THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
FkbivUARy 26 . 
is a little advantage in being able, at all times after¬ 
wards, to have access to the crop during all weathers, to 
thin, weed, or to apply liquid-manure as needed. Beds, 
indeed, are preferable in all stiff soils, when, as stated 
: above, there is a danger of the mass being trampled 
I down into a bard substance ; but on very light, sandy 
soils there is not so much likelihood of this taking place, 
and the ground in such places is better by being made 
somewhat lirmer. 
When sown in drills, a foot between them is sufficient 
in most cases; but where tliere is a desire to obtain some 
very large bulbs, the rows might be fifteen inches apart; 
and at thinning time a proportionate space bo allowed 
in the row likewise. After all that has been said of 
thinning Onions very much, and the other points of 
management, the most essential thing is to make the 
ground good at first, and this, aided by a favourable 
season, is of far more consequence than any after-treat¬ 
ment; inasmuch, as with a generous soil a much more 
numerous progeny may be effectually maintained than 
can be done by the most judicious thinning ; and, in the 
next place, where a good depth of soil has been pre- 
]mred, the plants are, in a measure, secure against ordi¬ 
nary droughts in the best part of the growing season, 
when it is most important that the plants should not 
receive any check. Although 1 am, myself, an advocate 
for a good thinning, I am aware there are times, and 
]>lenty of them, too, in which thinning alone will not effoc- 
lually secure a good crop; wliile, on the other hand, a good 
one may sometimes be had by an almost reverse metliod. 
Last year, 1 remember leaving some row's in a plot of 
ground, very thick, scarcely thinned at all; in fact, the 
few that were left very thick were so left with a view to 
supply young Onions as wanted, and intended to be 
thinned as they were called for. This system, w’hich is 
often carried out too far, was attended with the usual 
residt; they were not wanted in time, and the whole 
lot (of what was left so) soon began to oust eaeh other 
out of the row; but as the ground W'as good, and the 
season favourable, they shouldered each other in such 
a w'ay as in some cases nearly to cover the ground with 
their bulbs where they w'ere fully swelled out, and the 
produce was most abundant; and though there were 
many small bulbs, still, there were plenty of good-sized 
ones also. 
As the process of drawing a shallow drill with the 
corner of a hoe is tolerably well-known, and the raking 
over of the ground is a simple operation, 1 need say but 
i little about these here; only, as there is often a great 
j temptation to sow Radishes amongst the crop, I 
may here observe, that it would bo as well to draw' 
I slight drills for these also between those for Onions, in 
I order to get the seed properly covered, as it not un- 
! frequently happens that seed scattered broad cast over 
I the ground, with no other covering than that resulting 
I from the raking in of the Onion drills, is, in a great 
[ measure, sacrificed. Bo careful to sow the Radishes very 
; thinly, and be sure and remove them all long before the 
Onions sufl’er by their presence. The Salmon, or Short- 
, top, are the most suitable, but a few of the Turnip-rooted 
may bo sown likewise; only, I here repeat the warning, 
that nothing, whatever, sown here must bo allowed to 
compete for a living with the legitimate crop; for, as 
before said, the Onion is rather a luxurious fellow in his 
way, and must be indulged accordingly. J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.— March. 
As the wet weather of last month may have delayed the 
routine operations recommended for that month, it will be 
now necessary, as soon as the ground is in a tit state—and 
it should never be dug or trampled on when it is so wet as 
to become adbesive like paste—to bring up all an'cars. 
‘duw Green-lodf, Brussels Sprouts, a little Wutcheren Brocoli, 
Cuhhuprs, of sorts. Radishes, Spinneh, and a few Earhj Slone 
Turnips. U'lie Caulijlowcr plants, protected during flic, 
winter, should now lie planted out. 'J’bc Silrer-shiniK d 
Onion, for pickling, to be sown on poor ground, in a dry 
state; after sowing to lie well treaded over to make tlie 
ground hard. A good breadth of Broad Beans ougiit to be now' 
' sown for tlie main crop; as also Onions and Lechs, on good, 
i rich ground, the surface to be occasionally sprinkled witli 
; soot in showery weatlicr; and salt applied to the Asparagus 
\ and Scu-halc beds. 
