Work for the Month of March 
Conducted by Henry Gibson, New York. 
MARCH may well be termed a month of prepara- 
tion rather than a period of actual gardening 
operations, at least so far as active outdoor opera- 
tions are concerned. What can be done this month will 
depend a good deal on the weather, so be ready to take ad- 
vantage of the first opportunity to start in. We are prom- 
ised an early spring this year since the ground-hog 
failed to see his shadow when he emerged from win- 
ter quarters, hence if the season should be a forward 
one and the ground gets in workable condition, pre- 
pare the garden soil so that some of the more hardy 
seeds can be sown early next month. 
Any changes in the gardens that were started last 
fall and not completed, should be proceeded with as 
soon as conditions permit. It is in the spring of the 
year that the value of fall planting and making 
changes is most significant to the gardener. With the 
planting off one's hands in the fall one is free to give 
more attention to other activities at this season. 
SWEET PEAS. 
Sweet-peas may be sown outdoors just as soon as 
the ground can be made ready for them. The culture 
of these ever-popular flowers has been almost revolu- 
tionized during the past year or two, and judging 
from the results as seen at the sweet-pea show at 
Newport last July, the change is for the better. Some 
growers contend that fall sowing is conducive to 
the earliest flowers and best results, and others that 
earlv sowing in the spring as soon as the ground can 
be made ready gives equally good results. 
Still others claim that early sowing in the green- 
house or hot-bed has something on either of the afore- 
mentioned methods. Despite the diversity of opinion, 
however, all are agreed that the seed should be sown 
early so that the plants have time to develop a 
vigorous root-system before the hot-weather over- 
takes us. In sections of the country where the open 
ground got into workable condition during the sum- 
mer-like weather we experienced the last week in 
January many sweet-peas were planted. 
PRUNING. 
The pruning of trees and flowering shrubs should 
be attended to as opportunity permits. Old shrub- 
beries that have been neglected should have a rather 
severe pruning, and newly planted beds require to 
have about two-thirds of the wood removed so as to 
balance up the shock of removal. 
This of course means cutting away a good deal of 
flowering wood, but one should not expect to have a 
great display of blooms from shrubs the first veai 
after planting. 
Established shrubs that flower in early spring will 
need little more than old dead wood cutting away. 
Such as bloom on the current seasons' growth may be 
cut hard back. 
The warm weather that was experienced the latter 
part of January is not unlikely to be the cause of some 
damage to large trees that were newly planted, es- 
pecially maples. During this spring-like period the 
sap would no doubt begin to flow early, as it has a 
tendency to do in maples, with the result that when 
the next spell of freezing comes the sap is frozen in 
the bark causing it to split. Covering the trunks with 
marsh hay, straw or similar material will prevent this 
to a great extent. 
While the work of pruning is in progress look care- 
fully over each and every plant for San Jose scale. 
If any is found spraying should be resorted to to clear 
it out, as it is of little use trying to keep the adjoining 
fruit trees clear of this pest unless you clear it out 
of the shrubberies. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
If at all possible, plow or dig the vegetable garden 
this month and endeavor to get a little below the 
usual hard-pan, which has formed as a result of 
plowing or digging to the same old depth year after 
year, at the same time incorporate a liberal applica- 
tion of barnyard manure. 
Most gardens on private estates are so cut up by 
ornamental plantings that it is impossible to use a 
horse to plow, hence hand digging has to be resorted 
to. Here again one finds the old trouble — too shallow 
digging. 
The men who are entrusted with the actual digging 
do not appreciate the importance of deep cultivation, 
and need to be reminded of it once in a while. 
In connection with this department, and especially 
where there is no greenhouse, a hot-bed is indispensable 
to have early vegetables. Get the manure ready and start 
this at once if you have not already done so. 
The horse manure needs to be fresh, and if it does 
not contain much straw, add some leaves. Leaves are 
desirable in any case, as they prevent too rapid fer- 
mentation and cause the heat to last longer. Stack 
the material in a heap, under cover if possible, and 
turn every few days "inside out" until the rank heat 
and ammonia has passed off. As soon as it is ready 
put the material into the frame, 18 to 30 inches deep, 
pack down tight by tramping and place four to six 
inches of soil on top of the manure to sow the seeds 
in. Not infrequently the heat of the manure will run 
up to over a hundred after it is put in the frame, and 
a thermometer should be provided to register the ac- 
tual degree of heat. Not until the temperature has 
settled to 90 degrees and shows signs of remaining 
below that point should seeds be sown. 
Then there is the cold-frame to get ready, for once 
the plants are started in the hot-bed they will soon 
grow to overcrowding and will need to be transplanted 
tn the cold-frame to harden off previous to setting out in 
the open ground next month. 
Among the many seeds that may be sown in the hot- 
bed for early use may be mentioned cabbage, cauli- 
flower, carrots, beets, beans (to mature where they 
are sown), egg-plant, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, 
onions, seedlings or sets to provide an early supply 
for the house. 
Rhubarb, chicory and seakale may still be forced. 
Outdoor rhubarb may be hastened by placing barrels 
over the crowns and placing hot manure around them. 
Seakale may be forced in the open ground by covering 
the rows with manure, or seakale pots may be used 
in the same manner as is adopted for forcing rhubarb. 
THE FRUIT GARDEX AND ORCHARD. 
Witli the advent of March comes the last chance in 
this department to complete the winter or dormant 
