Artichokes, Globe

As soon as the weather will permit you may remove the protecting material, so as to give the plants more air; likewise make fresh plantations by putting in suckers two feet apart, in rows four feet asunder.

Artichokes, Jerusalem

Plant a few like potatoes in any out-of-the-way place, or for a blind. They are a tall crop.

Asparagus

See to the dressing of established beds at once if not already done : and 3 manure cannot be had, wood ashes and salt in equal proportions will be found a very good substitute. New beds may be made about the middle of the month if required.

Beans, Broad

Any of the early sowings that are forward enough should be earthed up at once; and such as have been raised in frames may be planted out. Sow again for succession.

Beet

A little seed may be sown for an early supply in well-dug mellow soil, in rows one foot apart, towards the end of the month.

Broccoli

Any sufficiently forward in frames may be hardened off, and planted out in mild weather; and a further supply of seed be sown for succession.

Brussels Sprouts

A moderate sowing should be made at once, either in a frame, or on a warm border; and as this vegetable requires a long period of growth, it is necessary to begin early, otherwise the produce will not be so large as it otherwise would be.

Cabbages

All the various sorts may be sown now for main crops in small quantities; and such as are forward enough of the early sowings, either in seedbeds or in frames, should be planted out as fast as possible in well-manured ground, from a foot to eighteen inches apart every way.

Carrots

A pinch or two of early horn should be sown at once on well-manured and deeply dug ground, either broadcast or in drills eight inches apart; the larger kinds should be sown towards the end of the month on deeply dug ground, without manure of any kind.

Cauliflowers

Sow seed on a well-prepared bed for a late supply; and in favourable weather plant out such as have had the protection of hand-glasses, or a frame, on a bed plentifully manured, in rows from two and a half to three feet apart, and the plants the same distance asunder in the rows.

Chives

These may be divided and planted out at once, in rows eight or ten inches asunder, and a similar distance apart in the rows. Any soil of ordinary capacity will suit them.

Garlic

Continue to plant if required, in the same manner as recommended last month.

Herbs

Sow angelica on a warm border; sweet basil and bush basil in heat; carraway, fennel (also take and plant offsets), clary, dill, hyssop, pot marigold, rue (also take and plant offsets of the root), summer savory, common thyme and lemon thyme, on the open border. Take cuttings or offsets, or divide the roots of balm, burnet, lavender, pennyroyal, sage, and tarragon for increase.

Horse-Radish

See to the planting of this if not already done, in the same manner as advised in January.

Leeks

The main crop of these should be sown at once on a well-prepared bed of rich soil, moderately thick, as they will ultimately have to be planted out.

Lettuces

The various kinds may be sown now, and in getting in the seed do not forget the summer sorts, such as "All Heart," "Black-seeded Bath," and other cos varieties. A deep free soil that has been liberally manured should be selected for them. Any forward enough ought to be planted out at once, in rows one foot asunder, and a like distance between plant and plant in the rows.

Onions

You may sow the main crop at once, in drills nine inches asunder, on a bed of rich soil in a mellow condition. As soon as the seed is sown the ground should be beaten down firm and flat with the back of the spade.

Parsley

Sow at once for a summer and autumn supply, either in drills six inches apart or broadcast, to be afterwards thinned out to that distance in every direction. In thinning make it a practice to pull up those plants which show very little disposition to curl.

Parsnips

The main crop of these may be sown in drills one foot apart, in rich and deeply dug soil, covering the same about one inch deep.

Peas

Sow some of the tall-growing marrows and large-podded dwarf kinds of the second early description. Let the soil for these be rich and mellow; the distance between the rows of the former should be at least eight feet, between the latter from four to five feet.

Sea-Kale

New plantations may be made by cuttings from the smaller roots, taken off in four-inch lengths, and planted in rows two feet apart, and the plants half that distance from each other in the rows. They should be merely covered deep enough to hide them. Seed may be sown towards the end of the month in drills two feet asunder, and as soon as the plants are three inches high, have them thinned out to six inches apart in the rows.

Spinach

A small sowing of the round-seeded, or summer kind, may be sown early in the month, either broadcast or in drills six inches apart. When gathering, make it a practice to thin the crop regularly, and avoid treading on the ground as much as possible.

Spinach Beet

This is a perennial variety, and one of the most useful vegetables we have; it will bear any amount of heat or cold, and when ordinary spinach is running to seed, this remains green and succulent throughout the summer, and far into the spring. Sow seed at once broadcast, and as soon as large enough to handle either prick out in rows eight inches apart, and the plants the same distance asunder in the rows, or thin them out to that distance where they stand.

Turnips

Towards the end of the month a good breadth of these may be sown in an open situation. Thin out any sufficiently forward to nine inches apart in every direction.

Winter Greens

A good supply of the different sorts may be sown ; for in the event of a hard winter setting in, some kinds will battle against it better than others; for instance, cottager's kale and savoys are more likely to survive severe weather than Brussels sprouts and other tender subjects. In any case "store is no sore".

Words Of Advice

This may be called the harvest month for seed sowing; and as such, in order to bo prepared for any emergency, it will be necessary to make good all arrears in the preparation of seed-beds, and the clearing, manuring, and digging of vacant plots for the reception of plants and seeds. Occasionally you will find that certain early-sown crops have failed, in which case it will be necessary to sow again; a little seed is no particular object, but a good crop of anything early in the season is invaluable.