APRIL. 



632 



APRIL. 



beginning of the month for the meridian 

 of London, and a fortnight later north of 

 Cheshire and Lancaster. If sown earlier, 

 except for early use, they are apt to make 

 a deal of superfluous growth, and grow 

 up lanky, in place of being firm and 

 stocky. This applies to borecoles and 

 Savoys, coleworts, and all greens usually 

 regarded as cabbages. 



Carrots. The main crops should now be 

 sown, and those who know the sweetness 

 and delicacy of the short-horn kinds in 

 their young state will take care to have a 

 supply of them. The Early Horn may 

 be sown for succession till the end of 

 July. 



Cauliflower. A small sowing of seeds 

 for planting out early may now be sown 

 in any warm spot in the garden. 



Celery. Seed may be sown during this 

 month for a late supply. Plants raised 

 early in the year in pots should now be 

 pricked out and pushed on by affording 

 them some slight protection, so that the 

 plants may not experience too severe a 

 check when the time arrives for them to 

 be transferred from temporary to permanent 

 quarters. 



Chervil is sown and treated in a similar 

 manner to parsley, and is much used in 

 some families. See that a good curled 

 sort is sown. 



Chicory. This is used both as a salad 

 in spring and also the roots as a vegetable ; 

 it should be sown late this month and the 

 two following. Sow in shallow drills a 

 foot apart, and thin to 8 or 10 inches in 

 the row : they need not be disturbed again 

 until taken up for use, or to put in a frame 

 to branch the tops ; but, in common with 

 all crops, they must be kept clear of weeds. 



Horseradish. This, if not already 

 planted, may also be planted this month 

 in an open spot. The ground should have 

 been already deeply trenched, and pre- 



the crowns of old roots taken up for 

 culinary use, and put them into holes 2 

 feet deep, and 2 feet apart in rows 3 feet 

 apart. 



Leeks. For the main crop leeks may be 

 sown this month in a bed for transplanting 

 into trenches later on. Sometimes a 

 sprinkling of onions is sown with them, to 

 be drawn, when very young, for salading. 



Lettuces. Lettuces should be sown for 

 succession ; the large Drumhead, or Maltese, 

 does well sown at this time. Cos lettuces 

 are generally preferred, as being considered 

 most crisp ; but any sort will do sown at 

 this season. 



Marjoram^ Pennyroyal, Thyme, <5rV., 

 may be increased by dividing the roots or 

 slipping of pieces off the plants with roots 

 to them, and planting with trowel or dibber, 

 taking care to water well. Sweet or 

 knotted marjoram must be sown every 

 year in the same way as basil ; but if 

 sown on the open ground this month, they 

 do well, although they are a long time 

 coming up. 



Marjoram, Sweet or Knotted. This is 

 usually sown this month, on a clear open 

 spot ; the seed is small, and should be 

 sown on the surface, trodden, and raked 

 evenly, and watered in dry weather. In 

 common with most herbs, it takes a long 

 time to germinate ; so that care should be 

 taken that it is not choked with weeds, 

 which, being of much quicker growth, are 

 likely to do so if not destroyed. They 

 should be removed by the hand, until the 

 plants are large enough to use the small hoe 

 with safety. 



Mint should be transplanted as soon as 

 the shoots are 3 inches high ; if it is to be 

 increased, merely pull up the shoots with 

 a piece of root, and dib them in 9 inches 

 apart, and water them. 



Onions. Sow the main crop by the 

 third or fourth week in this month, if not 



pared for the crop. T obtain sets, cut off 1 already done in March, which is a better 



