April.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 323 
the distance of four feet form trenches, north and south, about ten 
inches deep, eight wide at bottom, and the edges sloping outward 
regularly towards the centre of the ridges, formed bj the earth 
thrown up, the better to admit the sun to the seeds and plantsj in 
the bottom of these trenches lay three inches of very old horse- 
dung; cast over this the same depth of earth, and with your spade 
dig and incorporate both well together; cover the whole with mould 
previously made fine with the rake, and draw a shallow drill with 
your finger in the centre of each trench, not more than a quarter of 
an inch deep, in which sow your seed very thin, and draw the 
earth lightly over it, just to cover the seed and no more. This 
should be done as early in this, or the preceding month, as the 
ground can be got to work freely. 
When the plants are up they must be kept free from weeds, 
and when grown a couple of inches, thinned to the distance of five 
from one another, always leaving the strongest and most promising. 
When about eight inches high draw to their roots, on each side, 
three inches deep of mould, and let them grow on till of sufiicient 
size to earth them up for blanching; then they are to be earthed 
in the general way. Plants thus treated will arrive at perfection 
three weeks earlier than those managed in the common method. 
.Asparagus. 
The forking, dressing, sowing, and planting of asparagus, if not 
done last month, should be performed the first week in this, par- 
ticularly the forking and dressing; for the shoots will be advancing 
rapidly, and if not done in time they will be greatly injured, either 
by omitting it altogether, or performing it at an untimely season. 
New plantations ought to be made in the early part of the month; 
the seed may be sown at any time therein, but the earlier the better. 
For the methods of doing the whole, see pages 192, 193, and 194. 
Sowing Beet Seed. 
Beets of every kind may now be sown with good success. For 
the kinds and methods of sowing them, see page 194. 
Sowing Onion and Leek Seed. 
Onion seed, if sown in the first week of this month, agreeably to 
the directions given in page 194, will arrive at a tolerable size for 
use the same season; but if sown for the purpose of raising seed 
onions, or small bulbs for planting next year, the middle of the 
month will be the proper time, or even towards the latter end. 
Seeds for the latter purpose should be sown pretty thick, and in 
poor gravelly ground; otherwise they will grow too large, or run to 
tops and not bulb well. 
You may now sow a principal crop of leeks, either in drills, or as 
directed for onions in page 194; if in drills, they may be landed. 
