1807] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
83 
Work in the Horticultural Departments. 
Tlic next worst tliln" to bcint? too late, is bcin" 
too carlj’. As soon as tlic snows disappear, thccn- 
tbusiastic cultivator is desirous of be^innini^ out of 
dni>r openitions. He hxs read and planned all win¬ 
ter, and iiuw wishes to execute. How tedious it is 
to wait untii the ground is in “working order,” 
and ready to receive trees, vines, or seeds. Yet wc 
inn-t wait, and the time required for soil to be fit 
to work wilt depend upon its natural or artificial 
tirainage. Let this springs’ experience of those who 
have to wait for the waters to subside, einphasi/.e 
our often repeated injunction, to drain the orchard, 
vineyard, or kitchen garden, if the soil be at all re¬ 
tentive. Look over the notes of the two proceeding 
months and see if some preparatory work is not 
there suggested which is still undone, and do not 
delay sending orders to nursci^-men and seedmen. 
and Xiirsery. 
Many trees will be purchased this month, and we 
would give a word of caution against the common 
pnicticc of ordering large trees. A small, well 
erown tree with an abundance of small roots, is 
greatly to be preferred to a tall, much branched 
one, with its large roots chopped oft'in the digging. 
Some of the best Avestem orehardists prefer trees 
one year from the bud or graft, to any other. 
Il-fl-in at once trees th.at arrive before you .are 
ready to plant; bury their roots well in a sandy 
place,and they may remain for weeks without injury. 
HajU whenever the soil is ready, taking care to 
first trim mutilated roots, and shorten back the top; 
planting will generally be left until next month. 
luaects are always to be looked after. See notes 
for January and the article on the canker-worm, on 
p.age 102. If sm.all cottony spots, looking like 
mould, arc seen, they arc th« far too common 
■\Voolly-Aphis, and for this the best remedy is the 
had. The Wilson is the variety still the most gen¬ 
erally reliable, though there are many better sorts 
that succeed in favorable situations 
Ndekberries .—The sooner they are planted the 
better. Kittatinny and Wilson’s Early arc among 
the ucAver kinds, and the Ncav RocheUc is noAV so 
Avell knoAvn as to need no description. 
Raspberries, also need early planting, as, like 
blackberries, the shoots push early, and arc liable to 
be broken if they have made much groAvth. The 
Philadelphia and the Clark arc tAVO of the most 
promising ncAV sorts. For the many older varieties, 
of these and other plants, consult the catalogues. 
Kitclicn Ciardeii. 
Except where glass, as hot-beds or cold-frames, 
is in use, the Avork in this latitude is still mainly 
preparatory, and but little is gained, as a general 
thing, by commencing gardening operations before 
next month. In dry or well drained soils, 
Riombtg may be done, but only AA'hen their condi¬ 
tion Avill admit of thorough pulverization. Recol¬ 
lect that ground for a garden can hardly be too 
thoroughly Avorked or too highly enriched. 
Manure, especially if Avell rotted, should be ap¬ 
plied Avith a liberal hand; on stiff soils, coarser 
manure may be used, and on sandy ones, apply peat 
Avith ashes, or pcatAvith lime, if at command. One 
of the best gardens Ave ever Avorked, AV'as so sandy 
that it would bloAV when dry, but by the aid of muck 
and ashes Ave gained astonishing crops. As to 
Uot-beds, we have already said sufficient in the 
article. Profits from Sm.all Places, p. 03, Avhere some 
hints on cold-frames, and a substitute, Avill be found. 
The novice, in the use of glass, especially if over 
a hot-bed, needs to be told of the importance of 
Ainni/.—He Avill learn it after having a crop or 
two scorched by the suu, but that is rather expen¬ 
sive knowledge. Not only seedlings, but plants 
that h.vve been wintered and escaped damage from 
cold, arc noAV liable to be burned; heucc. 
