for March. 1922 



89 



Work for the Month in the Garden | 



SAMUEL GOLDING I 



III™ Ill"" "I" ""Iimill Illllllllllll I I""l™ Ill IIIIIIINIINNIIIIIIinill Ilillll«« I I |||,|„„|, I ||,|,„,| |,|||„„||„||||„|||„ „||||| I 



So silently but simft. 



Above the ivintry drift, 



The long days gain and gain: — 



AND altliough we may still have wintry weather, 

 there is something in the air that whispers, "The 

 year's at the spring-." Already those welcome har- 

 bingers, the Snowdrop, Crocus, and Scillas are flaunting 

 their colors in the garden ; the buds of the Forsythias 

 are swelling, soon to break forth into gold cascades of 

 bloom. There are signs on every side that Mother Earth 

 is once more waking from her Winter sleep. 



This forcibly reminds us that the time of gardening 

 with pencil and paper is past, and must now be super- 

 seded by the spade and hoe, if we are to live up to 

 resolutions formed to have the best gardens ever during 

 the season of 1922. 



The rapidly growing seedlings and vegetables in 

 greenhouse and frames will need the most careful at- 

 tention. Those from last month's sowing should be 

 transplanted as soon as they can be conveniently handled. 

 Flats are the best receptacles for most subjects, though 

 egg plants and tomatoes may be exceptions, for which 

 pots are preferable. The frames should be kept closed 

 for a few days and shaded from bright sunshine until 

 root action has commenced. Cultivate between the rows 

 of growing crops and thin just enough to allow room 

 for development. Sow more seed as often as a perfect 

 succession demands. Regard must be paid to careful 

 ventilation, especiallv during this month when we are 

 liable to very sudden changes of temperature. Cold 

 draughts are to be avoided as they are most detrimental 

 to young plant life. Conserve the sun heat as much 

 as possible by early closing during the afternoon. IMain- 

 tain a nice growing atmosphere and keep all plants as 

 near the glass as convenient to give them the benefit of 

 light and sunshine to develop and maintain a sturdy 

 growth and robust habit. 



As soon as the frost is out of the ground and con- 

 ditions will permit, no time should be lost before dig- 

 ging or ploughing for the earliest crops. If this was 

 done in the Fall when one has more time to carry out 

 any deep digging or trenching, so much the better. As 

 I have previouslv remarked, this brings its own reward 

 for the soil receives the benefit of the purifying influence 

 of the frost. This deep digging is the mainspring of 

 future success in growing vegetables in quantity and of 

 quality. The light sandy soils are the best for raising 

 early crops. They do not retain the moisture to the same 

 degree as the heavier loam or the still more retentive 

 clays, and therefore they are in a fit condition at an earlier 

 date. 



When ground is fit, and that will be when the soil is 

 easily broken up with a rake, and when trodflen or rolled, 

 does not pack into a stiffs or sticky mass, sow first early 

 peas, spinach, parsnips and plant onion sets. For first 

 peas it is advisable to sow the round seeded varieties as 

 they are more reliable and will germinate under condi- 

 tions where the marrowfats would probably not. This 

 especially applies to heavy soils. 



Give early attention to the asparagus beds and fork in 

 a good dressing of farmvard manure, if it was not done 

 in" the Fall. If you contemplate planting asparagus 



choose well prepared ground; place them in trenches 

 about eight inches deep and two feet apart, and from 

 three to four feet between the rows ; cover with about 

 two inches of soil. Secure two year old crowns which 

 are generally regarded as the most satisfactory. 



Rernove the protecting material from strawberry beds 

 and give a good dressing of bone meal. Tie up rasp- 

 berry canes, thinning out all useless ones. Finish pruning 

 all small bush fruit trees. 



Place some strawy litter over rhubarb crowns which 

 will help it to start into growth and protect it from late 

 frost. 



Toward the end of the month, remove wind breaks 

 and protecting materials from around rhododendron beds 

 and other more tender subjects; also from spring flow- 

 ering plants, otherwise tulips and other bulbous stock 

 will become drawn as do early shoots of herbaceous 

 plants if protection is afiforded too long. 



Go over the rambler roses, removing all useless wood, 

 Tie up the strongest of last year's growths, and do not 

 overcrowd. Cut back late flowering shrubs, or those that 

 bloom on the wood made during the current year: 

 Hydrangea paniculata is one of the most common of this 

 class of shrubs. Spring blooming shrubs must be cut 

 back after flowering. To cut them back at this time 

 would mean the loss of the season's bloom. Ornamental 

 climbers will need care and should be thinned and tied 

 up where they are required. 



April 



During the early days of April all is activity in the 

 vegetable garden. Arrears of digging and preparation 

 for the reception of the crops should receive first atten- 

 tion. Such vegetable plants in the frames as cabbages, 

 cauliflowers, onions, leeks, should be thoroughly hardened 

 oflf before planting into their final quarters. Remove the 

 sash on all favorable days. Give an abundance of water 

 to crops that are growing under glass. Protect the hearts 

 of cauliflowers from direct sunshine bv breaking some 

 leaves over the center of the plant. Keep egg plants, 

 peppers and tomatoes moving, and allow them plenty of 

 room in which to develop. 



Make a sowing in pots of early sweet corn, lima beans, 

 squash, and cucumbers to be planted out when the 

 ground is warm enough. This method generally ensures 

 a gathering of these vegetables a week or two in ad- 

 vance of those sown outside. 



Transplant annuals from last month's sowing, using 

 a good light compost into which plenty of leaf soil has 

 been incorporated. Sow further batches of annuals for 

 succession. This is a good time to Sow the main plantings' 

 of Asters, Zinnias, Phlox Drummondii. Scabious, etc. 

 Plant out Pansies. Sweet Williams, Foxgloves, Canter- 

 bury Bells, or other early blooming subjects that have 

 wintered in the cold frame, as soon as favorable weather 

 permits. 



Get in a succession of peas ; marrowfat varieties are 

 generallv preferred. This is one of the most important 

 crops of the season and every effort should be made to 

 extend its duration. Sow the main crop of onions and 

 some early carrots and beets on a warm border. ]\Iake a 

 planting of parsley, radishes and lettuce. 



