120 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



HOBnCTJLTIIBAL NOTES FOR THE MONTH. 



At present the prospects are not favorable for an 

 early spring. In this section little can yet be done 

 in the gardens. Hot- beds have been started for 

 «arly cucumbers, lettuce, &c., but it is rather early, 

 &s long as the weather is so cold. It will be neces- 

 sary to cover them well with straw mats or other 

 material in cold nights and stormy days, availing 

 ourselves of every opportunity to ventilate during 

 warm weather, 



la making hot-beds it is of great importance to 

 have them in a location protected from the wind. 

 We are satisfied that the wind proves more ii^ri- 

 ous to plants than steady cold. Another point in 

 making a hot-bed should be mentioned. It is bet- 

 ter to make it on the surface than to dig a pit for 

 the manure. It ferments more readily, and some 

 additional manure can be placed on the sides and 

 ends with less trouble when needed, 



A few seeds of tomato, egg-plant, celery, &c., 

 may be sown in boxes and -placed in the hot-bed to 

 start. They will be ready to prick out into a cold 

 frame or warm border before the cucumber vines 

 occupy the whole bed. A few early cabbage and 

 Early Paris Cauliflower may be started in the sarao 

 way. But with us they do better when not 

 gown too early. 



Those who have not frames and sash for a hot- 

 bed, may start the above plant« in the house, and 

 when large enough to transplant they may be set 

 out on a bed prepared as follows : On some dry, 

 well drained spot in the garden, sheltered from the 

 wind, dijj; out a pit 5 feet wide and 18 inches deep, 

 and of any desired length, Drivea aiake in each of 

 the four corners and place some boards round the pit, 

 on the top of the ground, and earth up to the top of 

 tlie boards on the outside. Then fill the pit with hot 

 horse uKinure as liigh as the bottom of the boards, 

 and place four or five inclies of good, rich, well 

 prepared surface soil on the top. Rake it off smooth 

 and cover with boards or mats for a few days, 

 when it will be warmed through. This will be 

 jost the place to set out the plants raised in the 



house. In transplanting take them tip with a com- 

 mon three pronged fork so as to disturb the roots 

 as little as possible. Water thoronghly before 

 tran8j)limting, and give a gentle watering with luke- 

 warm water after the plants are set out. Shade the 

 bed a little, at first, from tl: e sun, and cover it up 

 on cold nights and wet days. 



A bed of this kind will also be very useful to start 

 cauliflower and cabbage plants, lettuce, &g. Gar- 

 deners are beginning to understand that a gentle 

 bottom heat, and a protection from the wind are 

 of more importance than the warm, close atmos- 

 phere of a hot-bed frame. Sash is now so expen- 

 sive that every expedient should be adopted to dis- 

 pense with it, and there is nothing better than the 

 bed we have described. 



As soon as the ground can be worked, sow peas 

 in some warm part of the garden. Let the ground 

 be mellow and moderately rich, and sovr the peas at 

 least three inches deep. 



Lettuce, radishes, &c., should be sown on a wann 

 border as soon as the ground is ready to work. 

 We prefer to sow in rows, thinning out the lettuce 

 as they are ready to eat, leaving the main crop six 

 or eight inches apart. Lettuce seed should be cov- 

 ered as lightly as. possible; radish a little deeper, 

 but not more than half an inch. Onions, carrots, 

 &c., shotdd also be sown in drills as soon as the 

 weather becomes settled. The early short-horn 

 carrot is the best for table use. It may be sown 

 thick, and thinned out and eaten when quite small. 



Plant a few Early June potatoes as soon as the 

 weather will permit. 



Rhubarb, or pie-plant, may be forwarded by 

 placing a few sticks, or an old barrel with a head 

 taken oif, around a plant, and banking it up with 

 some hot manure. Cover the top in cold nights. 

 This will bring forward the rhubarb rapidly, and it 

 will be nice and tender. 



If the raspberry plants were not attended to last 

 fall, all the old canes should now be cut out, and 

 four or five of the strongest new canes should be 

 shortened in to three or four feet, according to 

 their strength, and tied to stakes. 



Blackberries must be treated in the same way, 

 and we hope you have got a good pair of thick 

 glovi^s for the operation. 



Fork over the asparagus bed lightly and give it a 

 liuht coat of uianure. 



Examiiio the trunks of peach trees for the grub. 

 You will discover him by liLs chips. If yon cannot 

 reach him with your knife run a piece of wire up 

 his furrow and finish him. Cut out old, decayed and 



