iSTABLlSH^ 



CULTURE OF GARDEN VEGETABLES 



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three to six weeks, according to the temperature at the time. Another and 

 more simple method consists in laying slats or boards on the plants as they 

 grow, which serve- the same purpose as the tying up. It ran also lie grown 

 by sowing the seed and thinning out to one foot apart each way, as recom- 

 mended for Lettuce. 



KALE, or Borecole. 



German. Blatter-KohJ. — French, Chon Vert. — Spanish, Breton. 

 1 oz. will sow 130 feet of drill. 

 Kale, or Borecole, may be grown in almost any soil, but the richer it is the 

 more abundant the product. If wanted for use in late fall or early winter, sow 

 earlv in June and transplant, as directed for Cabbage, middle of July. If needed 

 for sprint: use, sow Siberian about middle of August and transplant a month 

 later. Of all the Cabbage tribe this is the most tender and delicate, and would 

 be much more extensively grown than it is. if its excellent qualities were gen- 

 erally known. The varieties are all extremely hardy, and are best when 

 touched by frost. 



LEEK. 



German, Lanch. — French. Poireau. — Spanish. Puerro. 



1 oz. will sow 100 feet of drill. 



The Leek is very hardy and easily cultivated: it succeeds best in a light but 



well-enriched soil. Sow as early in spring as practicable, in drills one inch deep 



and one foot apart. When six or eight inches high they may be transplanted in 



rows ten inches apart each way. as deep as possible, that the neck, being covered, 



may be blanched . If tine Leek- be desired, the ground can hardly be made too 



rich, for the Leek is a gross feeder. 



LETTUCE. 



German. Lattich. — French, Laitue. — Spanish, Lechuga. 

 1 oz. for 3.000 plants. 

 The cultivation of Lettuce is universal by all who have gardens, and from its 

 tractable nature and freedom from nearly all insects and diseases, it is manage- 

 able lit the hands of every one. For early crop, seed may be sown in the open 

 ground in the middle of September, and transplanted to cold frames as soon as 

 large enough to handle, being wintered over in the same manner as early Cab- 

 bage. Seeds may be sown in well-protected frames in February, and in hot beds 

 in March, and by careful covering up at night will make fine plants by April 

 for spring planting. But for ordinary private use in the summer months, the 

 simplest way is to sow it thinly in rows Que Foot apart, early in the sprint;. 

 and thin out the plants so that they will stand one foot apart. This is easier 

 than transplanting, and if sown every two or three weeks from middle of April 

 to middle of August. Lettuce may be hail in perfection the whole season. 

 Lettuce plants may be saved over the winter without glass covering in southern 

 parts of the country in dry, well-sheltered spots, by covering with leavesor litter 

 late in the season. 



MELON, Musk. 



German, Melone. — French. Melon. — Spanish, Melon. 

 1 oz. for 60 hills ; 2 to 3 lbs. in hills for an acre. 

 Melons thrive best in a moderately enriched light soil ; the hills should be 

 from three to six feet apart each way, according to the richness of the soil. If 

 soil is poor or sandy, plant at four feet. Previous to planting, incorporate well 

 with the soil in each hill a couple of shovelsful of thoroughly-rotted manure; 

 plant eight or ten seeds in each hill early in May. for latitude of New York. 

 for South earlier, for further North later, and when well up thin out to three or 

 four of the most promising. 



MELON, Water. 



German, Wasser-Melone. — French, Melon d'Ean. — Spanish, Sandia. 

 1 oz. for 30 bills ; 4 to 5 lbs. in hills for an acre. 

 Water Melons require a rich though rather sandy soil for best development, 

 and thrive best in warm latitudes, growing best in the Southern or South- 

 western States, although in warm, sandy soils in this latitude fine crops are 

 often obtained from Northern-grown seed. Cultivate exactly asfor Musk Melons, 

 except that the hills should be eight and ten feet apart. 



OKRA, or Gumbo. 



German, Essbarer. — French, Gombo. — Spanish, Quibombo. 

 It is of the easiest culture, and grows freely, bearing abundantly in any 

 garden soil. It is sown at the usual time of all tender vegetables, in this section 

 middle of May. in drills two inches deep, thinning the plants from two to three 

 feet apart in row. 



ONION. 



German, Zvriebel. — French, Oignon. — Spanish, Cebolla. 

 1 oz. for 100 feet of drill ; 5 or 6 lbs. in drills for an acre. 

