Mar.\ THE CULINARY GARDEN. 119 



Sparing of water, as it is apt to rot. The plants will be fit for 

 transplanting in May. 



SOWING PURSLANE. 



The end of this month is the proper time to sow this salad, 

 for if it be sown earlier, it runs the risk of being injured by the 

 frost, owing to its great succulency. It may be sown on a 

 light early border, in the same manner as lettuce, but much 

 thinner. It may also be sown like cresses in drills, on any 

 ODen spot, once in three weeks or a month during the summer. 



PLANTING MINT. 



This is now a good season to make new plantations of mint. 



This plant is propagated either by parting the roots, by 

 slips of the young spring plants, taken up with root fibres at 

 the bottom ; also by cuttings of the young stalks in April and 

 May ; but at this season, increasing it by slips, or parting the 

 roots, is most generally practiced, the method of which is as 

 follows. 



Towards the end of this month, have recourse to such old 

 beds of mint as are well stocked with young plants, and thence 

 draw up a sufficient number of the best shoots properly rooted, 

 observing to draw them up carefully, and with the assistance 

 of a knife at times, raise or separate them; by which care, 

 every plant will rise with good roots. 



Having provided the plants, let them be planted in rows, 

 about six inches apart, and five or six inches asunder in the 

 rows ; let them have immediately a tolerable watering, to settle 

 the earth close about their roots. 



The method of increasing mint by roots is, to get a number 

 of old roots, and let them be parted in a proper manner ; then 

 draw drills with a hoe six inches apart ; plant the roots in the 

 drills, cover them about an inch thick with earth, and then 

 rake the ground. 



But when the above method is to be followed, the roots 

 should be procured and planted either in February, or the 

 beginning of this month, or in October or November. 



