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SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS-MARCH. 
55 
the soil compactly and properly about the roots. The pots should be 
clean and well drained, and the soil should be in a proper state—neither 
too. wet nor too dry, but inclining to dryness, in which state it can be 
pressed between the ball and the inside of the pot. Hardwooded plants 
should not be over-potted. All newly-potted plants should be kept close 
for a short time until they begin to grow. They will not require much 
water until they begin to root into the fresh soil. 
Out of doors, bulbs r as they appear above ground, will need protection 
and attention in frosty unfavourable weather. The pruning of Hoses 
should be finished; alsq that of trees and shrubs in pleasure grounds. 
Alterations or work in progress should now be pushed forward with all 
possible dispatch. 
This is a busy time in the kitchen garden. Sowings of the main crops 
of most vegetables must be made during the month. To get these all done 
in proper time, with the land in fit condition, is not always an easy matter 
owing to the uncertainty and changeableness of the weather. There are 
two points in connection with seed-sowing of paramount importance to the 
success and vigour of germination, and to the regularity, strength, and 
luxuriance of the crops; these are—first, the Condition of the soil, and 
second, the Depth at which the seed is deposited. The presence of air, 
moisture, and a certain degree of heat is essential to the germination of 
the seed. The soil is the medium by means of which these are supplied. 
But then the soil must be in a proper condition for supplying them; if it 
be very dry, it will contain too much air, and too little moisture to be 
favourable to germination, while on the other hand, if it be too wet, it will 
contain too much moisture, and too little air. The depth at which seed 
is deposited in the soil, has for its chief object the maintenance of a due 
degree of moisture, but another purpose is to exclude light, and to give the 
future plant a better hold of the ground. If kept moist and shaded, nearly 
all kinds of seeds will vegetate on the surface of the ground. We 
continually see self-sown seeds vegetate with very little or no covering, but 
the general practice is to cover most kinds of vegetable seeds. Large 
seeds, such as Peas, Beans, &c., do best when sown at a moderate depth, 
but great care should be taken not to cover small seeds too deeply, for if 
sown too deeply at this season, and hot weather sets in, they will perish 
in the ground. The limits of this paper prevent me from saying all I wish 
on this subject, but I desire to guard amateurs and young gardeners, 
however anxious to get in their crops, from committing the great mistake 
of sowing their seeds when the ground is in an unfit state, and from 
covering them too deeply. 
Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines must be protected as soon as the 
flowers begin to expand. There is a great variety of materials used for 
