170 THE FARMER'S 



weeds, ought only to be used in manuring a kitch- 

 en-garden, and the ground ought not to be plough- 

 ed, but deeply dug, for all vegetables which root 

 deeply in the ground. Nothing further need be 

 said, with regard to a kitchen-garden, than that a 

 loose mellow soil, with a southerly exposure is the 

 best; that it ought to be kept rich; that, as fast as 

 weeds rise, they ought to be extirpated; and that 

 no weeds ouffht to be suffered to 20 to seed within 

 the garden. 



If the garden be of a wettish or stiff soil, it 

 will be greatly benefitted by being thrown up into 

 high ridges in the Fall; at the same time, this will 

 assist in destroying the seeds of weeds; but par- 

 ticularly in destroying insects which may be 

 breeding in the soil. , 



To destroy Insects. 



In some seasons the vegetables in our gardens 

 are almost annihilated by worms of several species. 

 Fall ploughing, or spading the ground just before 

 frost sets in, and strewing the ground with fine 

 salt in the spring some time before the seeds are 

 sown, are said to be sovereign remedies against 

 these petty but powerful depredators. 



Some vegetables are oflTensive to all insects; 

 such as the elder, especially the dwarf kind, the 

 onion, tansy, and tobacco, except to the worm that 

 preys on the plant. The juice of these may there- 

 fore be applied, with effect, in repelling insects; 

 and sometimes the plants themselves, while green, 

 or when reduced to powder, particularly the latter, 

 when made into snuff". 



Set an onion in the centre of a hill of cucum- 

 bers, squashes, melons, Sec. and it will effectually 



