176 



DICTIONARY OF SEASONABLE GARDEN WORK. 



and thus form a new leader in time. Trimming of 

 specimen evergreens should be done before growth 

 begins. 



Oxalis like plenty of sun, and should now be doing 

 their best. 



Peonies may be planted as early as the ground can be 

 worked. Large clumpsalready on the premises may be 

 divided and reset now. 



Pelargoniums, if strong-growing, should be freely aired, 

 and receive a dose of liquid manure once a week. 



Primroses. — The choice double ones may now be prop- 

 agated from slips. 



Profagalion. — " Push " now. Cuttings of geraniums, 

 coleus, petunias, and other soft-stemmed plants, now 

 root readily in sand in a bright, warm place. Select 

 slips that are brittle enough to snap off readily when 

 bent over. They are then in best condition for rooting. 

 The stock of coleus and other plants for bedding pur- 

 poses should now be grown. Increase verbenas, helio- 

 trope, etc. , as desired. Let the young slips go into pots 

 as soon as roots appear, using small pots, and light rich 

 soil, potting quite firmly. When using pots larger than 

 three inches across, place broken pots, or coarse gravel, 

 in the bottom for drainage. In pots six inches or more 

 across, put a layer of hay or moss on top of the drain- 

 age material, and then fill in the soil. Avoid clogging 

 of the drainage. 



Repotling at this time is to be recommended to the 

 professional florist who has good conveniences and a 

 busy season before him. 



Richardia. — Start this month for growing in pots. 



Rosesoi thehybrid perpetual class prune now. Remove 

 shoots that appear weakly and sickly. Prune the re- 

 mainder from six to eighteen inches according to growth. 

 Where black blotches or rings appear on last year's 

 growth cut away below such spots. Prune moderately 

 to about six inches, and strong growers 12 to 18 inches. 

 Do not yet remove all the covering from the teas and 

 bourbons, as they are more tender. Prepare new beds 

 and borders. 



Vines. — Trim and tie in their proper places by the end 

 of March. Apply a dressing of good compost about 

 the roots. 



Violets. — For winter bloom treat as for carnations. 



II. GARDENING for TABLE AND MARKET. 



Asparagus. — A dressing of some good fertilizer or 

 compost can not be applied too soon. Nitrate of soda 

 300 to 400 pounds per acre may be given with expecta- 

 tion of good results. We like to hill up over the plants 

 with mellow loam, thus bleaching the shoo,ts. Culti- 

 vate and mellow the soil thoroughly and get it in readi- 

 ness for the crop. For new plantations prepare the 

 ground thoroughly and set the plants early, giving plenty 

 of space. 



Asparagus under glass requires free airing and a liberal 

 supply of water. 



Beet.- — Seed may be sown in open ground as soon as 



the soil can be worked. For earliest, use Egyptian, 

 Eclipse, or Edmand. A first-early crop may be grown 

 in hotbed or coldframe in rows six inches apart, or 

 plants may be started under glass and transplanted to 

 open ground as soon as soil and climate permit. 



Blackberries. — If any plants were laid down for winter 

 they may now be uncovered, and lifted up. New patches 

 are to be planted early ; six or eight feet between rows 

 and two or three feet between plants is about right, aud 

 better than less. 



Cabbage. — The most important thing to be done with 

 plants wintered in coldframes is to harden them off 

 thoroughly before taking them to the open ground. It 

 is a mistake to treat them too tenderly. Plants from 

 hotbed or greenhouse may be set in flats one inch apart 

 in rows two inches apart, and placed in coldframe for 

 hardening. Begin setting in open ground just as soon 

 as soil and weather permit. 



Carrots. — Treat similar to beets. For planting in hot- 

 bed or coldframe we like Short-horn ; for general out- 

 door use, the newer Chantenay. 



Caulijloivers as advised for cabbage. 



Cucumbers under glass, keep in a temperature of 60° 

 to 65° at night, and about 10° higher in day-time. Give 

 air freely in newly made hotbeds. 



Currants may be set as soon as the ground is in work- 

 ing order ; four feet apart each way. Try White Im- 

 perial. Set cuttings early and deep so that only one eye 

 is above ground. 



Egg-Plants. — Start early in a strong hotbed and near 

 the glass. Sow in well-drained light soil. Transplant 

 once or twice, the last time in 3-inch pots. Always keep 

 in strong heat and moist atmosphere. For the colder 

 north use the smaller and earlier sorts, like Early 

 Long Purple, and Japanese. When the season is long 

 enough, plant New York Purple. 



General Directions. — Fertilizers and other requisites 

 needed should be on the spot ; or if not should be 

 speedily procured. Everything should be in readiness 

 for active operation. Take advantage of any oppor- 

 tunity the weather affords to prepare the ground for the 

 crops to be planted next month. Make hotbeds and 

 coldframes. 



Gooseberries. — Treat like currants. 



Grafting. — Trees should not be allowed to bear poor 

 varieties. If unprofitable, in consequence of injudicious 

 selection of varieties at planting, or of a nurseryman's 

 " mistake," either dig the undesirable tree out, or change 

 the variety by grafting a better one into the branches. 

 At end of this month cherries and plums may thus be 

 operated upon. Cut scions at once. Set root-grafts as 

 soon as soil and weather permit. 



Grapes. — Finish pruning where not already done. 

 Apply a dressing of compost or bonedust and ashes to 

 the bearing vines. Tender vines that were laid down 

 and covered for winter protection may now be uncovered. 



Grape-Forcing.- — Vines with growing fruit are to be 

 kept rather warm and in moist atmosphere. Vines in 

 bloom give a little air when weather will allow, but 



