lo April. 191 i.] Orchard and Garden Notes. 289 



able. The outlet should always be left so that it can be readily seen — 

 a substantial stake might be placed so as to mark the outlet. Another 

 important point to be considered is the keeping of records and plans of 

 all drains laid down. If possible, all new areas should be drained before 

 planting. 



Preparation of New Land. 

 As mentioned last month, all land for new planting should be prepared 

 and ploughed early so as to allow the soil to mellow and sw'eeten for some 

 time before planting. This should be done at once. 



Vegetable Garden. 



There should now be no untidy or undug plots in the kitchen gai'den. 

 The vacant beds should all be well dug over and prepared for the plant- 

 ing of vegetables for u.se in spring. In digging, a top dressing of manure 

 should be given; this may be dug in. All weeds, too, may be forked into 

 the trenches, and covered well with the soil as each spit or length is dug. 

 A dressing of lime is very beneficial at this time of the year. 



Asparagus Beds. 



A start should now be made at cleaning out the asparagus beds. This 

 vegetable is most popular, and yet one rarely met with in ordinary house- 

 hold gardens. Tt is supposed to be difficult to grow, but this supposition 

 is not borne out; as, once established, a bed of asparagus is one of the 

 most easily managed plots in the whole garden. Depth of good soil 

 and plenty of manure are all that this plant requires. 



In establishing a new bed, it is advisable to see that there is a good 

 depth of two or three feet of rich, well manured soil. If this is not 

 present, the soil should be dug out to that depth, and thoroughly mixed 

 and enriched with well rotted manure before being replaced. A bed 

 deeply prepared, and supplied with ample quantities of manure, should 

 last without replanting for very many years. The young plants or crowns 

 should then be planted in trenches, keeping the rows two or three feet 

 apart. An asparagus bed requires ample and direct expasure to the full 

 rays of the sun. The asparagus should not be cut during the first .season 

 after planting. In fact, it is better to allow it to go uncut for two 

 .sea.sons. As little foreign weed growth as possible should be allowed in 

 the beds ; but, when thev are not producing culinary asparagus, rows of 

 lettuce, beans, radish, &c., may be grown between the crowns. 



Towards the cud of April the tops may be cut down, the beds 

 rleant'fl. ami a good top dressing of stable manure given. Chemical 

 fertilizers, such as lK>nedust, sulphate of ammonia, and sulphate of 

 potash, may be given as a substitute to organic manurr. In the past it 

 has been th<' custom to annually top dress the beds with salt. Tt was sup- 

 posed that, as asparagus in its native habit was usually found in .sand> 

 .soils nt-ar the sea coast, the plant ref|uired salt or a saline .soil, to produce 

 successful results. It has latterly Ix^en found that .salt is not at all essen- 

 tial tf) g<K)d growth, anfl that the plant will rearlily adapt itself, anil grow 

 well, in soils of not at all a saline character. Where potash has t.iken the 

 place of salt, quite improved results followed. 



I( is I good rule (o ob,ser\(' that no ripe .seeds shall be allowed to fall 

 on to the beds ; thev should he stripped off the plants before thev have 

 a chance to drop. Se«^illings will beeome .1 iiuisunee in the beds. an<l they 

 interfere with tlie regularity ol the rows. 



.Sowing. 



•V feu early p<,'as, al.so some broad beans, may now be sown ; cabbage, 

 cauliflower, and other .seedlings should be planted out from the seed lieHs. 



