FARMER'S AND GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR MARCH.

Southland Times, Issue 917, 16 March 1868, Page 2

FARMER'S AND GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR MARCH.

Meau temp. 60 ° — corresponds to September in JSnghmd, mean temp. 58 ° . Kitchen Q-abdkn. — With this month we arrire at what may be called the turning point in horticulture, or perhaps more properly the timing 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. In the kitchen garden no time should be lost in getting in main crops of every kind of winter vegetables. A final and full crop of celery should be now planted on the double bed system. Earth up advancing crops of celery, go over them first by hand, that is, gather up each 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 tune to allow the heart to escape irom its prison it will 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 summer crops giro 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 may be still sown with success. About the middle of the month make final sowings of cauliflowers, walcheren broccoli, early York, Enfield market., 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, the six week or early Dutch is also good. Onions, 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 ior this crop should b swell manured and dug deep, and well trod before owing the seed ; level and break the surface with the r.ke, th< n draw drills eighi inches apart, in which row the seed rather thick, and all that is not wanted wil* be ralua.»'e in «he spring fiv drawing young. Potato onions s mill " also no > be planted. FKTHT AtfD Fl-OWEH GABDKN — In the fiuil garden apples will be beginning to ripen, which ban be told by taking one in the hand ami turn\p gently upwards ; it it parts freely from the tree it js ripe, and the crop is fit to gather, which should be done with great cure so as not to bruise them. ' New strawberry beds should be m <le now, and' they will produce fruit "next sumn. . Take the young plants that where layered ».• directed in January, allowing two feet row from row, and one foot plant from, plant. The best sorts at present known, are the Black Prince, Keen's Seedling, and British' Queen., Should the weather prove dry the pla.nts.mußt be supplied with water till they take root, "'or if the supply of wato-r run short, it is better .'.to 'defer planting till-raiu falls} a row of

turnip, radish, mustard, of cress, may be planted between each row, but nothing of stronger growth, which would rob the plant* of the nutriment contained in the soil. Look over all trained trees and lea 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 o keep 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 snowdrops, tulips, hyacinths, ranunoulus, 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, but does itt 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 j that ib, to take up the plants with as much earth a* 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. i