CHAPTER XXV. 



Calen^der In^dicating Operations for the 

 Northern and Southern States. 



JANUARY. 



Northern. — January is unfavorable to out- door 

 labor ; in the garden, especially, but little can be done. 

 In the orchard some work may be attempted. Rods for 

 beans and peas may be made ready, manure collected, 

 com])ost heaps formed, — and, by the way, compost is 

 beyond all comparison the best shape in which to apply 

 fertilizers to most vegetable crops. Fruit trees pruned, 

 hedges clipped — those formed of evergreens not till frost 

 has disappeared — shape them narrow at the top, wide at 

 the base. Asparagus beds top-dressed with compost and 

 salt preparatory to being dug when frost has ceased. 

 Hot-beds for early forcing may be made ready. 



Southern. — For tlie Southern States the writer 

 simply aims to remind the reader of what may be done 

 if the surroundings and climate be favorable. The 

 enterprising man is not usually deterred by fears, and if 

 his judgment leads him to take the risk, he may act 

 upon some of the following suggestions, if he resides 

 south of the latitude of Charleston. The market gar- 

 dener in the lower part of the Florida Peninsula culti- 

 vates under conditions peculiar alone to his section. 



Sow radishes sparsely from time to time. Dress 

 asparagus beds with compost and salt. This latter, 

 though an active agent, may be safely given in heavy 

 dressings to asparagus, and has the further advantage of 



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