SECRETARY'S REPORT. 189 



vegetables which grow well in that of an opposite character, 

 but for a market garden, or even for one jnerely for the family, 

 there is hardly anything that will compensate for this. We 

 say, then, that when the usual variety of vegetables are culti- 

 tivated, if the soil is not naturally of this character, in order to 

 secure the best results, its defects should be remedied, as far as 

 possil)le, by artificial means. These will, of course, be draining, 

 and if the soil is stiff and retentive, a mixture of sand, lime, 

 &c., to break it down and render it friable. 



The next point is abundant manuring. For this purpose, 

 probably nothing is better than well rotted barnyard manure. 

 Green manure, as it is called, produces good results in some 

 cases, but the general effect of it is to give a coarse plant with 

 a disagreeable flavor. In lands recently devoted to garden pur- 

 poses, manuring should be abundant. The object should be to 

 create a large supply of rich mould, for it is in this that vegeta- 

 bles luxuriate. In order to increase this, well rotted turf is 

 excellent, or the deposits of leaves in the woods. If these last 

 are taken and used abundantly as bedding for stock, and 

 then composted with the droppings, they make one of the 

 best dressings for garden or vegetable culture. In connection 

 with barnyard manure, there are special fertilizers suited to 

 various crops, which may be used to good advantage. Guano is 

 excellent, in many cases, especially when used with plastelf 

 though it requires care in using. The latter is good alone for 

 leguminous crops, such as peas, beans, etc. But, perhaps, there 

 is no single article suited to a greater variety of crops than pure 

 bone superphosphate, that is, ground bones dissolved in sul- 

 phuric acid. The writer knows of striking results from the use 

 of this article, both in garden and field crops. 



We pass on to a third requisite in successful gardening, viz., 

 cultivation. This, though the last, is by no means the least 

 point to be considered. In fact, it is just here that success or 

 failure most often hinges. Any tyro in vegetable culture may 

 select a suitable spot of land for his purpose, or, by the proper 

 means, he can make it nearly what he would have it. He can 

 supply manure in the greatest variety and abundance, and of 

 the best quality. He may even so manipulate with these two, 

 as to put them into the best possible condition for the reception 

 of the seed, and yet, if his proceedings thereafter are at fault, 



