242 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Mould or earth up frame Cucumbers and Melons 

 as they advance in growth ; attend to the linings in 

 view of maintaining a nice heat. Give root water- 

 ings as necessary. Sprinkle the plants overhead 

 and shut the sashes down tightly about 2 p.m. daily. 

 Again, give a thin wedge of air at the back of the 

 sashes about 5 p.m. daUy. Shut the sashes down 

 tightly again about 7 a.m. each morning, opening 

 them again as the sun gives warmth or the day ad- 

 vances. Transplant autumn-sown winter-grown 

 Lettuce and Endive, hoeing well amongst these, 

 Spinach, &o., to increase the growth of aU, Give a 

 good mulching to all herb-beds, using good decayed 

 manure. Divide and transplant the rooted layers 

 attached to Thyme, Sage, &c., dividing also the 

 stools of Marjoram, Mint, and so on, in all cases 

 where new or extended beds have to be made. 

 Give the necessary attention to walks, edges, &c. 

 Remove the exhausted remains of winter vegetable 



crops. 



ApriL 



Peas are such an important crop, and the main- 

 tenance of a constant supply in season so desirable, 

 that it behoves all to make successional sowings to 

 meet such demands. It will be -well, therefore, to 

 make a goodly sowing during the first week of the 

 month, and another during the third week. To 

 dispense with dates, however, and work upon 

 another and most e&ctual principle, is to sow suc- 

 cessional crops immediately the plants from pre- 

 ceding sowings are well through the ground. At 

 this sowing the taller varieties may be used, espe- 

 cially Telephone, which is an excellent variety for 

 general purposes. Do not sow too thickly. One 

 pint of seed will be ample for a row twelve to four- 

 teen feet in length. It is judicious, also, at this 

 season to sow two or three distinct kinds, which may 

 comprise those of medium height along with such as 

 are tall. 



Earlier crops will need sticking. Do this by an- 

 ticipation of the needs of the crop, as such sticks 

 prove a protection, and at the same time an incen- 

 tive to growth. Take care, in sticking Peas, not to 

 place the two rows of sticks too close together, bear- 

 ing in mind the fact that the plants are intended to 

 be grown between the two rows of sticks, and that 

 if the sticks are placed too close together they grow 

 out at the aides, and are liable during wind-storms 

 to relax their hold upon them and fall away. 



In like manner, the young Pea-crops, so soon as 

 through the ground, must be earthed up freely and 

 well. 



During the first week of the month, those who 

 have not sown Onions in sufficient quantities, as ad- 

 vised last month, should do so. At the same time 



Turnips, Parsley, and successional sowings of Broad 

 Beans should be made. Between the middle and 

 third week of the month sow Beet-root, Scbrzonera, 

 Salsafy, the main crop of James's Intermediate 

 Carrots, and during the last week Scarlet Runner or 

 White Dutch Beans. 



Such suggestions are made subject to fine- weather 

 periods, as it is always desirable, so far as is possible, 

 to sow such main crops of seeds during fine weather, 

 and when the ground is in nice, dry, working order. 



Sow also at a similar date seeds of Ridge Cucum- 

 ber, or Gherkins, and Vegetable Marrow, in pots 

 for early transplanting into the open ground ; also 

 such tender herbs as Bush and Sweet Basil, Knotted 

 Marjoram, Summer Savory, &c., in pots to under- 

 go a similar process ; a bed of Borage being sown in 

 the open ground, along with such successions of 

 Radishes, Lettuces, and smaller Salads as may be 

 necessary. • 



Make new plantations of Asparagus, the best 

 time to do so being when one-year-old plants com- 

 mence showing signs of growth in their seed-bed. 

 Seedling Cabbages, Lettuces, and Cauliflowers, 

 whether autumn or spring-sown, transplant finally 

 or into nursery beds, according to age and size of 

 the seedlings. Procure young crowns of Sea-kale 

 for planting where desirable, or sow seeds moderately 

 thick in a seed-bed to form plants for next spring 

 planting. 



Carefully fork between plantations of Sea-kale and 

 Rhubarb, so soon as the young growth shows where 

 the rows which have been forced are. Do not fork 

 deeply, so as to injure the roots, but in such man- 

 ner alone as to free the surface of the soU and 

 check seedling weed formations. Should the month 

 prove a dry one the various young seedling plants 

 wiU require root-waterings, especially Celery trans- 

 planted on to a motmd of fermenting material, 

 covered over with rich soil. Having advispd plant- 

 ing Potatoes early or during the preceding month, it 

 is only necessary to say here that where, owing to 

 the exigencies of weather, this has not been done, it 

 will be well to do so as early as possible during the 

 present. 



Give especial attention to the hoeing of all crops. 

 Such aid is always very beneficial to growth, owing 

 to the process of soil-stirring over their roots, &c. 

 Besides which, the season has again arrived when 

 it is absolutely necessary to do so, to check weed- 

 growth. 



Make up Mushroom-beds with the materials pre- 

 viously collected, as advised, and sweetened by dry- 

 ing or fermentation. The only good position for 

 them at this season is out of doors under the ex- 

 treme branches of trees, or against dry walls, &c., 

 and where, should a rainy season follow, a certain 



