134 
STEADY GROWTH SINCE 1828 
chilly winds, but they should also have an abundance of air to prevent them from 
becoming drawn or spindly. Therefore air them only during the middle of the day 
and protect the sash with mats or other coverings at night. 
MARCH 
This is the first of the active Spring months with the gardener, and in many 
localities it will be early enough to start a hot-bed. Those who have started their 
hot-bed must attend to it carefully. The care is not great, and will soon become a 
habit, but it must be given promptly and without fail. All plants under glass require 
attention, and air must be given at every favorable opportunity. The sun-heat on a 
close-confined frame will soon destroy the plants, and neglecting to close them on 
a raw, cold day will check their growth, and possibly injure them beyond recovery. 
Watering must be attended to. Use tepid water; and keep the soil loosened, which 
will greatly stimulate the growth of the plants. Seedlings, when large enough, should 
be transplanted into other frames, setting them out at least an inch apart, and for 
this purpose a cold frame will answer. If not transplanted, they should be thinned 
out. For the smaller homes, whose wants are less than a hot-bed would supply, we 
suggest the use of window boxes. These, well drained with broken crocks and 
filled to within an inch of the top with good garden soil, may be sown with such 
varieties of early vegetables as Cabbage, Cauliflower, Egg Plant, Lettuce, Pepper, 
Tomato, etc.; you will then have a supply of vegetable plants fully a month earlier 
than by waiting for out-door sowing, as your plants will be ready to set out at the 
time you would otherwise sow them. 
In no branch of business is industry more important than in gardening. Results 
cannot be secured unless you care for your soil. Plow and subsoil it, or spade it at 
least twenty inches deep in the early spring and remember that plenty of manure and 
muscle are the important levers required in raising profitable crops. 
If you have an early Spring, sowings may be made of the following varieties in 
the open ground: 
Peas— Buist’s Early Morning Star. 
Beets—Cosbys Egyptian, Eclipse, Buist’s Extra Early, Buist’s Perfect Model 
and Detroit Blood Turnip. 
Cabbage—Set out the plants that you have wintered over in cold frames. 
Carrot—Sow early Scarlet Horn, Half-Long Scarlet, and Buist’s Rubicon. 
Celery—Sow Celery and Lettuce; also transplant Lettuce seedlings from winter 
frames. 
Radish— Buist’s Truckers “Early Money,” Buist’s Early Scarlet Turnip, French 
Breakfast, Early Scarlet Globe and White Box. 
Onion Sets—Select the smallest size, as the large ones shoot to seed. If you 
desire to grow large Onions from seed, and weather is favorable, sow thinly on rich 
soil the last of this month. Select the Mammoth White King and Yellow Prize-Taker. 
The two latter are very large Italian varieties, and of a very delicate flavor. The 
Buist’s Yellow Globe Danvers, Red Wethersfield, and the Southport Red, White, and 
Yellow, are the varieties, however, generally sown to produce full-grown Onions. 
Parsley—Sow Buist’s Garnishing and Moss Curled. The Single or Plain 
Leaved is hardier, but has a stronger flavor. 
Potatoes—For an early crop, select strong tubers of Houlton Early Rose, Irish 
Cobbler and Buist’s Early Sunrise; cut them into sets a few days before planting. 
Spinach—Sow Buist’s Perfection Curled, as it surpasses all other varieties. 
Turnip—Sow the Early White Flat Dutch, Buist’s Purple Top Globe. 
Asparagus —New beds should now be formed. 
Rhubarb Roots and Horse Radish Sets —Plant. Fruiting trees and plants should 
also be planted. 
