112 



NEW ENGLAND FAEIVIER. 



March 



For the Kew England Farmer. 

 THE GARDEN IN MARCH. 



In our latitude, little outdoor labor in the 

 garden can be done to advantage this month, 

 as cold winds, frosts and ice prevail to a con- 

 siderable extent. The most we can do to 

 advantage is in preparation for later st-atona- 

 ble work, and this is equally important, and 

 will often amount to more than actually 

 ploughing and planting. In some very favor- 

 able localities it may do to prepare hot-beds, 

 but generally April is soon enouqh for this. 

 If a few pleasant days occur, do not be impa- 

 tient to throw off winter protection of plants, 

 vines, &c., for we shall have cold snaps, per- 

 haps, to destroy such if unprotected. Recol- 

 lect that it is not usually cold and freezing 

 which injures plants, &c., but it is the change 

 from freezing to thawing, and thawing to 

 freezing suddenly, as stated heretofore. 



The plant is made up of cells, through 

 which the sap Hows ; each cell is separated 

 from the other by a thin membraneous parti- 

 tition, and through this partition the sap thids 

 its way from one cell to anotber till it reaches 

 the extremities and the leaves, where it un- 

 dergoes certain changes, and then descends 

 through the alburnum or inner bark of the tree 

 or plant. As it passes along in its downward 

 course, substances are elaborated and ab- 

 sorbed into the structure which increase the 

 size of the plant. Now if the sap begins to 

 flow and is suddenly stopped, it operates sim- 

 ilar to water flowing in a tube, where, if an 

 obstruction is presented as the water flows 

 along, there is a sudden strain on the tube, 

 which, perhaps, causes it to burst, and thus 

 renders it an imperfect conductor. In the 

 case of the plant, the freezing, by expanding 

 the liquid sap, bursts the partitions of the cells, 

 and if severe, the ducts and cells are render^ 

 imperfect conductors of the sap, and it takes 

 the plant some time to recover, if indeed it 

 ever recovers from the effects of such freezing. 



Specific directions for the garden this month 

 will be mainly a repetition of what has been 

 given for one or two months past ; instead of 

 which I would refer the reader to the same, 

 and ask, have they been followed ? If not, I 

 would urge him to lose no time in getting "a 

 few turns ahead" with his spring work ; and 

 in the place of the regular calendar will say 

 a few words about seeds, the time they retain 

 their vitality, &c. 



All will agree upon the importance of good 

 seed, but all are not as careful in saving and 

 procuring them as they should be. As there 

 IS great difference in the circumstances under 

 which seeds are kept, there can be no positive 

 data fixed as to the time they are capable of 

 retaining their vitality. When, therefore, we 

 see tables giving the time that seeds will retain 

 vitality we are to understand that the natural 

 requirements of such seeds have been com- 

 plied with. 



All seeds of vegetables ' should be kept in 

 an even temperature, where they will neither 

 dry up nor gather moisture, in ordinary paper 

 bags, or in paper or wdod boxes. How long 

 they would keep if hermetically sealed, or so 

 close as to exclude all circulation of air, is un- 

 known, but undoubtedly many years would 

 be required to entirely deprive them of all 

 vitality. 



Cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin 

 seeds will retain their vitality ten to twelve 

 years ; and plants grown from the seed in- 

 crease in fruitfulness for several years after 

 being first saved, although they decrease in 

 earliness of germination, as they attain age. 

 Seeds that can be depended on only the sea- 

 son following production are, onion, parsnip, 

 parsley, salsify, pepper, carrot, egg-plant, 

 celery, summer savory, coriander, caraway, 

 and sage. Other seeds vary from two to six 

 years. Some writers regard beans of all 

 kinds as sure to germinate only two or three 

 years ; but I have found no difficulty in keep- 

 ing them and having success for four or five 

 years. I have always found it safest, and 

 would recommend others to purchase and plant 

 only fresh groicn seed, with the exception of 

 those mentioned as improving by age. 



Wm. H. White. 



Soutli Windsor, Conn., ISGD. 



GARDENING BY A "WOMAN. 



A widow lady of Boise City, California, 

 has recently written several short articles for 

 the California Farmer, detailing her experi- 

 ence and success in gardening. In her letter 

 of November 5, she says : — 



Have not I reason to sing and be glad.-* 

 Only a little time ago the world looked so dark 

 and dreary. Never can we forget the heart- 

 ache and utter desolation of spirit we endured 

 when calling at the dry good stores, book 

 stores, and other places seeking employment 

 as a saleswoman ; all these applications were 

 fruitless. One said, "We don't believe in wo- 

 man's rights." We besought with tears a 

 place to work at one-half the salary paid to 

 young men. "Only take me on trial, I am 

 sure I can try to please you." "No!" the 

 answer came, "we should lose customers." 

 Then, a woman's place is at home ! What 

 mockery ! Home ! yes, home, and yet not a 

 home ! because rent must be paid, wood 

 bought, provisions, lights, everything, — and 

 the active brain and strong arms that carried 

 this burden were gone forever ! No wonder 

 thou§.auds of v/oman are hurried on to swift 

 destruction. Oh, that they knew the balm 

 there is in the blessed sunshine and crisp frosty 

 mornings, and the sweet satisfaction in sleep- 

 ing, resting and singing, while the elements 

 combine tlielr powers to make her food grow. 

 If old Ben Franklin and Prof. Morse were 



