64 ART OF GARDENING. 



gome plants exhaust the fertility of land in a larger degree 

 than others, that certain kinds of food are taken by some 

 plants and rejected by others ; and for such reasons a rota- 

 tion of crops has always been an invariable maxim with the 

 farmer, and the small gardener finds it equally to his benefit 

 to change the situation of his beds. 



Spinach, always requiring a rich soil, leaves the ground 

 in a good state for such vegetables as salsify, carrots, beets, 

 radishes, potatoes, &c. 



Celery beds are excellent for cauliflowers, cabbages, and 

 all the Brassica tribe. 



Potatoes leave the ground in a good state for artichokes, 

 for an asparagus bed, for lettuce and onion, situation and 

 subsoil being favorable. 



Such plants as have luxuriant spreading heads are to be 

 followed by those which have but narrow leaves and sparse 

 outward growth. 



Vegetables which require frequent deep hoeing prepare 

 the ground for plants which must remain stationary, such 

 as those herbs whose running roots would be bruised by the 

 hoe. 



Transplanting is best done when the ground is wet and 

 the weather cloudy. If it is necessary to transplant when it 

 is dry, the ground should be dug deeply, and the plants left 

 in rich mud in the cellar till the cool of the evening, and then 

 set out in a rich compost, such as will retain moisture, and 

 be watered frequently till they have set or taken root. 



Wood-ashes form a very valuable fertilizer to soils lack- 

 ing phosphates. Coal-ashes are often used to lighten stiff and 

 stubborn soils. Ashes from soap-boilers have been by many 

 cultivators much esteemed. As lime and chalk form the 

 principal portions of the ashes of soap-boilers, where a soil 

 is found deficient in these substances, they may generally 

 be applied with benefit. Ashes, as a manure, act power- 



