192 



IRISH c;ari)i:mng. 



UKCKMHI-R 



tako up inoio roots than you ii'i|uin.' for i-aoli batili. It 

 is often a mat tor i>(" ooiuonioiioo wIutp ami how tlu- 

 roots are forooil, but tlio tiinporaluio must ho hl.^h 

 eiiouich to foroo >;rowth, yot not loo hiyh or I ho pro- 

 duce will bo thin and weak, ami olti-ii ton^^h wiion 

 cooked. After soakale and rlmbarl) havo >;ot a few 

 niifhts' frost they start into i;frowth at a lower tonipera- 

 lure. As a jjeneral rule the linost j^rowth is had In- 

 adopting the old practice of forcinif where the roots are 

 jjrown. Cover the crowns with seakale pots or inverted 

 boxes without lids and the bottoms loose, so that the 

 jrrowths can be examineil without movinjj much of the 

 heatinjf material, which shoukl be a mixture of stable 

 manure and leaves about three feet deep. Kxamine 

 regularly to seeth.it no haitn results from the material 

 jfettinif too hot. If it does, open holes to let heal 

 escape. 



Khihakh. — After a rest not much heat is rciiuircd to 

 force rhubarb, especially the early red forms, if put in 

 a house where heat can be gfiven, and the roots kept 

 moist. Under the stag-e of a warm plant house is a 

 good place if light is excluded and suflicient room 

 given for the stalks to grow. Cover permanently 

 planted roots with bottomless boxes or inverted tubs, 

 lids being necessary. At this time of the year a good 



do|ilh .mil wiilth of m.mure .-iiul le;ives fi>r hcitini; is 

 neccss.iry. three to four feet not being too much. Care- 

 fully gu.ud ag.iinst too much heat, as great harm to 

 the rhub.irb may result. 



C.i.oHi: Arthiiokks. — These, after the few nigliis" 

 frost early in this month, look bad in many places, sn 

 prilled then) with dry litter, e\en putting some over 

 the tojvs of the pl.mts, so ;ts ti> have strong shoots next 

 spring. 



i'v^r.\T<n:s. — If it is intended to force potatoes in pits 

 or pots the sets shotdd now be started by putting them 

 in boxes, and place in gentle heat on a light shelf, ami 

 they will then start strong spiouts, all but one of which 

 shoukl be rubbed off before pl.mting. Too much cm- 

 c.innot be given to the storing of seeil potatoes, cspei i- 

 .illy early varieties. Now is the time, if not alre.iily 

 ilone, to place the seed in boxes, and these can be stood 

 over each other, but with strips of wood between to 

 ,-idmil light and air, and should be kept dry and cool. 

 It is only when growth commences that the boxes 

 should be placed singly, when the more light and ;iir 

 the better, and the sprouts will be strong and purple in 

 colour. Ninelyfold, Duke of York, and British (Jueen 

 are good early sorts for bo.xing, and the second ami 

 third named are grand quality potatoes. 



I lioard a music sweet to-day, 



A simple olden tune, 

 And thoiii^ht of yellow leaves of May 



.•\nd bursting- buds of June, — 

 Of dew-drops sparkling on the spray 



Until the thirst of noon. 



A golden primrose in the rain 



Out of the green did grow — 

 .'Vh ! sweet of life in winter's wane, 



When airs of April blow ! — 

 TliLMi melted with the changing stiain 



into a dream oi' sp.ow. 



— Thunuis M(i(/)()inii;/i. 



FXD OF \-OFL'ME \" 