Hofl Soap \Vash, Avhich may be applied with advan- 
Uge, even if no insects arc visible. Make as strong 
.a.s it will Avork; it removes not only insects and 
their eggs,but p.arasitic plants and loose bark as avcII. 
Girdled trees must be attended to as soon as the 
injury i.s discovered. Where the girdling is com¬ 
plete, the tree may often be saved by connecting 
the bark above and below the Avound, by means of 
cions Avhittlcd to a thin chamfer at each end, and 
inserted beneath the Kark. Cover with wax or 
grafting clay, or simply bandage securely, and put 
a mound of earth around the tree largo enough to 
cover the wounded portion. 
Grafting should not be done too soon. It is 
time enough when tlie swelling of the buds shoAvs 
t hat vegetation is active. Continue to secure cions, 
and preserve as heretofore directed. Cut back 
Stocks budded last year, if the bud is sound. 
rriiit Ciarden. 
Trees in this department will need the care indi- 
ated under Orchard. 
Grape vines that were laid down may be uncovered 
s soon ns severe weather is over. In planting new 
incs cut them b.ack to two or three buds, provided 
he nurseryman has not done it before sending 
licm. In any system of training, a single cane is 
ill that should be groAA'n the first year. 
Cuttings of currant, grape, etc., arc to be set out 
.s soon as the soil is ready. It cannot he too often 
cpeatcd, that much of the success of this kind ot 
.ropagation, depends upon pressing the soil firmly 
iroiiml the lower end of the cuttings. 
Oirr-ma—Set out plants early. The Versailles 
, the bc.st red, and the White Grape the best AAdnte 
riicrc are many A'arictics, only such in name. an 
Gooseberric*-on\y the American sorts arc to be 
mmmended for general cultivation, and among 
hose the Houghton is one of the most reliable, 
iome of the English sorts will do for amateurs to pet. 
Slraicberrics should have the beds all ready for 
Ihcm, and the plants be set as early as they can be 
Cold-frames Avill need frequent attention, and in 
the case of lettuce and cabbage wintered over, if 
the plants are properly hardened, the glass may he 
rcmoA'ed altogether, and used OA'cr other frames. 
Seeds.—By all means order at once, and if roots of 
any kind, or cabbage or other plants, have been 
AA'intcred OA’cr for seed-raising, put them out, the 
hast of the month, in a dry rich spot, and do not 
plant allied varieties near each other. More atten¬ 
tion to seed-raising Avould lessen the complaints of 
bad seed. It Avould be a good thing if the members 
of local clubs would each agree to raise one or tAvo 
sorts of seeds. By doing thus, greater purity and 
perfection could be attained, and each community 
could raise ncaidy all its OAvn seed. 
1 seeds should be tried, if any doubt exists as to 
rcliabilitj'. Count out a dozen or twenty, put 
I in a box or pot of earth in a warm place, keep 
t, but not too wet, and see the proportion that 
s! If half the number groAV, it Avill be safe to 
t them. Look over the article on page 52, (last 
th,) and see if you ha\’e all the needed 
uLdenees in the Garden.-Thosc mentioned 
figured there are great helps to save labor. 
paragus.-Bomova the litter from old beds as 
as severe weather is over, and if there is not a 
I dressing of short manure left on the bed, put 
iomc good manure and fork it in. Apply a 
sin"- of 2 to 3 jiounds of s.alt to the square yard, 
seed for new plants as early as the soil is ready, 
rich bed, in rows a foot apart. Where ncAV plan- 
ms are to be made, have the ground highly 
ured and deeply worked. Set good one or two 
old plants, and cover the croAvns 2 or 3 inches, 
best way for family gardens is to have beds 
feet wide, one roAv in the center, and one a foot 
1 each edge, the plants nine inches in the row. 
hubarb should have the bed manured the same 
jr asparagus ; plants may be forced as directed 
month. Make new beds before the plants stai t. 
