THE GARDENER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 74, 16 March 1880, Page 4

THE GARDENER.

NOTES FOB. THE PRESENT MONTH, BY A PROFESSIONAL GARDENER. KITCHEN GARDEN. Sow during the month the last sowing of cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, winter spinach, to stand in the seed beds over winter, to come in for transplanting in early spring. Onions should be sown as early this month as possible, as it often happens that they are sown too late, and hence disappointment is suffered, as the first sharp frost lifts them out of the ground. But by sowing early they will have taken sufficient hold to resist the action of frost. The best varieties are Brown Spanish, Giant Rocco, and Brown Globe. By sowing in lines they can be thinned out, and transplanted in early spring. The Giant Rocco, treated in the above manner, produces immense bulbs, sometimes weighing from 31bs. to 41bs. One of the best for early use, Brown Spanish, also produces an excellent crop when transplanted in early spring. White Stone and Golden Ball Turnip should also be sown as early this month as possible, which will keep up a supply of tine tender roots all through the winter and early spring months. Care should be taken not to cover the seeds too deep, as in nearly all cases disappointment arises from their being covered too deep or not covered at all. Seeds, as a rule, should in no case be covered more than twice their own thickness, except peas, beans, and such large seeds—these from 2in. to Sin. Radish will do well sown this month. FLOWER GARDEN. The principal work will be to collect flower seeds of all the different annuals, Ac. Stow them in a dry place. Cuttings should be taken of all flowering plants, such as geraniums, verbenas, petunias, cupheas, Phlox, Drummoni, Ac., and placed in pots or boxes. To ensure success, place about two inches of well-rotted manure mixed with loam in the bottom of the pot or box. Mix good ordinary loam, three parts to sand one part, well together. Fill the balance of your pot or box, putting a light covering of pure sand on the top, in which insert the cuttings. Geraniums cuttings should have little or no water for a week after being put in, as they are likely to damp off if kept too wet until they begin to color. Verbenas, fuchsia, petunias, Ac., must be kept damp and shaded; but geraniums will root more readily by being placed in the sun. To strike fuchsia cuttings, verbenas, Ac., lay some pieces of glass over the top of the box, to keep it air tight, for a week or so after the cuttings are put in. Persons purposing to lay down new lawns should embrace the first opportunity, as lawns laid down this month do much better than when done in spring, as it has the double advantage from the autumn rains and spring showers to give the young grass a thorough hold of the ground bethe summer drought set in.