A YEAR'S GARDENING 



RADISHES. Sow in the open, but in a dry, warm spot, and 

 take care to cover with light htter to keep off the frost, removing it 

 in all favourable weather. 



RHUBARB. Divide part of the Rhubarb bed into plants having 

 one eye apiece, and re-plant a yard apart in good soil. These new 

 plants should be left until next season before being gathered from. 



SAVOYS. Sow now in a frame, or in a very favoured position, 

 and prick out the young plants as soon as possible, as plenty of space 

 is a requisite. 



SEA-KALE. When the plants begin to push up they should be 

 covered with pots made for the purpose, that they may be blanched 

 for the table. A covering of leaves to the pots will be found more 

 effective than covering them with manure; but if the latter is used 

 it should be well prepared and the heat allowed to pass off. Sea- 

 kale may be planted now in the open ground. 



SHALLOT. Sow now on good ground. 



SPINACH. Sow now. 



STRAWBERRIES. Some people like to make a new planta- 

 tion now. In that case runners, selected for the plump, healthy 

 crowns, should be planted about eighteen inches apart and well 

 mulched with manure. Plants in pots placed in heat now should 

 bear as early as April. 



TURNIPS. Sow now in a very sheltered position. 



MARCH 



In this month all arrears of work must be swiftly made up, and 

 the wise gardener will leave nothing at loose ends if he can help it. 

 As the days lengthen great industry must be used to make the most 

 of every moment of fine weather, only taking into consideration that 

 it is a mistake to sow seeds in damp soil if it is also heavy in character. 

 In a light soil, however, sow as early as possible. 



At this time, too, the gardener's yearly warfare with the birds 

 must be taken up in earnest. In almost all gardens it will be found 

 necessary to protect the seed-beds from the active marauders of the 

 air. Netting is probably the best means of keeping off the birds, 

 but it is also an expensive one. Branches laid hghtly on the beds 

 is of some use, but is often far from effective; a better substitute for 

 netting is rows of black cotton fastened on sticks at either end of 



152 



