110 
THE GAKDENEES' AND NATURAUSTs' CALENDAR FOR MAECH. 
Thyme, Sage, Mint, and all perennial herbs. Clean, 
dress, and nianiu-e the old beds, and keep them as mnch 
together as possible, as order in the Kitchen Garden 
is the chief attraction it affords, as an object of inspec- 
tion. Sow successional crops of Eadishes and small 
Salads once a-week. Sow an abundance of Parsley, 
Ayre's Giant Curled, in drills a foot apart ; thin the 
plants to the same distance in the rows with the hoe, 
lea^Tng those that are the most em-led. Sow Spinach 
between the rows of Peas, and thin to niae inches 
as soon as the plants get large enough to use — the round- 
seeded is the best for spring use. A few Early Dutch 
and Stone Turnips may be sown ; if they do not run 
they will be useful. Sow Leeks in a spare bed for 
ti'ansplanting. Make new plantations of Rhubarb, so 
as to keep up a good stock for forcing, as well as for 
summer use. "Well protect Mushroom beds that are in 
bearing, and make new ones, which if made in a 
sheltered spot will produce through the summer and 
autumn. As a general rule, crops of every description 
should be got in a fortnight or thi'ee weeks earlier on 
light di-y soils than on heavy wet ones. Eegard must 
be also paid to the exposure of the situation to fi'osts 
and keen winds. Manm-es should be got upon the 
ground and dug in as quickly as possible. Such a system 
of rotation should he devised as will admit of plants of 
opposite habit of gTowth following each other. Rhubarb, 
Sea-kale, and Aspai-agus, should occupy a separate com- 
partment ; and annual crops coming off the grormd at 
the same time may he grown contiguous, in order that 
large plots of ground may become vacant at the same 
time. By this arrangement such operations as trench- 
ing, manuring, &c., are more expeditiously managed, and 
the appearance is improved. Turn the walks when 
necessary, ti'im the box-edgings, and make all neat for 
the season. J. C. S. 
"WILD FLOWERS OF MAECH. 
In this month, if the weather be fine, a number of om' 
earlier " weeds" begin to show themselves. Wet shady 
places are spotted with the golden stars of the Pile-wort 
{liaiiiiiiculiis Ficaria) ; the Marsh Marigold {Calt/ictpahis- 
tris) also, a near relation, is not unfrequently in flower 
towards the end of this month. The Daffodil {Narciss2is 
pseiidd-Karcissus) is now in its full glory, looking like 
a neglected garden plant strayed out into the woods and 
thickets, which, probably, is the real state of the case 
in many instances. The Wall-flower {C/ieiranfhm 
Clwiri) belongs also to the March list ; and, though like 
the Daffodil, regai-ded as a very common flower, in spite 
of a rather imatti'active appearance, asserts a good claim 
to notice in its powerful fragrance, and is a curious 
illusti-ation of comparative independence of external 
conditions, maintaining its hai'dy existence in spots ex- 
posed to the most violent vicissitudes of heat and cold, 
drought and moistirre. The Sweet Violet ( Viola odoratd), 
favom-ite of high and low, begins to bloom at this time ; 
and the Hairy Violet ( Viola hiiia) a little later. The 
Coltsfoot {Tussilago Farfara) marks with its bright 
flowers and large dead-looking leaves the abode of bar- 
renness, and in badly cultivated clayey districts the 
scenes of over-cropping. The Butter-bm- {Petasitcs 
vulgaris') appears by ditches and rivers on richer soils. 
Among other noticeable plants may be mentioned the 
Poplars, Elms, and the Misteltoe ( V'isciim album), which 
the botanist must now look to for the infloresence. 
