336 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [APRIL 



see. Hoe the spinage sowed in the former months, and thin the 

 plants to three, four, or five inches distance. 



CARROTS AND PARSNEPS. 



Carrots may now be sown for a full crop ; but in order to have 

 tolerable sized roots, in some reasonable time in summer, let the seed 

 be sown the beginning of the month. 



Where, however, a supply of young carrots is required, it is pro- 

 per to perform three different sowings this month ; the first in the 

 beginning, the second about the middle, and the third towards the 

 latter end. 



Parsneps may also be sown in the beginning or middle of this 

 month ; but if later, the crop will not succeed well, at least not to 

 have large swelling roots in full perfection. 



For the method of sowing both carrots and parsneps, see page 199. 



Note. There are several varieties of the garden carrot ; differing 

 in the color of their roots ; such as the orange, white, yellow, and 

 dark red. These variations may be continued by taking care not to 

 mix them together in the same garden. There is another variety 

 called the horn-carrot, differing in the form of its root, the lower 

 part terminating in a round, abrupt manner, and not tapering off 

 gradually like the others ; this is the earliest sort, is of an orange 

 color, and very delicious; and should always be sown for a first crop. 

 The long orange carrot is the best for a principal crop. They all de- 

 light and thrive in a deep, rich, sandy loam. 



CELERY. 



The young celery plants, arising from the seed sown in February 

 or March for an early crop, will be fit to prick out now, some in the 

 beginning, and others towards the middle or latter end of the month, 

 into a nursery-bed of rich light earth, or in a hot-bed, to forward 

 them still more. 



Prepare a spot of ground, form it into three or four feet wide beds, 

 and rake the surface smooth ; then thin out a quantity of the best 

 plants from the seed-bed, and plant them into the above, at about 

 three inches distance ; or you may prick some of the earliest into a 

 moderate hot-bed to forward them ; give a gentle watering, and re- 

 peat it occasionally till the plants have taken fresh root. 



They should remain in these beds a month or five weeks, to get 

 strength before they are planted out finally into the trenches. 



As these early sown plants, after they become fit for use, will not 

 continue long before they run up for seed, there should not be more 

 of them raised or planted out than are necessary for an early supply. 



Sow some celery seed in the first or second week of this month, to 

 raise plants for a general cropj and to succeed those which were sown 

 in March. 



Dig for this purpose a bed of rich light earth, and make the sur- 

 face even ; sow the seed thereon tolerably thick, and rake it in light- 

 ly ; in dry weather give frequent moderate watering, both before and 



