GARDENER'S CALENDER.

Bruce Herald, Volume II, Issue 47, 2 March 1865, Page 9

GARDENER'S CALENDER.

(From Mackay's Otago Almanack.) MARCH. Mean temp. 60° —corresponds to September in England, mean temp. 58°. __ Kitchen Garden. —With this month we arrive at what may be called the turning point in 'horticulture, or perhaps more properly the turning 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 shoxild be lost in getting in main crops of every kind of winter vegetables. A final and full crop of -*y(?fcelery 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 yo\i 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 from 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 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 may be still sown with success. About the middle of the month make final sowings of cauliflowers, walcheron broccoli, early York, Envfield market, or any of the cabbage tribe, to Jjj&tand 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 lettuce. Turnips, if omitted last month, Bhould 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 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 young. Potatoe onions should also now be planted. Fruit and Flower Garden. —ln the fruit , garden apples will be beginning to ripen, fv which can be told by taking one in the hand " and turning it gently upwards ; if it parts freely from the tree 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 beds should be made now, and they will produce fruit next summer. T.vke the young plants that were layered as 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 £>ksnts 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 of turnip or radish, mustard, or cress, 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 sec that none are loose so as to get broken by the winds at this season. Grape vines, if any, should now have the final .stopping of their laterals, and ..'■■■ just so many of their leaves thinned out as .will allow the sun's rays to reflect freely on the wall or fence they may be growing against; this will greatly accellerate the ripening and flavoring of the fruit. In the flower garden little i 3 to be done but to keep the Avalks 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, ranunculus and anemones should now be planted, gJso the beautiful Tigrida 'conchiflora. Sse'"that every plant requiring it, is firmly but neatly tied, a3 the wind at tliis season seldoirf^taiakes a feint to blow, but does its work in earnest. Where it is necessary to commence alterations involving the removal of shrubs so . early as this month, it may be done with Baf ety if proper means are used ; that is, to take up the plants with as much earth attached as possible, and to remove them without breaking it oft", then thoroughly settle the earth round them in their new position by a copious supply of wwaterr r and stake and tie them firmly to prevent the wind from loosening thVroots. The Farm. —Harvest operations will occupy the whole of the month, and reaping, mowing, cai-rying and thatching, will leave little time for other work.- Take care that the latter toleration (which should be quickly attended t6)-]ie completed dui'ing this or the e.arly part of'^hfe'following month. In stacking grain, care should be taken that thesheaves be built with the grain ends raised at a considerable angle, and the centre of the stack kept much higTior than the outsides, as.

otherwise, however well headed and thatched unless the sheaves in the body of the stack are well hung, and the stack kept well hearted (high in the centre) it will be unsafe. The heading out of the stacks especially, should be carefully done, and sufficiently steep and firm to carry off any rain that may fall on them before they are thatched. The situation of the stack-yard should be dry, airy, and well drained. "Wheat, if possible, should be on raised stools, which may be made economically with wooden piles, and if capped with broad sheets of tin or zinc will be a great preservative against damp or vermin. Find time to run the horse hoe between the drills of carrots and mangold.