THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



PARSNIPS. Sow the main crop early in the month in drills 

 15 to 18 inches apart. 



PEAS. Make fresh sowings, remembering to have the rows of 

 Peas divided by rows of Cabbage, Spinach, or Potatoes. Earth up 

 and stick the early crops as soon as possible. 



POTATOES. Plant the main crop during this month. 



RADISHES. Sow in small quantities. 



RHUBARB. This is the latest month for making fresh planta- 

 tions. 



SEA-KALE. Sow in well-prepared beds. The existing crop 

 will still require covering to some extent. 



SPINACH. Sow the ordinary Summer Spinach in drills in the 

 open. Also some of the Perpetual Spinach (Spinach-beet). 



STRAWBERRIES. This is a good time for planting, if weather 

 conditions are favourable. 



TOMATOES. Sow early in the month to obtain plants on which 

 to ripen fruit in the open. 



TURNIPS. Sow plentifully late in the month. Also some seed 

 for an earlier crop may be sown on a south border. 



VEGETABLE MARROWS. Sow seeds in pots— three seeds in 

 a pot is usual — and place in a cucumber frame. Later on pot singly, 

 or at most two in a pot. 



APRIL 



In a month of sharp showers and warm sunshine there is much 

 to be done in the way of watching the results of the labours of the 

 last two months. Young plant life should abound in every direction, 

 and every plant should be given its chance, its full meed of care 

 and attention. Decided failures should be replaced immediately, 

 for there is now not a moment to be lost. All plants wiU need 

 watering after being transplanted, and if the weather should con- 

 tinue dry the watering should be repeated every day or two until 

 the plants appear established. Thorough thinning is as important 

 a part of the month's work as transplanting, as overcrowding is 

 fatal to the development of any plant, and for certain crops, such as 

 Carrots and Parsnips, thinning is the whole business, since the plants 

 taken up wiU not bear transplanting. Careful weeding wiU also 

 repay the gardener for the time he spends on it, as many weeds 



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