 The Onion thrives best in a rather deep, rich, loamy soil. The best culture 

 requires that the ground should be deeply trenched or ploughed and manured the 

 previous autumn, and laid up in ridges during the winter to pulverize. As early 

 in the spring as the ground is in working order, commence operations by level- 

 ing the ground with a harrow or rake, and roll or tread it firmly ; sow thinly in 

 drills about a quarter of an inch deep and one foot apart ; cover with fine soil, 

 and press down with the back of a spade, or a light roller, or with the foot along 

 each row. When the young plants are strong enough, thin gradually so that 

 they stand three or four inches apart. Keep the surface of the ground open 

 and free from weeds by frequent hoeing, takingcare not to stir the soil too deeply 

 or to collect it about the growing bulbs. 



PARSLEY. 



German, Petersilie. — French. Persil. — Spanish, Peregil. 

 1 oz. for 130 feet of drill. 

 Parsley succeeds best in a rich, mellow soil. As the seed germinates very 

 slowly, three or four weeks elapsing sometimes before it makes its appearance, it 

 should be sown early in spring, great care being taken that the drills be not 

 more than an inch in depth and that the seed be well pressed down after sowing. 

 Sow thickly in rows a foot apart and half an inch deep. For winter use. protect 

 in a frame or light cellar, or a few plants may be placed in pots or boxes and 

 kept in the house for convenient use in winter. 



PARSNIP. 



German, Pastinake — French, Panais.— Spanish, Pastinaca. 

 1 oz. for 200 feet of drill ; 5 to lbs. in drills for an acre. 

 Sow as early in spring as the weather will admit, in drills eighteen inches 

 apart, covering half an inch deep. When well up, thin out to five or six inches 

 apart in the rows. Unlike Carrots, they are improved by frost, and it is usual to 

 take up in fall a certain quantity for winter use, and store as directed for Turnips, 

 leaving the rest in the ground until spring, to be dug up as required. 



PEAS. 



German, Erbse. — French, Pois. — Spanish. Gnizante. 

 1 qt for 75 feet of drill : 2 to 3 bushels in drills for an acre. 

 Peas come earlier to maturity in light, rich soil. For general crop, a deep 

 loam, or a soil strongly inclining to clay, is best. For early crops, decomposed 



leaves or leaf-mold, if convenient, may be used, or, if the soil is very' poor. 

 well-rotted manure should be used. For general crop, a good dressing should 

 be applied, and for The dwarf-growing kinds the soil can hardly be too rich. 

 When grown as a market crop. Peas are sown in single rows, two or three 

 inches deep and from two to three feet apart, according to height of variety or 

 the strength of the soil. When grown in small quantities for private use they 

 are generally sown in double rows, six or eight inches apart, and the tall varieties 

 staked up by brush or our Pea Trellis. For an early crop, sow in February. 

 March or April, according to latitude, as soon as the ground can be worked. 

 and make repeated sowings every two weeks for succession. After the first of 

 June sowing should be discontinued until August, when a good crop may some- 

 times be secured by sowing an extra early sort for fall use. 



PEPPER. 



German, Pfeffer. — French, Piment. — Spanish, Pimiento. 

 Requires exactly the same treatment as directed for Egg Plant. 

 For Exhibition.— Ruby King, Sweet Spanish and County Fair are the most 

 desirable and attractive varieties. The plants should stand two and one-half to 

 three feet apart to admit abundance of sunlight. Plenty of manure or fertilizer 

 should be worked into the soil around the roots, and frequent applications of 

 liquid manure should be given. 



PUMPKIN. 



German, Kurbis. — French, Courgr.— Spanish. Calabaza. 



1 oz. for 30 to 50 hills. 



Pumpkins are now principally cultivated for agricultural fiurposes. They 



are usually planted in fields of corn or potatoes, but may be profitably raised in 



fields by themselves. Sow first of May in this latitude, in hills eight feet apart. 



RADISH. 



German, Rettig, Radieschen. — French, Radis, Rave, Petit Ra re- 

 Spanish. Rabano. 

 1 oz. for 100 feet of drill; 9 to 10 lbs. in drills for an acre. 

 Radishes thrive best in a lieht, sandy loam. Heavy or clayey soils not only 

 delay their maturity, but produce crops much inferior, both in appearance and 

 flavor. For a continuous supply, sow from the middle of March until September, 

 at intervals of two or three weeks. For an early supply they may be sown in a 

 hot bed in February, care being taken to give plenty of ventilation, otherwise 

 they will run to leaves. If plaster is incorporated with the soil in the row at 

 time of sowing the seed, the Radishes will always turn out brighter in color, 

 crisper, and of better quality. 



