April.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 393 



the distance of four feet form trenches, north and south, about ten 

 inches deep, eight wide at bottom, and the edges sloping outward 

 regularly towards the centre of the ridges, formed by the earth 

 thrown up, the better to admit the sun to the seeds and plants; in 

 the bottom of these trenches lay three inches of very old horse- 

 dung; cast over this the same depth of earth, and with your spade 

 dig and incorporate both well together; cover the whole with mould 

 previously made fine with the rake, and draw a shallow drill with 

 your finger in the centre of each trench, not more than a quarter of 

 an inch deep, in which sow your seed very thin, and draw the 

 earth lightly over it, just to cover the seed and no more. This 

 should be done as early in this, or the preceding month, as the 

 ground can be got to work freely. 



When the plants are up they must be kept free from weeds, 

 and when grown a couple of inches, thinned to the distance of five 

 from one another, always leaving the strongest and most promising. 



When about eight inches high draw to their roots, on each side, 

 three inches deep of mould, and let them grow on till of sufficient 

 size to earth them up for blanching; then they are to be earthed 

 in the general way. Plants thus treated will arrive at perfection 

 three weeks earlier than those managed in the common method. 



Jisparugus. 



The forking, dressing, sowing, and planting of asparagus, if not 

 done last month, should be performed the first week in this, par- 

 ticularly the forking and dressing; for the shoots will be advancing 

 rapidly, and if not done in time they will be greatly injured, either 

 by omitting it altogether, or performing it at an untimely season. 

 New plantations ought to be made in the early part of the month; 

 the seed may be sown at any time therein, but the earlier the better. 

 For the methods of doing the whole, see pages 192, 193, and 194. 



Sowing Beet Seed. 



Beets of every kind may now be sown with good success. For 

 the kinds and methods of sowing them, see page 194. 



Sowing Onion and Leek Seed. 



Onion seed, if sov/n in the first week of this month, agreeably to 

 the directions given in page 194, will arrive at a tolerable size for 

 use the same season; but if sown for the purpose of raising seed 

 onions, or small bulbs for planting next year, the middle of the 

 month will be the proper time, or even towards the latter end. 

 Seeds for the latter purpose should be sown pretty thick, and in 

 poor gravelly ground; otherwise they will grow too large, or run to 

 tops and not bulb well. 



You may now sow a principal crop of leeks, either in drills, or as 

 directed for onions in page 194; if in drills, they may be landed, 



