72 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
Hardy Fruit: The seasonable check of last month has fortunately kept these 
in their place. Apricots and Peaches were getting too forward ; these should be 
protected, and if no better material be at hand, spruce fir branches may be used 
with advantage, removing them occasionally in the day-time, when the trees 
are in blossom. Bring all pruning, nailing, planting, &c., to a close as 
speedily as possible. Filberts should be pruned as soon as the blossoms are 
visible, cutting back all small shoots that do not show fruit, and keeping the 
main branches tbin. Plant Strawberries^ and use the hoe among the plants in 
the fruiting beds. Orchard-houses will be benefited by plenty of air, but it is 
necessary to be sparing of moisture at night during the time the trees are in 
flower, for dampness coincident with a low temperature is most injurious to the 
blossoms.—J. Powell, Frogmore. 
VEGETABLES. 
With the advent of March commences the most busy season of the year, in 
so far as the kitchen garden is concerned. All digging and trenching operations 
should have been completed, and the final preparation of the ground should 
engage a large share of attention. Heavy, rough, tenacious soils, where they 
have been thoughtfully laid up in ridges, should be levelled and knocked about, 
with the view of modifying in some degree their excessive harshness ; fine dry 
weather must be chosen for doing this, as to attempt it when they are moist will 
but increase the evil. Many kinds of seeds must now be sown for the more per¬ 
manent crops. It is judicious to get in seeds earlier on light, stony, well-drained 
soils than upon such as are cold and clammy. Sow small seeds, such as the 
following:— Cabbage (early, and 'red for pickling). Broccoli (Walcheren and 
Snow’s), and Lettuce on warm, sheltered aspects ; and in warm situations trans¬ 
plant a few of the forwardest autumn-sown Ijettuces out of the seed-beds on to 
a favourable site. Sow also Cress (American and Australian), Chervil^ Carrots,^ 
Parsnips^ Onions (silver-skinned), and get in successional crops of Broad Beans^ 
Peas of the mid-season kinds, &c. Cardoons 'should also be sown in pans or 
boxes, where this vegetable is esteemed, and an early supply is in demand. 
Prick out the early spring-sown Celery on to a warm bed under shelter. Pot-off 
Tomatos into small-sized pots, to prepare them for final planting-out so soon as 
safety from frosts is enjoyed. Make a main and final planting of Potatos, of early 
sorts, intended as such, to precede the main crops in the field. 
Eemove the covering off SeaJcale plantations immediately the crop has been 
taken, to obviate their being drawn prematurely into growth the second time. 
Earth-up the early sowings of Peas and Broad Beaiis, so soon as they are well 
through the ground, or require this aid in a secondary stage. The spring dress¬ 
ing of Aspai'agus plantations should be carried out forthwith, with good decom¬ 
posed manure, if not already done. All prepared and blanched Celery, which 
exhibit a tendency to run, should be taken up forthwith and lain in by the heels ; 
the check thus given will tend to deter too sudden growth. Transplant Cabbages 
from the autumn-sown beds, and attend to the earthing-up of such as need it. 
Add fresh soil to the roots of Cucumbers as they advance in growth ; and give 
an occasional watering in instances where a goodly growth is being made. Sow 
Cucumber-seeds for a successional crop ; and particularly attend to providing 
a supply of heating material in cases where fermentive materials alone are 
employed to maintain the necessary heat. In all instances where proper heat¬ 
ing media exist, it will now be advisable to add a few degrees’ more heat both by 
night and day. An advance of 8° by day and 4° to 5° by night, with as much 
more fresh air allowed as will enable them to grow strongly, will conduce to 
their abundant prolificacy besides.— William Earley, Valentines. 
