FARMER'S AND GARDENER'S CALENDAR FOR MARCH.

Southland Times, Issue 915, 13 March 1868, Page 2

FARMER'S AND GARDENER'S CALENDAR FOR MARCH.

Mean temp. 60 ° —-corresponds to September in ISnglund, tnean tempi 58 ° . Kitchen G-abden.— With this month we arrive at what may he called the taming point in horticulture, or perhaps more properly the turn- j ing point of the season, and a great deal may be done in this country in the way of planting, which we dare not even think of in. England, even under skilful superintendence. t j In the kitchen garden no time should be lost in getting in main crops of every kind of winter vegetables. A final and fall crop of celery should be now planted on the double bed system. Earth up advancing crops of celery, go over them lira t by hand, that is, gather up eacu plant in the left hand, and with the right, or what is better, a garden trowel, draw some earth quite close round it, and when you have gone over the ■whole bed, take the spade and fill up with mould as high as required ; by no means tie the plants, as, if the material used does not rot in time to allow the heart to escape iroin its prison it wiJl burst through the side and the crop is spoiled ; but if compelled by circumstances to. tie them, use strips of paper, which will give way as soon as wetted through, and the sooner the better. Continue to clear ground as fast as Bummer crops give way, and dig and manure as directed last month; fill up all vacancies with such plants as may be required for supply, either of broccoli or any of the cabbage tribe, or winter spinach, which j may be still sown with success. About the middle j of the month make final sowings of cauliflowers, walcheren broccoli, early York.Enfield marked, or any of the cabbage tribe, to stand in the seed beds till spring. Endive will require to be tied up to blanch, and a full crop of this delicate and wholesome esculent should now be planted. Sow successional crops of radishes, mustard, and cress, also letture. Turnips, if omitted last month should be sown the first week in this ;■■ the white stone turnip is the best for this sowing, tho six week or early Dutch is also goodOnions, where the practice of autumn sowing is preferred, the first, or not later than the second week in this month should be chosen for the operation ; the ground for this crop should be well manured and dug deep, and well trod before sowing the seed ; level and break the surface with the, rake, then draw drills eight inches apart, in which sow the seed rather thick, and all that is not wanted will be valuable in the spring for drawing ypung. Potato onions should also no* be planted. ITbtxit ash J?loweb, GrAEDEX — In the fruit garden apples will be beginning to ripen, which can be told by taking one in tho hand and turnit gently upwards ; it it parts freely from the it is ripe, and the crop is fit to gather, which should be done with great care so as not to bruise them. New strawberry bods should be m ide now, and' they will produce iruit next summer. Take the young plants that where lat eivu :is directed in January, allowing two feefc row fro. r. row, and one foot plant from plant. The best r- .^s at present known are the Black Prince, JLeen'., odedliag, and British Queen. Should the weather prove dry the plants must be supplied with water till they take root, or if the supply of water run short;, it is better to defer planting till rain falls ; a row ot turnip, radish, mustard, or cret~i, may be planted between each row, but nothing of stronger growth,

which would rob the plants of the nutriment contained in the soil. Look over all trained trees and Bee that none are loose so as to get broken by the winds at this season In the flower garden little is to be done but . okeep the walks and borders clean' from weeds and everything in the shape of litter. Continue to gather seeds of every plant that is worth cultivation. Crocuses and snowdrous, tulips, hyacinths, ranunculus, and anemones should now be planted. See that every plant requiring it is firmly but neatly tied, as the wind at this season seldom makes a feint to blow, bat does Its work in earnest. Where it is necessary to commence operations involving the removal of shrubs so early as this month, it may be done with safety if proper means are used ; that is, to take up the plants 1 with as much earth as possible, and to remove them without breaing it off, then thoroughly settle the earth round them in their new position by a copious supply of water, and stake and tie them firmly to prevent the wind from loosening the roots.