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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 USEFUL HINTS FOR VIRGINIA GARDENERS. 



BY K. G. EGGELING. FLORIST. 



March, The first of the spring months, is of 

 gre^t importance to the gardener. Many pro- 

 cesses must be performed, if the weather per- 

 mit, and not a few vegetables put into the 

 eartLfS The amount of labor to be performed 

 will vary, of course, as the season is more or 

 less forward; but in any event, he who would 

 have his garden produce plentifully in the com- 

 ing months, must be diligent during this. The 

 following hints should be followed without fail, 

 in the 



KITCHEN GARfiEN. 



. isparagus. — This is the best time to make 

 new beds, but we cannot now stop to describe 

 the manner of making them. Supposing the 

 beds to have been ma^de in a previous year 

 there is work for the gardener. The chief is 

 to loosen the earth about the plants. Care 

 must had that in performing this, the roots 

 are not wounded, or in any wise disturbed. 

 The gardener should provide himself with a 

 fork, prongs to be one inch wide, with blunt 

 points. A common dung fork will answer. 

 Thus provided, pass over the beds, forking 

 them well, so as to loosen the soil to the depth 

 of several inches, and moving the manure with 

 the soil. A few radish and lettuce may be 

 sown upon the bed after the forking is done 

 and before the raking. If too many be not 

 put in, no injury will ensue to the asparagus. 



.Beets. — To have these early requires a very 

 rich soil Sow the seed in drills opened from ten 

 to fifteen inches apart and one inch in depth. 

 After they conic up the plants should be thinned 

 out, leaving a space of five inches between each 

 plant. Mangel wurzel and sugar beet should be 

 put in drills eighteen inches to two feet apart and 

 twelve inches in the rows. 



Beam. — Those desiring to have early snap 

 beans may sow a few in the latter part of the 

 month, but not even then unless they can se- 

 lect a spot exposed to the sun and secure from 

 the eokl winds which often prevail in March. 



Celery will flourish best in a deep, moist 

 •-oil, friable, and inclining to lightness, and 

 withal very rich. It should have been sown 

 in February. If it was not done then, let it 

 be done at once. The earth should be prepared 

 very much like tobacco plant-beds are. It 

 flourishes best in a deep moist, rich, friable soil. 

 It is of prime importance that the spot selected 

 be free from weeds, as the plants when young 

 are very delicate and easily destroyed. The 

 K-eds are put in broadcast and scattered thinly. 



Cabbage Plants which are growing in the 

 hot-beds should be cautiously introduced to 

 the outer air, to render them hardy and fit for 

 transportation. This process may be performed 

 about the last of the month. From and after 

 the 15th of the month beds may be sown in 

 the open ground. 



Egg Plant. — If sown this month should 

 be in a hotbed, with a view to forward them. 

 When from five to six inches high the plants 

 should be pricked up and planted in the bed, 

 to prepare them for the final removal to the 

 open ground. 



Lettuce should be sown without delay where 

 they will have a warm southern exposure, and 

 should be transplanted at the earliest possible 

 period. 



Onio)is. — Sow white Portugal onions. These 

 produce the finest for pickling purposes. If the 

 buttons have not been planted, let it be done 

 without delay. 



Parsley should be sown this month. It 

 makes a very pretty border if sown in single 

 rows on the edge of the square. This is the 

 most economical method, and while it econo- 

 mizes space it ornaments the garden. 



Peas. — This delightful vegetable requires 

 careful cultivation. To have them early, sow 

 without delay, in ground well prepared for the 

 reception of the seed. Continue to sow every 

 two weeks, and thus a constant supply may be 

 secured throughout the season, for as one set 

 of vines cease to bear another will begin. 

 About the last of the month the soil should 

 be drawn up to the plant to shield and protect 

 it and afford nutriment. When the plants have 

 attained the height of six inches let them be 

 supplied with sticks. The best method of stick 

 ing peas is to form a species of lattice work, 

 by putting the sticks into the earth. 



Potatoes. — Plant without delay. 



Pcjypcrs, Red, may be sown on a warm bor- 

 der. When the plants have attained a sufficient 

 size, they should be removed and planted out 

 in rows about twelve inches apart. 



Radish. — Sow at this season where there is 

 a warm, sunny exposure, and if it be desirable 

 to have a constant supply, let the sowing be 

 repeated every ten days. 



Radish, Horse. — The best method of culti 

 vating this is as follows : dig a trench eight to 

 nine inches deep and fill the bottom with 

 manure; cut the roots into small pieces 

 about four inches long and drop them 

 eight or ten inches apart. In five or six weeks 

 the plants will make their appearance. 



Salsify should be sown the last of the month 

 in drills about an inch deep and twelve inches 

 distance between the drills. 