RHUBARB. 



German. Rhabarber. — French, Rhubarbe. — Spanish, Ruibarbo Bastardo 

 Sow in April, in drills afoot apart, thinning out to about the same distance 

 apart in rows when a few inches high. The following spring transplant into 

 deep, rich soil, about three feet apart each way. If propagated by dividing the 

 roots, it may be done either in fall or spring, planting it at the same distance 

 apart as given above. The soil cannot be top rich. 



SALSIPV, or Oyster Plant. 



German, Boeksbart. — French. Salsitis. — Spanish, Ostra Vegetal. 

 1 oz. to 75 feet of drill. 

 The Oyster Plant succeeds best in light, well-enriched mellow soil, which, 

 previous to sowing the seeds, should be stirred to a depth of eighteen inches. 

 Sow early in spring. in drills eighteen inches apart ; cover the seeds with fine soil 

 an inch and a half in depth, and when the plants are strong enough, thin out 

 to six inches apart. 



SPINACH. 



German. Spinat. — French. Epinard. — Spanish. Espinara. 

 1 oz. for 100 feet of drill ; 10 to 12 lbs. in drills for an acre. 

 Sow thinly in rows about twelve or fifteen inches apart. The main crop is 

 sown in September. It is sometimes covered up in exposed places with straw or 

 salt hay during winter, which prevents it from being cut with the frost, but in 

 sheltered fields there is no necessity for covering. For summer use it may be 

 sown at intervals of two or three weeks, from April to August. Spinach is best 

 developed and most tender and succulent when grown in rich soil. 



SQUASH. 



German, Kurbiss. — French. I'ourge. — Spanish, Calabasa Tomtanera. 

 1 oz. for 50 hills ; 3 to 4 lbs. in hills for au acre. 

 It is useless to sow until the weather has become settled and warm. Light. 

 rich soils are best suited to their growth, and it is most economical of manure 

 to prepare hills for the seeds in the ordinary manner by incorporating two or 

 three shovelsful of well-rotted manure with the soil for each hill, as is done for 

 Melons. For bush varieties, from three to four feet each way, and for the run- 

 ning sorts. from eight to ten feet Eight or ten seeds should be sown in each hill, 

 thinning out after they have attained their third and fourth leaves, leaving 

 three or four of the strongest plants. 



TOMATO. 



German, Liebesapfel. — French, Tomate. — Spanish, Tomate. 

 1 oz. for 1,500 plants; V4 lb. to transplant for an acre. 

 The seed should be sown early in March in a hot bed, greenhouse, or inside 

 the window or sitting-room, where a night temperature of not less than sixty 

 degrees is kept, in drills five Inches apart and half an inch deep. When the plants 

 are about two inches high they should be set out three inches apart in boxes 

 three inches deep, or potted into three-inch pots, allowing a single plant to a 

 pot. They are sometimes shifted a second time into larger pots, by which 

 process the plants are rendered more sturdy and branching. About the middle 

 of May. in this latitude, the plants may be set in the open ground. They are 

 planted for early crops on light, sandy soil, at a distance of three feet apart, in 

 hills in which a good shovelful of rotted manure has been mixed. On heavy 

 soils which are not suited for an early crop, they should be planted four feet 

 apart. Water freely at the time of transplanting. and shelter from the sun a lew 

 days until the plants are established. Tomatoes will always produce greater 

 crops aud be of better flavor when staked up, or when trained against walls or 

 fences. 



TURNIP. 



German. Steekrube. — French. Navet.— -Spanish. Nabo ('onian. 

 1 oz. to 1 50 feet of drill ; 1 to 2 lbs. per acre in drills. 

 Turnips do best in highly enriched, light, sandy or gravelly soil ; commence 

 sowing the earliest varieties in April in drills, from twelve to fifteen inches 

 apart. and thin out early to six or nineinclies in the rows. For a succession, sow 

 at intervals of a fortnight until the last week in May for early crop, and from 

 August to September for late. August sowings may be made for the fall and 

 main crops. Turnips may be preserved until spring by cutting off the tops 

 about one inch from the bulb and storing in .1 cellar or cool shed > luring winter. 

 covering the mots with dry sand : they should be harvested before severe frosts 

 set in. for. though comparatively hardy, few of the varieties will survive the 

 winters of the Northern States in the open ground. 



