67 



We have before remarked that fruit trees and 

 bushes should invariably be cut in severely, and not 

 allowed to bear the same season of planting. It is 

 a fatal mistake to look for fruit the same season of 

 setting out the trees. This is at the expense of fu- 

 ture growth, and without future growth there will 

 be no future crops. 



Raspberries, Blackberries, &c., frequently bear 

 and die when so treated. The canes should be cut 

 back to a few inches on transplanting. Raspberries 

 for fruit in fall should always be pretty well cutback. 

 It is not essential with the regular fall-bearing kinds, 

 but it aids them much. 



in advance of the rest. To keep over the winter 

 almost all kinds of root crops become tough or 

 coarse if sown to soon. 



In the open ground Peas and Potatoes receive 

 the first attention. Then Beets and Carrots. — 

 Then' Lettuce, Radish, Spinach, Onions, Leeks and 

 Parsley. Beyond this, unless in more favored lati- 

 tudes than Pennsylvania, little can be done until 

 the first week in April. There is nothing gained 

 in working soil until it has become warm and dry. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



This is a busy season south of Pennsylvania in 

 this department ; here, we must wait till the end of 

 the month, and northward, still later. The crops 

 noted will, of course, be dependent on the arrival of 

 the season, which is rather indicated by the ground 

 becoming warm and dry, than by the almanac. It 

 ! is very important to have crops early ; as soon as 

 ! the ground is therefore in good condition put in the 

 seed. Possibly a cold rain might come and injure 

 I them, and you may lose and have to make a new 

 * sowing. Even so, it is but the loss of the seed and 

 labor, while, if the seed do not die, the early crop 

 will more than repay that risk. 



In the hotbed, Pepper, Egg-plant, Tomato and 

 Cucumbers may be sown, — and in a cooler hotbed 

 frame. Early York Cabbage, Cauliflowers and Cele- 

 ry. Those who have not got a hotbed can sow a 

 few pots or boxes, and keep them near the light in 

 a warm room. 



In the open air, Peas and Potatoes are about the 

 first crop to be attended to ; of the former, the va- 

 rieties have now become so numerous that even 

 "new grapes" will soon have to give way in that 

 respect. Of new early Potatoes, ^e think Grood- 

 rich's Seedling is the best ; the best older variety 

 is perhaps the Early White Sprout. Beets, the 

 Early Six Week Turnip-rooted, is perhaps the ear- 

 liest. Carrot, the Early Horn. Cucumber, the 

 Early White Spine or Early Cluster. Lettuce, the 

 Silesian, or Early Curled — to cut before heading ; 

 and the Early Butter bft to head, are the first in 

 season. Among the Radishes, the Old Short-top, 

 and the Red and White Turnip are still ahead. 

 Spinach, the Old Round-leaved; so that on the 

 whole there has been little advance made on early 

 kinds of vegetables. 



In addition to sowing of the above, Onions, 

 Leeks, Parsnips and Parsley must be sown at this 

 season — not for the main crop, but to have a few 



S 



VINEREES AND ORCHARD HOUSES. 



In. the early houses, towards the end of the month, 

 grapes will be about setting their fruit — one of the 

 most critical periods of the course. Many excellent 

 gardeners object to syringing at this period, but the 

 experience of others, shows that it can be and is 

 done, in some cases, with great advantage. The fact 

 is, when a vine is perfectly healthy, a course of treat- 

 ment that would be injurious under other circum- 

 stances, may be even advantageous to it, and so, 

 treatment must, in a great measure, be regulated by 

 the state of the vine. The roots must especially be 

 maintained in a healthy state, which may be known 

 by a free and vigorous pushing forth of strong fibres 

 in every direction through the soil — and then these 

 roots can only be continued healthy by carefully 

 protecting the leaves from injury. The least injury 

 to the leaves has a corresponding influence on the 

 root. If, therefore, all sudden changes are avoided, 

 either at the roots or about the foliage at the time 

 of setting, so that the roots are allowed to progress 

 without interruption, there will be little danger of 

 grapes or any other fruit not setting. 



While fruit trees are pushing forth their young 

 growth, forcing houses can scarcely be kept too 

 moist. As the wood hardens, the atmosphere must 

 be kept gradually drier. 



Above ail, in forcing, taJ{:e care of the leaves, and 

 in all your operations let it be your first care to look 

 after them. In pinching and stopping off vigorous 

 shoots, the object should be to throw the sap's influ- 

 ence into the weaker shoots to make their leaves 

 stronger and larger, so that the whole effort of the 

 tree should be equahzed — no shoot should be allowed 

 to grow stronger than another, but should be taken 

 out at once as soon as its ambitious tendency is 

 discovered. The tubs or pots containing the trees 

 should be frequently turned around, so that all parts 

 of the tree may have equal advantages; "Liberty, 

 Equality, and Fraternity, ' ' should be the watchword 

 of their government, and every branch trained to do 

 no injustice to its neighbor. Frequent potting or 

 retubbing is of no material importance; manure 



