FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 19, 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



The size depends upon the purposes for which it is intended ; whether the 

 family is large or small, and the time which can be devoted to its cultivation. The 

 most suitable, soil for a garden is a light loam. When the soil is top heavy, it 

 ought to be made light by applying stable manure, and working up the ground 

 thoroughly. Trenching as done in Europe, or North,' is not advisable, at least 

 where there is any cocoa, as by trenching the roots of this pest will get so deeply 

 incorporated with the soil that trouble will be met with afterwards to get rid of it. 

 Exposure towards the east is desirable. If there are one or more large trees in 

 the garden, or on the immediate outside, their shade can be used in which to sow 

 Celery, Cabbage and other seeds during the hot summer months, which will be an 

 advantage. The seed beds for this purpose should be so arranged as to receive only 

 the morning or evening sun. It is of the greatest importance that the ground 

 should be well drained, otherwise it will be impossible to raise good vegetables. 

 The most reliable manure for general purposes is well decomposed stable or barn- 

 yard manure. Cow manure will suit best for light, sandy soil, and horse manure 

 for heavy, stiff clay lands. For special purposes, Peruvian Guano, Blood Ferti- 

 lizer, Kaw Bone, Cotton Seed Meal and other commercial manures may be em-^ 

 ployed with advantage. Of late years most gardeners who work their land with a 

 plow, use Cow peas as a fertilizer with excellent result. They are sown broad-cast 

 at the rate of 1| bushels to the acre, and when large enough they are turned under. 

 Where the land is very sandy, cotton seed meal has the most lasting effect. For 

 quick growing crops, such as Melons, Cucumbers, etc., the Blood Fertilizer and 

 Guano applied in the hills are very good. Soap suds are good for Celery ; it is as- 

 tonishing to perceive the difference in the size of those stalks which are watered 

 every few days with the suds, and others on the same ground which are not. Wood 

 ashes are best for Peas, either used as a top dressing when the Peas just come out 

 of the ground, or else sprinkled in the rows when planted. The New Orleans mar- 

 ket gardeners raise as fine vegetables as can be produced anywhere ; in fact, some 

 varieties cannot be excelled, and very few gardeners use anything but stable 

 manure. . 



Rotation of Crops is another important item. Beets, Carrots and other 

 roots should not be grown in succession on the same ground, but should be changed 

 to those which grow above ground, such as Lettuce, Beans, Peas, etc. Good seed, 

 good ground and good cultivation are essential in order to raise good vegetables. 

 When plants are up, the ground should be stirred frequently; weeds ought not to 

 be suffered to go into seed, but should be destroyed as soon as they appear. Hoe- 

 ing and working the young crops during dry weather is very beneficial because the 

 weeds are then easily killed, and hoeing the ground will make it retain raoisturq 

 better than if it were left alone. 



