28 Southern Gardener^ s Practical Manual 



soil by frequent use of the plow during the fall and 

 winter. 



These manures are rendered more promptly available 

 to the plants if composted and allowed to ferment for 

 six weeks. 



If cotton seed is available, it may be mixed with 

 the animal manures and moistened as mixed, and then 

 thoroughly commingled with about 700 pounds of acid 

 phosphate to the ton of dry material. During the fer- 

 mentation, the coarse material of the animal manures is 

 partially decomposed and all grass and weed seed killed 

 by the heat generated by the fermentation. This, used at 

 the rate of a ton to the acre broadcast, and 500 pounds 

 in drill, produces prompt and satisfactory growth of 

 plants. 



Success in the garden is largely a question of ma- 

 nures, liberally and judiciously used. 



FORWARDING EARLY VEGETABLES 



In market-gardening this is a vital question, and the 

 amateur who takes pride and pleasure in his vegetable- 

 garden needs to provide some effective means of for- 

 warding certain species to be transplanted, for the 

 purpose of enabling them to utilize to the best advan- 

 tage the season to which they are adapted. The cabbage, 

 cauliflower and others delight in the moist and tem- 

 perate spring season, but the melons, eggplants, toma- 

 toes, peppers, etc., must be protected from the low 

 temperature of spring by the use of hotbeds and cold- 

 frames until after all danger of frost. The hotbeds de- 



