row
many choice things if they will be content to have them a week or two
later than their more fortunate neighbours. In sowing seeds of the more
tender subjects, such as Capsicums, Marrows, and Cucumbers, it will be
better to lose a few days, in order to make sure of the result desired,
rather than to be in undue haste and have the seed destroyed by heavy
rains, or the young plants nipped off by frost. Do not, therefore, sow
any of these seeds in the open ground until the weather is somewhat
settled and sunny, for if they meet with any serious check they will
scarcely recover during the whole of the season.

==Asparagus== in seed-beds to be thinned as soon as possible, so that
wherever two or three plants rise together, the number should be reduced
to one. But there is time yet for seedlings to appear. The bearing beds
are more attractive, for they show their toothsome tops. The cutting
must be done in a systematic manner, and if practicable always by the
same person. It is better to cut all the shoots as fast as they attain a
proper size, and sort them for use according to quality, rather than to
pick and choose the fat shoots and throw the whole plantation into
disorder. Green-topped Asparagus is in favour in this country; but those
who prefer it blanched have simply to earth it up sufficiently, and cut
below the surface, taking care to avoid injuring the young shoots which
have not pushed through. It is not for us to decide on any matter of
individual taste, but we will give a word of practical advice that may
be of value to many. It is not the custom to protect Asparagus in open
beds, but it should be; for the keen frosts that often occur when the
sticks are rising destroy a large number. This may be prevented by
covering with any kind of light, dry litter, which will not in the least
interfere with that full greening of the tops which English people
generally prefer, because the light and air will reach the plant; but
the edge of the frost will be blunted by the litter. If there is nothing
at hand for this purpose, let a man go round with the sickle and cut a
lot of long grass from the rough parts of the shrubbery, and put a light
handful over every crown in the bed. The sticks will rise with the
litter upon them like nightcaps, and will be plump and green and unhurt
by frost.

==Bean, Dwarf French==.--The main crops should be got in this month, and
successional sowings may be made until the early part of July. D