THE GENESEE FARMER. 



151 



WORK IN THE GAEDEN. 



Mat is the best time for sowing the bulk of seeds 

 for the main crop in the garden. The soil has then 

 become sufficiently warmed to ensure the quick 

 germination of the seed, and a rapid development 

 of vegetation, on which much of our success in 

 gardening depends. 



Sow the seeds of those plants we made mention 

 of in our April number, if not already done. 



Carrots. — The bulk of this crop may now be 

 sown. Select a rich and rather liglit soil ; dig deep, 

 make the ground as mellow as possible, and sow in 

 rows 15 inches apart. Do not cover the seeds more 

 than one or two inches deep, and press the soil to 

 them by treading on a board. The Early Short- 

 horn is the best kind for table use. This variety 

 is delicious even when quite young, so that the seed 

 can be sown quite thick, and the young carrots 

 pulled out in thinning can be used for the table. 



Salsify — Sometimes known as Vegetallc Oyster^ 

 requires much the same soil and treatment as car- 

 rots, and is usually sown in drills one foot apart, and 

 afterward thinned out to 6 inches apart in the rows. 



Beans. — Plant dwarf beans in rows two feet 

 apart, with an interval of six inches between each 

 bean. It is well not to sow all at the same time, 

 but plant a few rows every ten days, so as to keep 

 up a succession during the summer. 



Cucumbers and Melons. — iSTow is the time to 

 get these planted. Almost every grower has a 

 method of procedure in regard to the best manner 

 of "fixing" melon beds, suitable to his own soil 

 and climate ; and it would occupy more space than 

 we can spare were we to go into details. The main 

 point is to get the ground warm and I'ich, and keep 

 it moderately moist. Make the hills at least four 

 feet apart. A mixture of soot and wood ashes 

 sprinkled over the young plants on a dewy morning 

 is very useful to assist in keeping away the striped 

 bug. Leave but three or four vines in a hill, and 

 as soon as the rough leaves appear nip off the 

 terminal buds, so as to make the plants branch out. 



Keep the soil well stirred with a small hoe. Mel- 

 ons and cucumbers should not be grown very near 

 each other, if it is wanted to save the seed. 



Squashes. — These require a rich soil and plenty 

 of room'. They are usually grown on broad, flat 

 hills, raised an inch or two above the level of the 

 ground, and placed from six to eight feet apart, 

 each way. Plant six or eight seeds in each, and 

 afterward leave only the three strongest to grow. 

 If several varieties are grown, they should not be 

 placed near each other, unless it is not designed to ' 

 save any of their seed. 



Cabbage. — Seed of the late varieties, such as 

 the Flat Dutch^ Savoy, and Driumhead, may now 

 be sown in a warm border, to get some plants for 

 setting out in* July. Transplant the early kinds, 

 and also cauliflower. They require a strong soil, 

 and will bear heavy manuring. The distance be- 

 tween the plants when set out varies from 1^ to 3 

 feet. A moist, cloudy day is the best time for 

 transplanting, and it is well to dip the roots before 

 planting in a composition of black mould, and a 

 little soot, made into thin- mud with the assistance 

 of liquid manure. 



Tomatoes. — Such as are intended to be transplant- 

 ed should be set out now, first dipping the roots in 

 the same mixture recommended for cabbage j.lauts. 



Egg Plants. — These are usually grown in a hot- 

 bed, and transplanted into a warm border about 

 the end of May. Plant singly in hills two feet 

 apart, and shade for several days, giving plenty of 

 water; afterward draw earth to the plants and 

 keep the ground very clean. 



Celery. — It is perhaps too late this month to 

 sow celery ; but if any were sown last month, they 

 may be transplanted into an open bed and jilaced 

 three or four inches apart, to stock and harden, 

 preparatory to their final removal into the trenches. 



Sweet Corn. — Plant in hills three feet apart; 

 when up, allow only three plants in each hill to 

 grow. Hoe deep and frequently, and cut tiff the 

 side shoots and suckers. It is well to have a suc- 

 cession, by planting some every two weeks in va- 

 cant spaces, where some of the early salads have 

 been grown. 



The Flower Garden.— In this country, flowers 

 do not receive that attention from our rural popu- 

 lation that they are entitled to. Most people seem 

 to be contented to keep on growing the old-fash- 

 ioned hollyhocks, cabbage roses, marigolds, etc. 

 which seem little better than common weeds be- 

 side their more beautiful congeners seen in the 

 gardens of those who will take the trouWe to 



