506 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



MARCH 



Beets. — A few seeds may be sown in the hotbed. 



Cabbage, cauliflower, and celery seeds may be sown for the early crop. 



Egg-plants. — Seeds should be sown. Take care that the young 

 plants are never stunted. 



Grafting may be done in favorable weather. Cherries and plums 

 must be grafted early. Use liquid grafting-wax in cold weather. 



Hotbeds may be made at any time, but do not grow impatient about 

 the work, for there will be cold weather yet. Clean, fresh manure is 

 necessary, and a layer 2 ft. thick should be tramped hard. When 

 once started and the seeds sown, do not let the beds get too hot. Give 

 them air on fine days and give the seedlings plenty of water. Use two 

 thermometers — one to test the atmosphere and the other the heat 

 of the soil. 



Lettuce should be sown in the hotbed for an early crop. 



Onion seed for the new onion-culture may be sown at the close of 

 the month. 



Peas. — Sow now, if the ground can be worked. 



Peppers may be sown late in the month. 



Potatoes kept for seed must not be allowed to sprout. Keep them 

 in a temperature near freezing point. Rub off the sprouts from 

 potatoes kept for eating, and pick out all decayed specimens. 



Spinach. — Sow some seeds for an early crop. 



Tomato seeds may be sown in the hotbeds. 



APRIL 



Artichokes. — ■ Sow the seeds for next year's crop. A deep, rich, 

 sandy loam is best. Fork in a dressing of well-rotted manure around 

 the old plants. 



Asparagus. — Spade in some good manure in the bed, and give 

 the soil a thorough working before the crowns start. Sow seeds in the 

 open ground for young plants for a new bed. 



Beans. — Limas may be started on sods in a hotbed or a coldframe 

 towards the last of the month. 



Beets. — The ground should be prepared and the seed sown for 

 beets for cattle as soon as the weather will permit. Put them in before 



