234 GARDENING FOB PROFIT. 



Where extra laborers are wanted for the garden, I have 

 always considered it economy to secure them in the early 

 part of March, even a week or two before they are really 

 needed, for if the hiring of them is delayed until the rush 

 of work is upon us, we often have to pay higher rates for 

 inferior hands, and have less time to initiate them, in their 

 duties. To such as require large numbers of hands, and 

 look to such ports as New York for emigrants, let me cau- 

 tion my friends from the rural districts not to believe too 

 implicitly in the promises of these prospective American 

 citizens. Much vexatious experience has taught me 

 that one out of every three men is either worthless, or 

 will run away, so that for many years back, if I wanted 

 four hands, I made one job of it and hired six, well know- 

 ing, that before a week had passed, my force would be 

 reduced to the required number. 



APRIL brings nearly all the operations of the garden 

 under way, the planting and sowing of all the hardy vari- 

 eties of vegetables is completed this month. (See table, 

 in article on Seed Sowing). Look well to the hot-beds, 

 cold frames, or forcing pits ; they will require abundance 

 of air, and, (where artificial heat is used), plenty of water; 

 we have now bright sunshine, promoting rapid vegetation 

 under glass, and to have heavy crops, they must not be 

 stinted in water. Hot-beds are particularly critical in this 

 month; an hour or two of neglect, in giving air, may 

 quickly scorch the tender plants that you have been 

 nursing with so much care for a month previous; and a 

 balmy April day may terminate in a stinging frost at 

 night, making short work of your hot-beds if they are 

 not well covered up by straw mats. 



