MONTHLY CALENDAR. 281 



the seods one inch from seed to seed, and draw the earth in a ridge two inches 

 high, which will cover the seeds four inches ; when up, thin to three or four 

 inches. But it often happens that early sowings do not all come up, or come 

 thick in parts, leaving others bare ; so that, to regulate the crop, it is 

 necessary to thin out where they are thick and plant the thinnings to fill up 

 the vacancies. This should be done in mild weather, or in the morning, so 

 that in watering, to settle them in the ground, they may get warm before 

 night. 



764. Radishes may be sown thinly between the rows of the more enduring 

 crops, such as onions. 



765. Peas should be sown more this month, as formerly directed, and coal- 

 ashes scattered at the roots of those coming up, to prevent their destruction 

 by slugs, sowing a row of many-leaved spinach between the rows. 



§ 5. — Fruit-Garden. 



766. If there are any fi-uit-growers who still doubt the efficacy of protecting 

 the blossoms of apricots, peaches, and other wall-fruit, this month will test 

 their faith. To those who will be guided by reason, we say. Apply the most 

 efficient protection within your reach. This will probably be found in tem- 

 porary wood copings, projecting ten or twelve inches from the wall, with canvas 

 curtains attached, which can be readily removed in fine weather ; next to the 

 coping, worsted netting is, perhaps, the most efficient defence against severe 

 w«a.ther, with the least obstruction to the necessary circulation of air, light, 

 and rain. Those who have curtains will do well to use them, not only against 

 frost, but against the extreme ardour of the noon-day sun, which will at once 

 retard and strengthen their blossom. Generally speaking, the pruning and 

 nailing will be finished, but the trees should be washed with the garden-engine 

 or syringe, using tepid water, with solution of sulphur and soot, or lime-wash, 

 as a protection against scale and other insects. The apricot, the fruit of which 

 is held in such high estimation, has a tendency to die prematurely, — first a 

 branch, then a side, until scarce a vestige remains of the tree ; and this generally 

 occurs on fine sunny days in spring and early summer — supposed to ai"ise 

 from the sap-vessels being excited too early and rising too rapidly ; so that 

 they are in too watery a state to resist the severe frosts which sometimes follow. 

 Every possible protection should be given to these delicate trees, and, perhaps, 

 planting them in a border, where they would be less exposed to the action of 

 the sun, would help to retard the rising of the sap till the season was more 

 advanced. Trained trees not already disposed of should now be pruned 

 and dressed at once : to delay till the buds swell is to endanger them in the 

 process. 



767. In pruning all kinds of fruit-trees, there are a few general rules which 

 must not be lost sight of : — 



1. To arrange the branches, so that every part of the tree is exposed to 

 light and air, and the tree fairly balanced. 



