MARCH. 



MARCH. 



purpose, in the first and third weeks of the 

 ntionth. 



Turnips. For use in haricots, &c., in 

 late spring and early summer, a bed of 

 some good early turnip, such as the 

 Early Red Dutch or White Stone, should 

 be sown. 



March. Orchard House, Work 

 in. 



Birds, Green Fly, and Ants. Dust the 

 front buds with a plentiful dressing of soot, 

 to keep intrusive birds from feeding on 

 them. Green fly should be killed off 

 before the trees are in full bloom by 

 tobacco smoke, dispersed through the 

 house with a fumigator, or by means 

 of Gishurst's Compound. If fumigation 

 is resorted to, the ventilators and all 

 apertures should be carefully closed, so 

 that the smoke may effectually perform 

 its death-dealing mission. Ants may be 

 destroyed by pouring boiling water on 

 the nest, or by a mixture of sugar and 

 beer, in which arsenic has been mixed. 

 Chloride of lime will drive them from 

 their haunts. 



Fertilisation. If bees are about, they 

 will accomplish the work of fecundation in 

 the most effectual manner ; but if the 

 weather is not such as to admit of the 

 appearance of these useful little insects, 

 apply the pollen of the stamens to the 

 pistils of the flowers with a camel-hair 

 pencil, or shake the trees gently, that 

 the pollen may be dispersed and set 

 free to do its mission. 



Temperature. In this department a 

 temperature ranging from 45 to 50 will 

 be sufficient, as the fruit-trees here will 

 be in blossom, and too great a degree 

 of heat is detrimental at this stage. 

 Ventilation, as much as can be safely 

 given, is absolutely necessary, but in 

 the heated orchard house, as well as in 

 the heated vinery, thorough draught must 



be avoided throughout the whole of March- 

 In the unheated orchard house, thorough' 

 draught is rather desirable than otherwise, 

 because in a house of this description the 

 trees are not yet in bloom, and a full flood 

 of air into the house from all quarters- 

 retards the blooming. 



Watering. Plenty of water should now 

 be given, to prevent any dryness at the- 

 roots. By this it must be understood that 

 copious watering is necessary only at such, 

 periods when the earth appears dry, and 

 not as a matter of every-day occurrence. 

 Syringe the trees twice daily in fine 

 weather, but not on dull and cloudy- 

 days. 



March. Shrubbery, &c., Work 

 in. 



Alterations and Planting. Let alii 

 planting and alterations cease for this 

 season at once. Finish digging and 

 clearing all this department, and manage 

 to have a clean home for the shrubs- 

 before they robe themselves in their 

 beautiful flowers. Attend to staking, 

 tying, and mulching all newly or 

 recently planted trees and shrubs before- 

 the March winds tear them half up by 

 the roots. Choice specimens, recentljr 

 moved, would be much benefited by a 

 copious syringing with the engine, on 

 the evenings of dry, pinching days, to 

 check perspiration, and husband the 

 scanty juices of the plants. 



Rhododendron Beds. Top dress rhodo- 

 dendron beds with equal parts of cow dung 

 (thoroughly decayed ; say four years old) 

 and leaf mould. On poor soils this im- 

 parts a rich gloss to the foliage, and' 

 causes luxuriant, healthy growth. Where 

 such material is not procurable, a thick 

 layer of leaves may be pointed in with' 

 excellent results. Pointing, in gardening, 

 means stirring the surface of the ground 

 with a fine fork. 



