56 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
GAEDEN GUIDE EOE EEBRUAET. 
Kitchen Gabden. — Asparagus and sea-kale must be started at 
once for supply next month. Take up four-year-old plants of 
asparagus, and plant in a bed over moderate dung-heat. Let the 
grass grow till there is a plump green top before cutting. Sow the 
main crops of peas and beans at the first favourable opportunity ; a 
few of the earliest sorts, on well-drained slopes, facing the south, to 
come on quick ; or, if a small successional supply is required, get in 
a few rows of the earliest sorts of each, and sow again as soon as 
the first come up, and so on, to the end of March. Sow spinach 
between the rows of peas. A little of everything in the edible way 
may be got in now in good positions — small sowings of cabbage, 
Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, parsley, radishes and lettuce, but 
the main sowings of most things should be deferred. Get one pan 
of celery forward in heat, and some lettuces for planting out. Where 
ground in good heart was ridged up over winter for potatoes, the 
whole may be planted now. Trench them in, in preference to using 
the dibber ; but if the weather should be wet, or the ground frozen, 
get in a few early sorts only, and also some early kidneys in frames 
for the first supply. Prepare, bj'^ trenching and manuring, the plots 
intended for seakale and asparagus next month. Turn out potted 
cauliflower-plants on well-manured stations, four plants under each 
hand-light, choosing a very sheltered position. Edgings and plan- 
tations of strawberries may now be made, and old beds must be 
dressed. Prune and tie raspberries, leaving but three or four short- 
ened canes to each stool. Heap half-rotten dung over the old stools 
of rhubarb, to promote early production. Potatoes may be sprouted 
by laying the tubers on a flue or on the surface of a pit planted with 
asparagus. A gentle heat and full light will prepare them for plant- 
ing in frames for an early crop. 
Plowee Gahden. — Auriculas should have one good soaking with 
water soon, and a fair state of weather must be taken advantage of 
for it. If it continues frosty, keep them nearly dry, but they are 
in haste to move, and must be encouraged with caution. The old 
directions for sowing hardy annuals and perennials in Eebruary do 
not altogether suit our seasons of late, and it is seldom advisable to 
sow any before March, except in frames and hot-beds ; but, with 
artificial heat, sowings of most things may now be made, both for 
blooming in pots in the greenhouse and conservatory, and for turn- 
ing out into beds and borders. Do not forget Phlox Prummondii, 
Delphinium formosum, cinerarias, Chinese primroses, stocks, asters, 
auriculas and balsams, for all of which a moderate heat is sufficient. 
Most perennials, and even chrysanthemums and dahlias, sown now, 
and hardened off as soon as pricked out, will flower the present 
season. Top-dress auriculas, polyanthuses and pinks, if not done 
last month, and make up dung-beds for propagating, as the demand 
for bedding stock is frequently greater than the room devoted to 
wintering them can supply. Ground roots of dahlias should now 
be starting for cuttings. The losses have been very numerous in 
