THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
845 
Ff.brdary 8. 
have we this season of getting onr ground into the 
healtliy condition wliich requires but little judgment to 
lironounce the most proper state to receive seeds? 
Much, of course, depends on circumstances, as well as 
the state of the weather during the ensuing six weeks. 
It it sliould be severe, i. c., with sharp cutting frosts 
and dry winds, tlio ground then would derive all the 
benefit necessary to ensure what in some countries is 
called “ a good season," which means a line mellow 
surface; but as none of us are able to foretel the 
coming weather, despite all the weather prophets’ 
: assistance, we must take our measures according to 
' what seems most probable, instead of what we most 
wisli. 
! Where ground has lain a great part of winter in that 
compressed state which a heavy treading in autumn 
induces, it had better remain in that condition still, if 
we are likely to bo visited with a continuation of those 
heavy rains so common of late, because, the lirmor the 
' ground, the less chance there is of it holding water in 
i an undue quantity. This is easily ascertained by auy 
( one who just digs up a spadeful of soil on a loose open 
space, and then on a hard one; the former, in wet 
weather, is loaded like a sponge; the latter is like the 
sponge subjected to a pressure. Now, though we do not 
pretend to say that rain water, even in deluging quan¬ 
tities, does not convey something that is useful to the 
earth, yet we are far from thinking its benefits are felt 
by land in that loose open state of tillage which digged 
ground jn'eseuts; whereas the firm ground, by receiving 
the same amount of rain on its surface, allows it to 
percolate through, otherwise run off, and, doubtless, it 
leaves some of its fertilising properties in the soil it 
filters through, and probably leaves most where the 
strainer is closest; that it is so in the light ground, must 
be evident to every one. 
Now, wo have said enough to show that on some 
obstinate soils a little exposure is worse than none at 
all; and that such ground, which circumstances have 
hitherto prevented being dug during winter, had better 
be delayed until sowing time; but thou, more mellow 
soils which had been ridged, or rough digged during 
autumn, had bettor now bo slightly pointed over, in 
order to expose the surface as much to the elements as 
possible. A nice frosty morning is the best time to do 
this work, otherwise when the ground is tolerably dry, 
with winds, &c.; and although it may be improper to dig 
deep, yet the ground, if necessary, may be stirred the 
full depth of the spade, provided that the top of all 
remains at the top again, or nearly so; this is im¬ 
portant when there seems not sullicient time to mellow 
the under stratum before the ground is wanted for 
cropping, but the period required for that purpose 
dili'ers so much in various soils, that no general 
rules can be laid down for guidance in the matter. One 
thing we may enforce on the young horticulturist—that 
all soils arc injured by being worked when in a very 
wet condition, that is, when charged with water to 
exeess; but this is not always the case with the com¬ 
pressed ground we have been speaking of, because, if 
needs be, that may be digged up when a spade cannot 
be put in soils of a lighter and more friable nature; but 
which, by lying open, are exposed and eompelled to 
drink in every passing shower; but remember, these stiff 
, soils must bo dug and sown, or planted, at the same 
time, otherwise the rains, if there be any, will render 
the treading and working on such a soil a matter of 
! impossibility; and it is possible that the sowing season 
I may partake of the general character of the winter. 
! 1 have not said anything about the manure proper 
for crops that are wanted to bo sown early, because 
i usually such manuring is done in autumn; but when 
i that has been omitted, no delay must take place now ; 
j and even in the ground we have been advising to leave I 
iindug till sowing-time, the dung, and other matters, 
ought to be in readiness to dig in them; and whatever 
may be said about the utility of dung being administered ' 
in a fresh, uufermented, or undocayed state, it is better ' 
tliat both processes be pretty far advanced at this season. ' 
In autumn, a rougher article might, perhaps, do as well; 
but now the little time left before it be called on to 
furnish those juices necessary to the well-being of plants 
it is destined to nourish, renders it imperative that it 
should be ripe, or nearly so, for that purpose. 
Onions, being a gross-feeding crop, require a geod pro- j 
portion of dung; but they are better when it has been 
given in liberal quantities, the year before, to some crop 
that has not exhausted it too much. We have been in , 
the habit, for many years, of sowing our Onions on 
ground tliat the early Celery had come off, and we do 
not see any better plaee, when other things are taken 
into consideration as well. Carrots, and similar root- 
crops, ought to have the ground trenched about eighteen 
inches, or more, early in autumn; and what dung or 
other enriching matter was put in ought to be in the 
bottom, or from the bottom to the middle of the trench, 
so that none of it will be so near the surface as to entice 
the roots of such plants as CaiTots, fleet, &c., to fork 
and divide, on purpose to remain amongst such rich 
food, which they unquestionably will if it exist in any 
quantity near the top. Another condition necessary to 
ensure good Carrots is to have the ground free from 
those hard, impenetrable lumps which resist the down¬ 
ward growth of roots. It must, likewise, be free from 
wireworm, if possible, and for that reason, had better 
not be where any of the Cabbage tribe had occupied the 
precceding year. This latter evil may be got over by 
a dressing of gas-water, or the lime that has been used 
there. Common lime, unless used with a very liberal 
hand, seems unable to accomplish the destruction of 
this pest; and we are by no means advocates for large 
quantities of it being used where Carrots are grown, for 
its presence is at variance with the nature of the soil ' 
where the root luxuriates in the greatest perfection. 
Many things will now require to bo seen to in various 
ways. Warm, dry borders, that have not received a 
crop, may bo planted with Early Potatoes, or, at least, 
a quantity of these may be planted crossways. Radishes 
may be sowm against a south wall; aiid on some fa¬ 
voured, warm spot sow a little Lettuce and Caidiflouer 
seed. The protection of glass, we fear, is a luxury that 
cannot well be afforded such crops; but when any lights 
are at liberty, let them be used in some way or other. 
Sow Peas, and plant Beans, for the after crops; and 
watch carefully that the slug does not destroy those 
coming up or advancing apace. Sea-kale will now force 
with less trouble than heretofore, that it need not be i 
covered up so long before the time it is wanted to come j 
into use; but it will still require heat. Take up all ' 
Parsnips that are yet in the ground, and other roots; 
and on all favourable occasions leheel out duny, &c., on 
land that may require it. See to Cucumbers, and other j 
tender objects in the forcing department, so that no i 
lack of heat gives them a check; and turn and prepare 
dung, &c., for more Hotbeds, which make up when 
wanted, at the same time sowing Melons and Cucumbers 
occasionally, to succeed those already in, or, it may be, 
make up a deficiency, or, what is also not to be for- , 
gotten, to furnish a less-favoured neighbour with a pot I 
or two of plants, if required. J. Robson. ; 
BORDERS AND THEIR ARRANGEMENTS. 
The time i.s now fast approaching for being busy in 
digging and planting, altering or re-arranging our borders ; 
and of course this will be found the more readily effected 
by those who took the hint Mr. Beaton gave out in one of j 
