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TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



which much resembles the old fashioned Nansemond in shape, color, and 

 quality, will undoubtedly supersede it; but this also will, in a few years, 

 have lost all its good ipuilities, and from the same cause. 



Peas. — After a thorough trial of many varieties of peas, I have 

 found that for early table use Carter's First Crop is one of the best. It 

 is an abundant bearer and requires less care and trouble in sticking than 

 any of the other very early sorts; and with McLean's Little Cem, sown 

 every ten days or two weeks for a succession, will give a family a long 

 supply of the very best peas. 



To^^ATOES — Among the new vegetables introduced during the past 

 few years, the Trophy tomato has been among the most successful in 

 gaining public favor. Wherever cultivated it has given the greatest sat- 

 isfaction, both for table use and for market. The vine is a vigorous 

 grower, capable of carrying an immense amount of fruit, and is much 

 more hardy than most other varieties. 



Manures. — I have said nothing in regard to the use of manures in 

 connection with the vegetable garden, believing that it is generally un- 

 derstood that to arrive at anything like perfection in the growing of 

 vegetables, it is necessary to use it without stint. 



For any crop the deep plowing-in of manure as practiced by many 

 is a mere waste ; in fact, it is simply throwing it away. A stick of wood 

 buried one foot underground, will undergo less change in five years 

 than it would in one, if buried only two inches, and the same thing is 

 true in regard to manure ; if buried a foot or more it Avill be manure fgr 

 a much longer period than if kept at or near the surface, and so long as 

 it retains shape and form, it continues plant food that can in no way be 

 utilized. If it is wanted for the immediate use of growing crops, it 

 should be applied in a liquid form, and its effects will be visible in twenty-^ 

 four hours. 



During the month of March last, I succeeded in growing lettuce 

 and radishes (in a hot-bed) ready for the table in eighteen days from 

 the time of sowing the seed. This unusual growth I attribute mainly to 

 the care taken in the preparation of the soil, and the after use of liquid 

 manure. The soil, to the depth of six inches, was passed through an 

 ordinary sand-riddle, and mixed with one-half sand. As soon as the 

 plants made their appearance, they. were watered with tepid water, im- 

 pregnated with guano. As often as water was required it was applied in 

 same manner. At no time were the plants allowed to settle more than 

 two inches below the glass ; and the result was as above stated. 



The destiny of a plant is fixed during the first few weeks of its ex- 

 istence ; if allowed to suffer and become stunted for want of food during 

 the early part of its life, it can never recover from it, and the result must 

 be a vegetable inferior in both quality and size. Therefore the necessity 

 for the thorough preparation of garden soil before it recei\es the seed, 

 and the application of the proper stimulants in such a manner that they 

 may be readily taken up Ijy the tender rootlets, and the plant not allowed 

 to suffer from starvation at the very period of its life when it most needs 

 assistance. A. L. Hay, 



Gardener for the D. o^ D. Instiluiion, Jacksonville , III 