A. H. 
ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
Ornithology. — A marked change may now be ob- 
served among the feathered tribes. If the weather is 
at all mild, the solitary call note of many is now turned 
into a song of joy at the prospect of returning spring ; 
the cleai' and powerful voice of the Missel Thi-ush 
{Turdus viscivonis) maybe heai-d at the break of day- 
he is an early riser; the Song Thrush {Turdiis mii- 
sicus) and Blackbii'd {Tardus merula), that were occa- 
sion;illy heard dm-ing February, are now in full song, 
pom'ing forth theii' deUeious notes, long after most 
of their feathery companions have sought repose ; 
but, though so late in reth'ing] to rest, there is 
one still later, the Eohin {Frithacus ruiecula^ ; he may 
be heard long after night has wrapt her sable mantle 
over all, chanting those sweet and peculiar notes that 
are so entirely his own — for I think it impossible to mis- 
take the song of the Robin for that of any other bird. 
In the smaU plantations and hedge-rows the little tribe 
of Tits {Farus) may be seen, all activity and Ufe ; and, 
though not gifted with very musical voices, theu- call- 
notes are peculiar and interesting. Often, in the same 
locality, a low, weak note will fall upon the car ; it 
might be mistaien for the squeaking of a mouse ; but 
it proceeds from that little fauy thing, the Golden Crested 
Wren {Megidus auricapillus), the smallest of oirr birds. 
They are generally seen in pairs, and their habits are 
easily observed, for they appeal' devoid of fear, pursuing 
their search after food within a few feet of the spec- 
tator. What a contrast between their weak note, and 
that of the Wren {Troglodytes europieus), who, moimted 
on some old stump, or from the centre of a bush, rattles 
forth his clear and heai-ty notes, with so much vigour, 
as almost to raise a doubt if such a volume of sound 
can proceed from so small a creature. It is dm-ing this 
month that gardens and orchards in the neighbourhood 
of woods often suffer severely amongst theu- early fi-uit 
ti-ees from the ravages of the Bullfinch {Fi/rrhula mil- 
ffaris) ; and though I love to hear his soft and rather 
melancholly whistle, and admire his fine form and chaste 
colouring, the truth must he told, he is a sad fellow 
amongst the fruit tr-ees, stripping whole branches of 
every bud, the early Cherry trees receiving his mai-ked 
attention. 
In meadow and pasture lands, large flocks of Field- 
fares {Tardus pilaris) may be seen; and also small 
droves of Redwings {Tardus ilicaiis), numbering six or 
seven ; there is a marked difference, however, in their 
habits, the Fieldfares invariably keeping in the centre 
of the field, while the Red^vings rarely leave the hedges 
many yards. Mild and open weather is of great im- 
portance to these birds at this time, enabling them to 
regain their wonted sti-ength, which is often greatly 
reduced by severe weather and a scarcity of food, and 
which it is of importance that they should renew, pre- 
paratory to theii- migration. 
The Larks {Alauda arvcnsis), which through the 
\vinter have been congregated in flocks, are now dis- 
persed over the fields, cheering the husbandman at his 
toil mth their unrivalled song ; the Tit Lark {Antlias 
prataisis) may also be heai-d repeating his simple notes. 
Among the Finch tribe {Fringillidta!), the Chaifinch 
{Fringilla, ccelehs) is the first to welcome returning 
spring -with his few notes. It can hardly be called a 
song, although pleasing, fi-om the sprightly manner in 
which it is deKvered, and is more Ukely to attract atten- 
tion now, than when our woods become peopled -with 
more gifted vocalists. Indeed, all oiu- resident birds 
appear affected by the change, even the chirp of the 
pert old Span-ow {Parser domesticus) sounds more mu- 
sical. H. W. 
Ichthyology. — Towards the end of this month, the 
White Bait {Ciupea ahsa of Donovan, Clapea alba of 
TarreU) may be caught in the Thames. This celebrated 
and delicious little fish was, until Mr. Tan-ell proved the 
contrai-y, supposed to be the young of the Shad — a strange 
error, since it differs materially from all other British 
species of Ciupea, both in character and in habit. They 
remain in the river from the middle or end of March 
until September. It is generally supposed that the 
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