MONTHLY CALENDAR 287 



times the amount put on the surface after the hole is 

 filled up. After planting in a dry time the surface soil 

 should be kept light and mellow or mulch of hay or 

 straw be used to keep in the moisture. 



The Flower Garden. Here, as in every other line of 

 work in the farm and garden, every moment must be 

 made the most of. The earlier transplanting of hardy 

 plants is done, the better. The fight against weeds like 

 witch grass, sorrel, etc., must be made early, and the 

 weeds pulled out root and branch and taken to the com- 

 post pile. Annual weeds are best destroyed with a rake 

 or light hoe as the seedlings are breaking through the 

 ground. An hour's time at this stage of growth will 

 accomplish more than a day when the weeds are large. 



The Vegetable Garden. All crops that grow at a low 

 temperature should be planted outside this month or 

 early the next. The asparagus bed should be cleaned 

 up, the tops burned, and manure or fertilizer worked 

 in. Rhubarb beds should be treated in the same way. 

 If they were covered last fall with a heavy coating of 

 manure the coarsest part should be removed and the 

 finer spaded in. If the soil is heavy cover seeds lightly. 

 A good rule for covering seeds is, under the average good 

 condition of soil, to cover two or three times their thick- 

 ness when the soil is well pressed upon them. 



The Orchard. If possible spray all fruit trees before 

 the blossoms open. Use Paris green or arsenate of lead 

 for all leaf-eating insects. Remove the webs of all tent 

 caterpillars from fruit trees and the wild cherry while 

 they are small. 



If young trees are kept dormant they may be planted 

 until the middle of May, but their chances for growing 

 are much less than if planted earlier. Consult experi- 

 ment station bulletins as to latest and best methods of 

 combating insect and fungous pests. 



