Young Tomatoes

Seedling Tomatoes raised by sowing a few weeks ago must be attended to. They ought to have a position close to the glass, and receive abundance of air in favourable weather, so that they may keep strong and sturdy. Thin them if crowded, and when they have made a pair of ordinary cut leaves in addition to the seed leaves, they may be set out five inches apart in boxes about six inches deep. More seed may be sown in pots, pans, or boxes, and put in a greenhouse or frame, preferably the former.

Early Salads

Lettuces and Radishes ought to be sown as early in March as the weather will permit, for the sake of providing Salads in late spring. Radish seeds can be sown broadcast in any sheltered reserve plot. It is prudent to prepare the soil by reducing it to a fine tilth, and cover the seed about an inch deep. It will be necessary to cover the bed with fish netting, or to otherwise protect it from birds, otherwise the crop will be a failure. Red Turnip is a good variety for this sowing, and it may be followed by one of French Breakfast. As regards Lettuces, it will be well to sow in drills a foot apart, and cover with half an inch of soil. This crop should be protected also. The seedlings can be transplanted before they become crowded. By running a hoe between them once a week, they can be kept growing rapidly, and weeds subjugated. Superb White Cos is a good variety to choose for this sowing.

Broad And French Beans

The principal sowing of Broad Beans may now be made out of doors, given a suitable condition of the soil. The seeds may be set eight inches apart in rows thirty inches asunder in rich soil, and six inches by twenty-four in poor land. They may be covered three inches deep. The ground should be well manured. Exhibition Longpod is a good variety to choose. Another sowing of a selected variety of French Beans, such as Ne Plus Ultra, may be made in large pots or deep boxes, and put in a house with a temperature of 6o° to 700. Plenty of water should be given, and liquid manure may be supplied twice a week when the pods form. The latter should be gathered early, in order to avoid their becoming old and checking the plant.

Early Carrots

Carrots are favoured by light, friable soil, and in such a medium seed may be sown out of doors early in March; but in heavy soil, especially if in exposed places, the conditions are hardly likely to be favourable at present. The ground does not need manure, but it requires just as much mechanical treatment as may be necessary to reduce it to a thoroughly friable condition. This object should be achieved, if possible, without the addition of disintegrating substances like cinders. The finer the particles of soil, the more likely the Carrots are to be clean and well-shaped. Wood-ashes may be sprinkled in the drills when sowing, and it is not a bad plan to mix them with crushed oyster-shells, which can be bought from many manure dealers at a low rate. The drills may be drawn fifteen inches apart, and the seed covered with an inch of soil. Early Gem, Guerande, Model, Summer Favourite, Stump-rooted, and Scarlet Perfection are all good varieties, and it does not matter which of them is chosen.

Planting Potatoes

If sets of early Potatoes have been treated as advised in a previous chapter - that is, sprouted in shallow boxes, they ought to have shoots on them now an inch long, thick, green or purple, and firmly attached to the tuber. Such prepared sets may be planted a foot apart in rows two feet asunder, and covered with six inches of well-pulverised soil. Planting so early is quite practicable in light, friable, fairly dry soil, in a sheltered place; but there need be no hurry to plant in heavy, damp soil, or in cold situations. Well-sprouted sets will not deteriorate in their boxes as long as they are kept in a light place, and safe from frost; indeed, they will be as good in April as they are now. Sharpe's Express, Ringleader, Ashleaf, Duke of York, May Queen, Ninetyfold, and Midlothian Early are varieties from which a choice may be made. All are good. Two ounces of superphosphate of lime and one ounce of sulphate of potash may be used per yard of drill when the sets are planted.

Hot Beds

Early March is a good time to make up a hot bed, and those who do not possess a heated greenhouse will find such a convenience of great advantage in bringing on Tomatoes, Celery, Cucumbers, Melons, Vegetable Marrows, and various half-hardy and tender-flowering plants from seed. A considerable part of the bed should consist of fresh stable manure, without which it would not be possible to get the necessary heat, but some leaves may be added, preferably Oak or Beech. The manure ought be shaken out and turned two or three times before it is made up into a bed, and then trodden down firmly to a depth of three feet, and covered (save for about a foot all round) with a glass frame. Pots or boxes may be stood on the manure when the bed feels comfortably warm to the hand, and the air in the frame smells quite sweet. Cucumbers, Melons, and Vegetable Marrows may all be sown singly in small pots.