292 
THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
patch ; the ground should be rich, well drained, and deep. 
Beds may also be formed now by planting roots, but the best 
plantations are those raised on the spot from seeds. Those 
who purpose raising seedling rhubarb plants should sow about 
the middle of the month in shallow drills, eighteen inches 
apart, dropping the seeds in patches, six inches from each 
other. Potatoes not yet planted should be got in without 
delay, and towards the end of the month scarlet runners 
and French beans may be sown ; the runners should have a 
warm dry position until the 1st of May, when they may be 
sown in almost any soil or situation without risk, but like 
most other things yield the best crops on ground well dug 
and manured. The main crop of carrots should be got in 
about the 15th of the month, and there is still time for a crop 
of parsnips, but they must be sown directly. Slips of kitchen 
herbs may be put in any time this month, and will root 
quicker if planted in a rather dry sandy border. 
Wall trees must have protection from the cutting east 
winds, and the protection should be of a kind easily removed, 
so that the trees have free air upon them night and day, 
weather permitting, and be covered with the least possible 
trouble if the wind shifts to east or north. It will generally 
be found that those who exclaim against protecting have been 
in the habit of shutting the trees up as if they were muffled 
bells. In the open quarters, pruning and grafting must be 
completed quickly. Give abundance of water to fruit trees in 
pots, and see that the orchard-house is in an orderly state ; if 
it is now crammed with plants from other houses, as is too 
often the case, there will be but a small crop of fruit. If 
bedding stock is still in request, put in more cuttings ; a 
heat of 90 degs. may be used now if the cuttings are of stout 
young wood. China roses may be propagated now by taking 
off young shoots close to the old wood when four inches long, 
and plunging in a moderate heat. 
May. 
“ As full of spirit as the month of May.” 
High culture should be aimed at now with all vegetable 
crops, frequent stirrings between the rows with the hoe to 
keep down weeds, and abundant supplies of water and liquid 
manure. It is hardly possible to give too much water, and 
