THE KITCHEN GAEDEX. 



241 



subsequent planting by laying them out thinly in an 

 airy place. Early planting with sets in perfect order 

 alone gives successful crops generally. Old decom- 

 posed manure . should be used for Potatoes, and the 

 crop does well upon such ground as Celery, Broc- 

 coli, Spinach, &c., have been previously grown upon. 

 Plant strong-growing sorts two feet and a half apart. 



Where previously-sown crops of Peas, Beans, Car- 

 rots, Lettuce, &c., are not advancing, sowings of 

 all should be made during the first fine weather in 

 the month. On the contrary, where young crops 

 exist make successional sowings of such as are de- 

 sirable during convenient weather about the third 

 week in the month. Procure Pea-sticks, sharpen, 

 and prepare them before the busy season arrives. 



Towards the end of the month plant Garlic, 

 Shallots, and Seed Onions ; divide Chives ; mulch 

 herb-beds ; sow Parsley, Leeks, and Spinach ; trans- 

 plant autumn-sown Lisbon Onions, taking advan- 

 tage of the first fine day in the month. Choose a rich 

 piece of ground, and orJy dibble the roots firmly into 

 the gTound. Watcbi them subsequently, and should 

 worms draw any out of the ground, re-plant with ex- 

 pedition. 



Make up autumn-sown and planted Cabbage-beds, 

 and hoe deeply between them, earthing them up sub- 

 sequently as necessary. Look over all Broccoli plan- 

 tations, bend over the leaves of all about to flower, to 

 maintain their colour, and pull up all which are fit 

 before they become too old or discoloured. Hoe be- 

 tween young Cauliflower plants under hand-lights ; 

 make successional sowings of Short Horn Carrots, 

 Radishes, Lettuce, &c., early in the month, or other- 

 wise, accordingly as previously-sown crops exist, and 

 are advancing in growth. Plant Jerusalem Arti- 

 chokes on any out-of-the-way sunny piece of ground, 

 also upon a favourable site Sea-kale and Rhubarb, 

 according to directions given under the respective 

 headings. Make also new plantations of Horse- 

 radish. 



About the beginning of the month build up the 

 necessary beds of fermenting materials for the frame- 

 growth of Cucumbers and Melons, securing young- 

 plants of both as may be necessary [vide the articles 

 on the "Cucumber"). Frame-beds should also be 

 made, and planted or sown with Potatoes, Wood's 

 Early Frame Radish, and French Horn Carrots. 



Give manurial waterings to Mushroom-beds in 

 full bearing, and collect materials for the early forma- 

 tion of new Mushroom-beds out of doors. 



March. 



Having the ground prepared as advised, Pea sow- 

 ing demands immediate attention. So soon in the 

 month as possible make, simultaneously, at least 

 three sowings, consisting of as many varieties. 

 40 



These should comprise first and second, early and 

 main crop varieties. By sowing them thus together 

 they will come in excellent succession for subse- 

 quent use. Again, in three weeks' time, or so soon 

 as these are well through the ground, make another 

 similar sowing. Take advantage of any showery 

 weather, if possible, to eai-th up each row so soon 

 as the young plants are well through the ground. 

 Stick earlier ones after having drawn additional soil 

 up to them. 



It is important to make sowings of the following 

 during the first or second week in the month — i.e., 

 the main crop of Parsnips, Spanish Onions, Turnips. 

 This is especially necessary should the weather 

 prove dry, else in less favoured localities the seeds 

 sown later during a continuance of dry weather 

 may not germinate, and the result will be a very 

 thin or indifferent crop. Sow also moderate 

 breadths of Intermediate and French Horn Carrots, 

 Broad Beans, both Long-pod and Broad Windsors. 

 Of the former the " Seville " is a goc)d variety when 

 obtainable true to name. Radishes, sow upon a 

 warm site about everj^ tenth day. During the 

 second week make also sowings of Asparagus where- 

 ever it is desirable to grow on young plants for 

 future permanent planting. Give a good mulching 

 also to the Asparagus-beds early in the month, after 

 having first hoed them over and freed them from all 

 seedling weeds, which may even thus early be form- 

 ing. It should be mulched with well-decomposed 

 manure only. 



Towards the end of the month, forcing having 

 been completed in connection with Rhubarb and 

 Sea-kale, i-emove the fermenting materials, pots, &c., 

 leaving a slight manurial mulching only, and cut all 

 portions of the roots of Sea-kale which protrude 

 above-ground away down to the gTOund-line. To 

 neglect this will be to cause very shapeless and 

 irregular crown-growths for the following season. 



Make sowings in pans or boxes, placing them in a 

 little heat, of Celery, Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chilis, 

 Egg-plants, &c. Thin out the young plants of 

 Cauliflowers grown under hand-lights. Transplant 

 such on to a piece of sunny and rich ground. Well 

 stir the soil amongst such as remain within the 

 hand-lights, and give manure waterings should the 

 weather prove warm and dry. Unless the ground 

 is cold and too wet, it will be well to plant the main 

 crop of Potatoes during the latter half of the month 

 — early varieties to be planted first, and late varieties 

 last. 



Sow the following seeds late in the month in 

 small beds for future transpla^iting : Savoys, Cab- 

 bage, Brussels Sprouts, Veitch's Autumn Giant 

 Cauliflower, Broccolis, such as Snow's Winter White. 

 Walcheren, fee, and Summer-hearting Lettuces. 



