SEASONAL REMINDERS 505 



each way. As growth begins, gradually expose them to the open air 

 on all favorable occasions. Late in March remove them to a cold- 

 frame, and properly harden them off before setting them in the open 

 ground. 



Celery. — We urgently advise every one who has a garden, large 

 or small, to make a trial of the new celery-culture. You need, first, 

 good plants. Get some seed of White Plume or Golden Self-blanch- 

 ing, and sow it thickly in flats filled with fine loam. Cover by sifting 

 a thin layer of sand or fine soil over it, and firm well. Keep in a mod- 

 erately warm place, watering as needed, until plants appear. If you 

 have a number of flats, they may be placed on top of one another. 

 At the first sign of plant-growth, bring the flats gradually to the light. 

 When the plants are H or 2 in. high, transplant them into other flats, 

 setting them in rows 2^ in. apart, the plants half an inch apart in 

 the rows. Then set the flats in a coldframe until the plants are large 

 enough to plant out in the open ground. 



Hotbeds for raising early plants should be made this month. Always 

 break the manure up fine and tread it down well. Be sure to put 

 enough in the center of beds, so that there will be no sagging. Fresh 

 manure of hard-worked and well-fed horses, free from dry litter, is 

 best. An addition of leaves used for bedding will serve to produce 

 a more moderate but more lasting heat. Sheep-manure may also 

 be added to the horse-manure, should there be a scant supply of the 

 latter on hand. 



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 1 ft. apart and about 3 in. apart 

 in the row. 



Plums. — Make a thorough inspection of all plum and cherry trees, 

 wild and cultivated, for plum-knot. Cut and burn all the knots found. 

 Remove all " mummy " plums, for they spread the fruit-rot. 



Rhubarb. — Give the plants in the garden a heavy dressing 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 



