INTRODUCTION. 



Gardening is an art, and he who produces the 

 most and best from a given acreage is the most use- 

 ful artisan. To be a successful gardener — and the 

 term belongs to all who own or till the soil, no mat- 

 ter what the extent of the operations may be; — ^to 

 get the best results from the labor of one's hands, 

 certain principles and practices must be thoroughly 

 understood. As these are alike in all branches of 

 agriculture and horticulture, we shall endeavor to 

 explain certain rules, and to state certain principles 

 and practices that will be equally useful in every 

 field, no matter what the crop may be, or to what 

 extent it may be grown. 



Fixed rules in agriculture cannot be laid down. 

 While principles are fixed, practices are conditional ; 

 as, for instance, the time of planting is purely a local 

 matter which every one must decide according to 

 the conditions of climate; while how to plant, and 

 what to plant, are principles applicable to all 

 localities. 



THE SOIL. 



The first requisite for a good garden or farm is 

 good soil ; this is indispensable. Plants cannot, will 

 not, reach perfection unless the conditions of growth 

 are favorable. It does not follow that the soil must 

 needs be naturally rich, it would be better if it were; 



