APRIL. 



633 



APRIL. 



time. For salading and for pickling they 

 may be sown at any time up to June for 

 use in the summer and autumn, but if the 

 nain crop be sown later, a deficiency in 

 weight will be the result. 



Parsley. This may be sown at any 

 time, but a principal sowing is usually 

 made now. Some prefer sowing in shallow 

 drills, 8 or 10 inches apart ; but an even 

 broadcast sowing is preferable, at least if 

 the ground is in condition to be trodden, 

 which appears to fix the seeds in its place, 

 and, after raking, leaves a firm, even sur- 

 face, more comfortable to step on after- 

 wards. Use the small hoe as soon as up, 

 and thin out gradually, till the plants are 

 10 inches or a foot apart. 



Parsnips. The sowing of parsnips 

 should be completed this month, as they 

 require a long time to mature their growth. 

 The seed should be tolerably deeply 

 buried, say as much as I inch below the 

 surface of the soil. 



Peas. Seeds for late crops may be 

 sown any time this month, and even later, 

 for maintaining a succession as late as 

 possible into the year. The medium and 

 tall-growing sorts are the best to sow now, 

 and if sticks are plentiful, perhaps the 

 tall sort should have the preference. If 

 on good soil, and well mulched, they will 

 yield far better than most of the shorter 

 varieties, but the rows must of necessity 

 be further apart. 



Potatoes. The main crop should be got 

 in this month. As the ground is more 

 likely to be dry at this time, they may be 

 dibbled in whole, thus yielding food for 

 the young shoot till it can find its own a 

 most reasonable assumption, and one 

 worthy of adoption. When potatoes are 

 cut, it is best to expose them for a day or 

 two to render the surface of the cut callous 

 by giving the faces of the severed parts of 

 the tuber time to dry. 



Radishes. These should still be sown 



in the open ground for succession. They 

 do best if the beds are hooped and netted. 



Rampion may be sown about this time, 

 either in drills a foot apart, or on the sur- 

 face broadcast, treading and making it in : 

 in either case it may be thinned to 8 or 10 ' 

 inches apart, and may be used in the 

 summer and autumn in the same way as 

 spinach, and the roots as a winter vegetable. 



Sage is easily propagated by slipping off 

 young shoots, and dibbing them in where 

 they are to remain. They will want 

 watering, but no shade or covering. 



Salading) Small. Herbs used for this 

 purpose will do best if under hand glasses; 

 but they will do if wholly uncovered. 



Salsafy may be sown about the end of 

 this month, or beginning of next. It is 

 best to sow this seed in drills 15 inches 

 apart, or thereabouts, and thin to six inches 

 in the row. The roots of the plant (shown 

 in the annexed illustration) are usually 

 eaten in the same way as radishes, being 

 often a substitute for them during the 

 winter : in the spring time, the young 

 shoots are blanched and used as seakale. 

 Let the ground be deeply worked, but add 

 no manure. Sow in drills I inch deep and 

 15 inches apart, and tread and rake the 

 ground even after sowing. 



Savory, winter and summer, thyme, and 

 other herbs, may be sown and treated in 

 the same way as described for Sweet or 

 Knotted Marjoram ; but savory and indeed 

 most culinary herbs may be propagated by 

 slipping off young shoots and planting 

 them as directed above for sage. Dill, 

 fennel, horehound, and other herbs not 

 specified, may also be sown about the end 

 of April. Nearly all sweet and pot herbs 

 may be raised from seed if sown now, and 

 some of those used medicinally, as hore- 

 hound, camomile, &c. Tansy, wormwood, 

 &c., are best propagated from offsets. 



Scorzonera. This is sown in the same 

 manner as leek seed ; and, by some, is 



