestnuts. 



All garden crops should be grown on the drill system ; it is otherwise impossible to do 

 them full justice in culture. A rake should never be employed in the preparation of ground 

 for seed. This as a rule. Exceptions may be made in particular cases ; but very much 

 injury results from the prevailing system of breaking and raking the ground until it is as 

 fine as powder. Our heavy rains beat such soils into a mortar consistency, and the sun 

 bakes it into a hard crust, through which young jjlants cannot penetrate. Equally injurious 

 is that old system, which is yet frequently recommended, to trample in seeds. The great 

 feature in cultivation is to keep the soil loose, more especially on the surface, as it retards 

 evaporation of contained moisture, and admits the unimpeded access of the various agents 

 of vegetable growth to the roots of plants. 



With regard to the depth that seeds should be covered, it is a safe rule to cover them 

 with a depth of soil about equal to their own thickness. This cannot always be strictly 

 done, but it should be aimed at as near as possible. 



Much difiiculty fre(|uently occurs in raising young crops in strong soils, from their liability 

 to bake on the surface, as alluded to above. A slight covering of hay or short grass prevents 

 the formation of this crust, and enables the tender plants to get through the surface ; but, 

 unless carefully watched, and the covering removed at the exact moment, the crop will run 

 a risk of destruction from its being shaded and drawn up tender. Tlie best material for 

 this puipose that I have ever used is wheat chaflf. A slight sjirinkling over the drills will 

 prevent injury from rains, &c., and, from its nature, offers no resistance to the future growth 

 of plants. Of course, it is allowed to remain. I know of no superior method to insure a 

 speedy germination and growth of small seeds, such as celery, carrots, &c. Even should 

 the weather prove otherwise unfavorable to their growth, a good crop of young plants may 

 thus be rendered certain. 



For early crops the old adage of "sow thick and thin quick" is very appropriate. One 

 pint of peas will sow a row of 60 feet ; for late crops the same quantity will sow 100 feet. 

 Carrot, one ounce will sow a row of 150 feet long ; parsnip, lialf an ounce 11)0 feet ; Spinach, 

 one ounce 120 feet ; beans, one pint will plant 150 feet of a row ; and half an ounce of 

 cabbage, brocoli, cauliflowers, and their allies, will seed a bed of 40 square feet. 



Tliose who have wet, late soils to work on, will find it a great advantage in their early 

 crops of peas and beans to plant them on the surface, and throw a little soil over them with 

 a spade. Tlius elevated the plants are in a better position to withstand extremes either of 

 wet or cold. 



New plantations of asparagus, rhubarb, and horseradish may be made now. The 

 should be trenched eighteen inches deep, and heavily manured. Tlie former is most re 



