COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
55 
April 24. 
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i 
I 
absence of all rubbishy old crops, gives it an air of neat¬ 
ness which it rarely has at any other season. Large 
breadths of Onions, Carrots, and other seedling crops 
will begin to show their respective tenants in a way 
that seldom fails to interest the most apathetic observer 
of natural productions, while the various sizes of Peas 
and Beans, rising over each other’s heads like the off¬ 
spring of some thriving couple in a rural district, give 
tokens of usefulness at a no-distant period; while the 
general aspect of the fruit and other trees is supposed to 
be good, the whole assemblage tends to give an air of 
neatness, order, and promise to a garden which more 
than compensates for the lack of productions fit for 
immediate use. But this interest does not exist when 
the garden is not in good keeping, but expecting it to be 
so, we have alluded to it as such, and having made these 
lew remarks more in a complimentary than instructive 
manner, will now go into the details of the kitchen- | 
garden—in continuation of the remarks made at page 
405, Vol. XIII, and adopting the same figure or model 1 
as our line of operations. 
a. -This division being Strawberries, some attention 
will be wanted here, for should the season prove 
a very dry one, and the situation of the garden in 
■ question is dry also, water must be administered in 
rather a liberal way. I feel sorry to recommend 
it, and would not advise it in all places, but where 
the depth of soil is not great, and a dry, hungry 
gravel underneath, there is no alternative; but be 
sure and give a good soaking whenever Strawberries 
are watered, and let some shading be adopted to 
prevent evaporation immediately the watering is 
accomplished. Short grass mown from the lawn 
will do this, and being tolerably plentiful now 
may be used as seems necessary. The Raspberries 
will not require much attention for some time. 
b. -This being partly planted with Potatoes, part 
Cauliflowers, and a small space left for more 
Cauliflowers, another row of the latter may now 
be planted, and the ground well stirred amongst the 
first planted; and the same may be said of Potatoes. 
The latter may bo earthed up towards the end of 
the month, and of course all weeds must be care¬ 
fully cleared away. 
c. -This being under a permanent crop is now one 
of the most profitable plots in the garden. Aspa¬ 
ragus beds, while in bearing, must be carefully cut 
all over, until a fixed time for ceasing— i. e., the 
small or spray must be eat as well as the good 
heads; a little salt may be sown on now and then, 
and if liquid-manure be plentiful, that, may also be 
used. Dress up the Sea-hale beds, and dig slightly 
between them, and cut off most of the flowering 
heads that show themselves towards the end of the 
month, but do not remove all, for the plant, if 
strong, will produce more. Rhubarb will be in full 
use, but the late winter has cut down the Arti- 
chohes very much, so that early heads will not bo 
plentiful this season. 
d. - Onions being the principal crop here, little need 
be done except keeping them clear of weeds, and 
drawing the Radishes away in time; if they be sown 
in drills, they will want the ground stirred between 
them whenever the weather allows it, and whether 
in beds or in drills, they must be well thinned in 
time, otherwise it is vain to look for a good crop. 
e. -The different crops of Peas being here, they must 
be staked as required, and all weeds kept carefully 
away. Two more crops may be sown this month, 
or rather a crop must be sown every fortnight. 
The Champion or Surprise will do as well as any. 
Reserve another sowing for June, but after the 
middle of June, I think it would be imprudent for 
the cultivator of a small place trusting to their 
doing well. 
f. -If any mishap befell the first crop of Dwarf 
Kidney Beans sown here, which is not unusual, 
sow again immediately after; or rather, it is better 
to foresee these things, and sow a small quantity 
every week after the middle of April, until they be 
established. About the first of May is soon enough 
for Scarlet Runners, and again at the middle of it 
another crop may be put in. Some slight pro¬ 
tection may be given to the Dwarf Kidney Beans, 
when they first make their appearance, as they are 
very tender. 
o. -The Carrots sown here will require thinning 
when they can he handled, but that will not be 
before the end of the month, and, perhaps, not 
then. If slugs trouble them while in a very young 
state, which they often do when just coming up, 
sow some lime over the beds early in the mornings, 
say after the first of the month, or before you 
perceive the plants coming up, for it often happens 
much of the mischief is done when we see the 
plants, the enemy’s organs that way beiug keener 
than ours. Stir the earth between the rows, as 
also the same with Beet, and other things. Another 
crop of Broad Beans may be put in, and the former 
one earthed up, &c. 
li. -Preserve the first sowing of Turnips here from 
frost, by throwing a mat over them at nights, 
and sow a little more. Remove the remnants of 
Brocoli and Greens that may be remaining here, 
and dig the ground, applying manure at the same 
time. Probably a few Lettuces may be wanted 
here ; or the first row of Celery may want planting 
out; or it might be, the cultivator has some taste for 
another crop than what is mentioned above, that 
we have here a marginal corner ior him to fill up 
at his leisure. 
