FEBRUARY AND MARCH IN THE NORTH 391 



Onions. We urgently advise giving the new onion- 

 culture a trial. For seed, buy a packet or an ounce of 

 Prizetaker, Spanish King, White Victoria, or some other 

 large kind of globe onion. Sow the seed in flats, in a 

 hotbed, or in a greenhouse late in the month, and trans- 

 plant the onions to the open ground as soon as the latter 

 is in working condition. Set the plants in rows one foot 

 apart and three inches apart in the row. Seed will be scarce 

 this season, that of white varieties especially so. 



Plums. Make a thorough inspection of all plum and 

 cherry trees, wild and cultivated, for plum-knot. Cut 

 and burn all the knots found. 



Rhubarb. Give the plants in the garden a heavy dress- 

 ing of fine old compost. If you wish a few early stalks, 

 place kegs or boxes over some of the plants, and heap 

 over them some heating horse -manure. 



MARCH 



Beets. A. few seeds may be sown in the hotbed. 



Cabbage, cauliflower and celery seeds may be sown for 

 the early crop. 



Eggplants. Seeds should be sown. Take care that the 

 young plants are never stunted. 



Grafting may be done in favorable weather. Cherries 

 and plums must be grafted early. Use liquid grafting- 

 wax in cold weather. 



Hotbeds may be made at any time, but do not grow 

 impatient about the work, for there will be cold weather 

 yet. Clean, fresh manure is necessary, and a layer two 

 feet thick should be tramped hard. When once started 

 and the seeds sown, do not let the beds get too hot. 

 Give them air on fine days and give the seedlings plenty 

 of water. Use two thermometers one to test the atmos- 

 phere and the other the heat of the soil. 



Lettuce should be sown in the hotbed for an early crop. 



Onion seed for the new onion -culture may be sown at 

 the close of the month. 



Peas. Sow now, if the ground can be worked. 



Peppers may be sown late in the month. 



Potatoes kept for seed must not be allowed to sprout. 

 Keep them in a temperature near freezing point. Rub off 

 the sprouts from potatoes kept for eating, and pick out 

 all decayed specimens. 



