For April. 1921 



549 



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I Work for the Month in the Garden | 



I SAMUEL GOLDING | 



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THE real busy season is now with us, and no oppor- 

 tunity should be neglected to push ahead, and en- 

 deavor to keep abreast of the stress of work that 

 will demand immediate attention in the vegetable and 

 flower gardens. 



Peas are a most important crop, and care should be 

 taken to secure perfect successions, sowing at intervals 

 of about every two weeks. The quantity sown must, of 

 course, be gauged by the demands of each establishment. 

 When these early peas are above the ground, it is advis- 

 able and good practice to stake or brush them, as this is 

 a protection from the cold, keen winds which we are 

 likely to experience during the early Spring months. 



Plant out onion sets sown earlier in the greenhouse or 

 frames. See that they are properly hardened off to with- 

 stand the effects of the move. Onions revel in a deep, 

 rich soil and the ground should be deei)ly dug or trenched 

 in the Fall if possible, incorporating plenty of good farm- 

 yard manure. 



Before planting or seeding, the soil should be in a good 

 workable condition, so that, if it is easily worked, there 

 will be no sign of stickiness. When planting, get the 

 roots as far down as possible. By that, I do not infer 

 to bury the plants, but to set them in the same depth as 

 they were in the fiats, and make firm. It is a very com- 

 mon fault that not enough attention is paid to having the 

 soil firm before planting or sowing, which applies to any 

 operation in the garden, whether planting vegetables, 

 flowers or trees. 



The seedlings from the earlier sowings will be grow- 

 ing apace. Transplant them early, and grow along as 

 cobl as possible in order to have sturdy plants. 



Early leeks from the first sowing can "be planted out 

 as soon as conditions permit. They are gross feeders, 

 and respond to generous treatment. There are several 

 methods adopted for growing large leeks, but the one 

 which is most generally followed, is to plant in prepared 

 trenches, and gradually bank up the soil around them dur- 

 ing the growing" season, to secure fine blanched stems. 

 They are a valuable Winter vegetable, and deserve to be 

 more grown and ajjpreciated. 



\'egetables growing in pits or frames will need an 

 abundance of water and careful attention regarding ven- 

 tilation. 



Protect the hearts of caiiliflovvers from direct sunshine 

 by l;reaking some leaves over the plants. 



Make one more sowing of string beans inside, and near 

 the end of the month make a sowing outside on a warm 

 border. 



Transplant and keep growing, egg plants, peppers, to- 

 matoes. Make a sowing of sweet corn in pots, and also 

 lima beans, squash, cucumbers for early planting w'hen the 

 soil is warm. Cl<il)e artichokes should be kept growing 

 until placed into final (|narters. 



Lose no time in jilanting early potatoes and main crops 

 before the month is out, and endeavor, if possible, to 

 change the ground each season for this crop. A change 

 of seed is an important and essential factor in securing 

 good crops during successive seasons. 



Now is the time to plant new asparagus beds. Secure 

 good two-year-old plants, placing these out in well pre- 

 pared trenches about eight inches deep, about two feet 



apart, and three to four feet between the rows. If this 

 space can be spared, cover the crowns with two inches of 

 soil, and the trench can be gradually filled until level. 

 Small crops can be grown during the first year or two. 



Any alterations that are contemplated in the herbaceous 

 border must be done at the earliest opportunity. Clumps 

 of perennials that have become too large should be di- 

 vided. This of course alludes to such subjects as 

 Heleniums, hardy asters, and other Fall blooming sub- 

 jects. Pseonies, iris, oriental poppies and other Spring 

 flowering plants must be divided and replanted in Sep- 

 tember. 



Plants of Digitalis, Sweet Williams, pansies, Canter- 

 bury Bells, daisies, etc., that have wintered in the cold 

 frame must be planted out. 



Annuals that do not take kindly to being transplanted 

 should be sown where they are to bloom, thinning out the 

 plants when large enough to allow proper development 

 to those that remain. 



Mignonette, poppy, Esclischoltzia, Alyssiivi, Dimor- 

 photlieca, and the like are impatient for removal. 



Sow late branching asters outside around the end of 

 the month; also verbenas, marigolds. Phlox Dnimmondii 

 and other annuals for late cutting. 



Prune outdoor roses. Hybrid perpetuals require a 

 more severe cutting back than the Teas and hybrid Teas. 

 Remove weak and useless wood and shorten back to a 

 good eye. Give a good dressing of cow manure and avoid 

 damage to the roots wdien digging it in. 



The making and seeding of a new lawn should be 

 proceeded with as soon as possible. The ground should 

 be well prepared with good manure plowed in, making- 

 it firm before seeding. After sowing, rake it in and go 

 over it again with the roller. When all frost is out of the 

 ground run a heavy roller over the lawns. Where the 

 grass is thin, rake in more seed with a dressing of fine 

 soil or humus. 



Push on with the planting of deciduous trees, shrubs, 

 fruit trees, evergreens, etc. Cut well back the deciduous 

 trees to maintain the balance between the roots and tops, 

 and if dry, give a thorough watering. This should be 

 repeated if the weather continues dry. Care must be taken 

 that they do not suffer from drought until quite estab- 

 lished and root action has become active. 



One of the most popular and satisfactory plants for 

 covering bare and unsightly ]ilaces under trees is the 

 Japanese .Spurge. PacJiysaudra tcniiiiialis. a verv attract- 

 ive evergreen which should lie ]ilanted now. 



Edge the drives and garden paths as this adds much 

 to the general appearance of any place. A dressing of 

 stone should be applied to drives where needed. 



After experiencing one of the most open Winters on 

 record, we anticipated an early Spring, for Afarch was 

 doing its best to emulate .\pril and behaving (|uite like 

 the proverliial lamb. On the morning of the 28th. the mer- 

 cury was flirting with eighty degrees in the .shade. On 

 every hand could be seen jjlain evidence that Spring had 

 arrived. Early tulips and flowering shrubs were showing 

 their buds, and the magnolias in manv instances were in 

 full bloom witli a wealth of wonderful blossoms. The 

 Forsytlii.'is were looking like cascades of golden bloom ; 

 (Continued on page SSX) 