ide old roots, as soon as the frost is out, with a 
•p spade to have a piece of root AVith each eye. 
nion«.-Of the Potato variety. Top onions aud 
sets may be got in early. Put the Potato and Top 
sorts, 4 or 5 inches apart, in one foot rows. Sets 
may be put in 9 inch roAvs, and 3 inches apart All 
these bulbs need to be covered, aud all the better if 
the ground is rolled to pack it closely around them. 
lias should be soAvn early. Wc hear good ac¬ 
counts of Carter’s First Crop, and there arc several 
other e.arly ones offered. Daniel O’Rourliie, where 
it can be had good, is the best knoAvn early sort. 
Roots, such as Parsnip and Salsify, should be taken 
out of the ground before they begin to groAV, and 
all plants protected during the winter, such as 
Spinach, uncovered and thinned for use as soou 
as it starts to grow. Sow in a Avarm corner seeds 
of early varieties of 
Carrot, radish, cress, lettuce, and other things, 
according to locality and season. 
Chives come very early in spring, and are in such 
demand that, near large cities, they arc forwarded 
in frames. Cut the leaves as soon as large enough. 
Flower Garden and Fawn. 
Considerable preparatory' work can be done here, 
and if any ncAv improvements are to be made, have 
them Avell un der way. 
Roads should receive more attention than they 
generally do ; in this we include drives and paths 
of all kinds. A good, dry road or walk is a great 
comfort, and the reverse is a nuisance. The best 
part of a road is out of sight. Those who arc 
troubled to get rid of their stone, need have no 
anxiety as long as there is a bad road on the place. 
Excavate 2 or 3 feet, fill in Avith large stones, upon 
these put smaller ones, diminishing the size as the 
surface is reached, and finish off with coarse gravel, 
and then a coat of finer; roll Avell, and there Avill bo 
a road that Avill need little mending, and fit to travel 
in all weathers; besides, such a road does much 
toAvards draining the ground through Avhich it 
passes, and may be built Avith a vicAv to drainage. 
Raivns are seldom seen in a satisfactory state of 
perfection. Here the Avork must begin low down, 
and drains be put in Avhere they Avould be re¬ 
quired for a garden crop. Manure, jiIoav, subsoil, 
grade and level with great care, soav and roll. Do 
the work as soou as the season will admit of it. 
Blue Grass or June Grass Ave have found to be satis¬ 
factory. In using the mixed seeds, sold under the 
name of LaAvn Grass, Ave liaA'e not been successful. 
The White Clover, generally, killed out everything 
else, but this Avas on the light and poor soil. 
Roots, of herbaceous perennials, of all kinds that 
have been in place tAvo or three years, will do all 
the better if divided and reset. Do this early, and 
beral with the surplus. Do all necessary 
•ansplanting of shrubs and hardy herbaceous 
ts before vegetation starts, and finish up the 
■unmg of shrubs, if not done. Do not hurry to 
neover tender plants, that have been protected 
traw or .other shelter. There will still be a, suc- 
ion of AA'arm days and cold nights that will be 
e injurious to them than steady severe cold. 
lant hedges, edging, shrubs and trees on the 
1 as soon as the ground can be worked, and the 
its be procured. Set out the vaiious 
limbers Avherever they are appropriate, and if 
ns arc lacking to buy, go to the woods and fence 
s and get Virginia Creeper and Waxwork, that 
everywhere common. Every country home 
aid have a veranda, with several climbers upon it. 
rardy Annuals.-All those that come from self- 
n seeds, such as Larkspur, Whitlavia, Candy- 
, and most of the California things do best 
m warm, as soon as frost leaves, but the 
inder Annuals must be kept back until the 
Gicen and Hot-Houses. 
heat of the sun will render less fuel neces- 
Give air freely on mild days, but close up 
before the air gets chilly. 
,agation will demand the chief attention, as a 
stock of bedding plants is needed m most 
