THE DAWN OF SPRING 



Potatoes. — Many gardeners plant the bulk of their March 

 Potatoes in the latter half of March, and there is 16-31 

 certainly no objection, provided that the soil is friable 

 and merely damp, not "cloggy." The ground is bene- 

 fited by digging deeply and giving a dressing of good 

 yard manure at the rate of two barrow-loads per square 

 rod ; the manure should be turned quite under, so that 

 it is out of contact with the tubers ; the feeding roots 

 may be trusted to find it. Wide drills about three 

 inches deep may be drawn. For early sorts they may 

 be twenty-four inches apart, for late ones twenty-eight. 

 A handful of chemical manure, consisting of three parts 

 superphosphate and one part sulphate of potash, may be 

 spread on each yard of drill. The seed sets may be put 

 in twelve and fourteen inches apart respectively. I have 

 already said that sets of about two ounces in weight are 

 suitable, and they may be planted uncut, save for slicing 

 a bit off the end to see that the flesh is free from 

 brownish streaks ; if the latter are present the set is 

 unsound, and ought not to be planted. If the early sorts 

 have been " sprouted " in boxes in accordance with 

 previous advice, so much the better. After the drills 

 have been filled in, the loose soil beside the rows may 

 be drawn over them in a ridge three inches high. 

 Sharpe's Express (early), British Queen, Windsor Castle, 

 or Snowdrop (succession), and Sensation (late) are good 

 varieties. 



Radishes. — The earlier sowings may be succeeded by 

 others at fortnightly intervals, the seed being sprinkled 

 broadcast on fine, moist soil, covered an inch deep, and 

 protected from birds with black thread or fish netting. 

 French Breakfast is a good variety for present sowing. 



Rhubarb. — If it is desired to raise Rhubarb from seed, 

 a sowing may be made now, in drills an inch deep and 

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