AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 93 



60.) This, however, like all other garden operations, may be 

 performed wisely or unwisely. No set of rules will allow the 

 cultivator to lay aside his judgment and common sense, and go 

 on blindly to success ; but the following suggestions will be 

 found useful in practice. 



1st. In the early stages of their growth, all garden crops 

 should be frequently and deeply hoed ; that is, in fruit or seed- 

 bearing plants, as cucumbers, beans, &c., until the blossoms are 

 about to appear ; in heading vegetables, until the heads . are 

 about to form ; and in root crops, until they are about to swell, 

 or until they attain from half to three quarters of an inch di- 

 ameter. Most crops, too, will be greatly benefited by being 

 plowed or dug through between the rows, wherever this is prac- 

 ticable, at least once during their growth. 



2d. Crops, when nearing maturity, if hoed at all, should be 

 hoed shallow, unless it be at such a distance as will leave the 

 larger roots entirely undisturbed. For this purpose, the thrust 

 hoe may be used to advantage. 



WATERING. 



As a common practice or system, watering crops is not de- 

 sirable ; but occasionally it may become necessary for a brief 

 period, either upon newly-sown seeds in very dry weather, or 

 young plants but recently set out. It should be done in the 

 evening if at all, but generally it will be found better to de- 

 pend on timing your crops well, sowing or setting them in 

 ground freshly prepared, and cultivating them deeply, than on 

 the laborious and often futile practice of watering, unless, in- 

 deed, as in rainless Egypt, the peculiarities of your climate 

 necessitate systematic irrigation. 



