MARCH. 



618 



MARCH. 



mild weather. Sow them moderately 

 thin .in drills or beds (each sort sepa- 

 rated) in good light soil ; if in drills, 

 6 inches apart : some of the plants to 

 remain where planted, after a thinning 

 for early use; others to be planted out 

 in the summer. 



Beans. The chief crops of this useful 

 vegetable should be sown this month ; 

 sowings of the Green Windsor Broad 

 Bean and Long Pod Bean being made 

 as early as possible. 



Beans, French. These may be sown 

 towards the end of this month, choos- 

 ing an early dwari sort ; but the prin- 

 cipal sowing should be deferred till 

 next month. Those sown this month 

 should be in a border, sheltered from 

 cold winds, but open to the full sun. 

 This crop is less hardy than most others, 

 being often cut off by late spring frosts, 

 of which it is very susceptible ; for that 

 reason it is advisable to sow rather 

 sparingly this month, and also to sow 

 rather thickly. In sowing, draw some 

 drills 2 feet apart and 2 inches deep ; 

 drop the seeds I inch from seed to seed, 

 and draw the earth in a ridge 2 inches 

 high, which will cover the seeds 4 

 inches ; when up, thin to 3 or 4 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. 



Broccoli. Such sorts as Walcheren, 

 Purple Cape, or any sort that heads in 

 autumn, should be sown at this time in 

 the same manuer as cabbage or cauli- 

 flower. They will be ready to plant out 

 for good in May or June, or will be very 



useful at a time when summer crops are 

 over and winter crops not ready. 



Brussels Sprouts, &c. Let a sowing be 

 made on a fairly warm border at the end of 

 the month. Sowings should also be made 

 of Scotch Kale, Savoys, Sprouting Broccoli, 

 and other winter greens. 



Cabbages. It is advisable to sow some 

 cabbage seed of a quick hearting sort to 

 follow those raised in January, or that have 

 stood the winter. They will be of great 

 service in July and the following months, 

 The Early York, Large York, Nonpareil, 

 Matchless, or indeed any sort, will do for 

 the purpose. Sow broadcast on a warm 

 sheltered spot, and protect from birds with 

 light litter or netting ; but, if covered with 

 litter, it must be uncovered to admit light 

 and air, or the plants will be drawn up 

 weak. Avoid planting cabbages when the 

 ground is soddened after heavy rains. 

 The soil is best when tolerably dry, and 

 the state of the weather most favourable 

 is a dull day preceding rain. It is an 

 excellent plan at all times to mulch the 

 roots of the young plants in a compost 

 of soil and soot, wetted to the con- 

 sistency of thick paste. This saves a 

 great deal of trouble in watering after- 

 wards, and in the driest weather will 

 generally prevent flagging. Broccoli 

 plants so treated will be found very 

 free from clubbing. All young plants 

 should be set deep, certainly to within 

 an inch of the first leaf. 



Cardoons are not so generally cultivated 

 now as formerly, especially in small 

 gardens, on account of the space they 

 require. The seed is sown in March, 

 in a warm sheltered spot, or under a 

 handglass or frame. When large enough, 

 they are planted 8 or 10 inches apart, 

 in rich or well-manured soil. Then 

 again, they are planted in rows or 

 trenches, after the manner of celery, 

 only at a much greater distance froro 



