THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 117 



eighteen inches apart in the row. The rows should extend north and 

 south, thus allowing the sun to shine freely upon the soil ; for, unless 

 sufficient room is afforded for this in planting, their great luxuriance 

 of foliage will completely exclude it ; when planted in lines east and 

 west, the soil is totally excluded from the rays of the sun, the want of 

 which is clearly a matter of great importance. Some recommend 

 the tubers to be cut into sets ; I prefer planting them whole, using 

 those of middling size only ; doubtless, if the demand be great, then 

 divide them by all means, but if no scarcity need be apprehended, 

 then use whole tubers. I have always found the latter more produc- 

 tive. Plant immediately ; not a day should be lost, as our short 

 seasons scarcely admit of sufficient time for the complete maturation 

 of the tubers. An intelligent correspondent recommends cutting off 

 the stems at three feet from the ground. I should, in this case, 

 allow nature to run her course ; and with all plants having tuberous 

 roots this course is preferable ; if we wish to make the most of the 

 tubers, they should both be allowed to ripen together — the one for 

 food, the other for fuel. During the summer, the soil should be well 

 worked over with the hoe, keeping it open and free from weeds. 

 The crop will be fit for use about the same time that our late 

 potatoes come in ; they do not require to be dug up as the potato 

 and protected, but may remain in the ground to be taken up as 

 required for use ; although, should frost set in, it will be advisable to 

 have a supply housed in sand, where they can be easily come at. 



SEED SOWING. 



■a ff v 



IHIS season of the year will render more appropriate than 

 at any other time some observations on what is a most 

 important subject, although it may appear to some 

 readers too plain and commonplace to need any com- 

 ment. As the commonest terms employed in the lan- 

 guage of ordinary life are those around which ambiguities and errors 

 are found to cluster, so in all arts and sciences first principles 

 demand earnest consideration as the fruitful source of success or 

 fail ure. 



Most observant persons must have remarked that in gardening, 

 in all its branches, a few scieutific rules rationally observed are the 

 strongholds of the best cultivators. Let these be understood, and 

 after processes are easy ; let them be neglected, and no other 

 advantages will compensate for the loss. In March and April all 

 the main crops in tho fields and gardens are expected to be in the 

 ground, and Diviue Providence has given to this time a seasonal 

 character, adapted expressly to this important end. The temperature 

 is raised, the soil is made dry and light by continued winds, while 

 frequent showers support the germ until its deeply-struck roots 

 make it less dependent on the state of the surface. Contemplating 

 this arrangement with docility, we shall imitate it in our little 



April. 



