190 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



all directions near the surface of the ground ; when 

 these roots are injured, the branches either die back 

 or become diseased. All land intended to be planted 

 with vines or fruit trees during the approaching sea- 

 son should have been trenched, manured, and cropped, 

 if possible, by this month, to put it in the best state 

 for planting. If not already trenched, no time should 

 be lost, being careful to drain all retentive soils six 

 inches deeper than they are trenched. Orange trees 

 with the shoots in a state of rest may be transplanted 

 in favorable weather. 



Farm. — Autumn commences on the 20th of this 

 month, the sun on that day entering the autumnal 

 equinox. Sow lucerne, clover, rye-grass, prairie-grass, 

 oats, barley, wheat, vetches or tares, and sorghum. 

 Plant main crop of potatoes. Watch cotton planta- 

 tion, and house the cotton as fast as the bolls expand, 

 .to secure the crop against injury from rain, and from 

 damage by broken pieces of the over-ripe pericarp. 

 Gather maize as it ripens, and cut tobacco as the leaves 

 arrive at maturity. 



APRIL. 



Kitchen Garden. — Hoe continually among the crops 

 in dry weather; let no weeds appear. Have beds 

 dug for transplanting the various vegetables now 

 coming on. Thin out all crops that are overcrowded, 

 as directed last month. Divide and plant out pot- 

 herbs, giving a little water if requisite until they are 

 established. Sow English beans, mustard, and cress, 

 lettuce, endive, leek, onion, peas, 'radish, <fec, fcc. 

 Early celery should be earthed up in dry weather ; 

 in this operation draw the leaves upward one by one, 

 without straining them, until they are all upright 

 and in their regular positions ; be careful that no 

 earth gets between the leaves, and, while holding 

 them together with one hand, fill the earth round the 