The Green-curled Borecole is a useful crop, sown now', and 
planted out early in summer; the tall stems producing an 
abundance of sprouts, from bottom to top, with large heads, 
that withstand the severity of winter well, and continue to 
give a good supply during the autumn ami winter months. 
Savot/s must be sown for planting out in summer, to pro¬ 
duce large heads for autumn and winter use. 
Celery is to be sown on a warm border, or on a slight 
hotbed, to prick out, when two or three inches high, on a bed 
of old dung, and a little mould on the top oidy six inches 
deep, on a hard bottom, whence they can be moveil with a 
mass of roots to the trenches, w'herc they should be supplied 
I with an abundance of water or liquid-manure to attain per- 
I fection. Hardy Lettuces that have stood all the winter in 
frames or under hand-glasses can be planted one foot 
asunder the early part of the month. The seeds of pot¬ 
herbs, such as Sayc, Thyme, Mint, Savory, and Jfarjorain, 
&c., should be sown, or tliese be increased by slips, or by 
parting the roots. 
Finish plantiny fruit-trees as soon as possible, and the 
pruning of Vines; for W'hen the pruning is postponed until 
, the sap is in circulation, they bleed so freely as materially to 
exhaust and injure the system or natural vigour of the tree. 
As the Potato is now’ not likely to be neglected by the 
; cottager who appreciates it as a most valuable crop, and 
next to grain for food, it is only necessary to suggest, that 
where poor cottagers have no means of obtaining good 
varieties, it would be well w’orthy of the attention of the 
wealthy, and an act of kindness for the proprietor of the 
estate, or the landlord, to introduce into the neighbourhood, 
for the cottagers who have gardens, or allotments, a few' 
of the best and improved sorts. The expense would be 
trifling, as they are easily increased. The follow’ing sorts 
are good, and should be planted not later than the middle 
of the aiiontb :— Shaics, York Reyents, Forty-folds, Kentish 
, Gold/inder, Bread-fruit, Poor Meat’s Profit, fVhitc and Red 
Goldens, and, for late sorts. Blue Pons, yfinions, or Cups, 
and the Plain de Rohan, which is a great cropper, fit for 
I swine or cattle, as it is only in some situations that it is 
; a good, late table Potato. 
As the season for yraj'liny fruit-trees has now arrived, it 
may be useful to some cottagers to know that whip-grafting 
is the general method adopted by nurserymen; and where 
; there is an opportunity, the best lesson that a novice could 
, take would be to inspect the operation performed by one of 
them for an hour in the nursery rows, where, of many scores 
grafted by a skilful hand, not half-a-dozen of the whole lot 
: will fail of complete success. It is called whip-grafting, 
from the method of cutting the stock and scions sloping on 
: one side, so as to fit each other, and they are thus tied together 
in the manner of a w'hip-thong to its shaft or handle. To 
' prevent the admission of light, wet, or wind, after being tied 
; closely together with a strand of matting in a w’et state, it is 
i covered with clay in an oval form. The clay is made by 
beating together, in an iron pot, a quantity of adhesive brick- 
earth with about one-part of horso-droppings, and so much 
water as will give to it the consistency of putty. 
As stuys are very apt to harbour about the stems of the 
young growing crops of vegetables at this time, and nibble 
them off, or seriously injure them under the surface of the 
i soil, it is advisable to strew some soot close to the stems of 
I the plants when lioeing between or earthing-iqi any of the 
spring crops. 
HeahtseASK.—T ow ards the end of the month tlie seed 
may be either sown in boxes of light earth, placed in a cold 
j frame, or the open ground. If sown in the open ground, 
1 the soil should be light, and the seed sown in drills about 
I three inches apart, and lightly covered with finely-sifted soil. 
If the sun is powerful, the bed should be shaded, to keep 
1 the surface constantly moist, when the seeds will vegetate 
