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 de- 
voted to its cultivation. The most suitable soil for a garden is a light 
loam. When the soil is too heavy, it ought to be made light by apply- 
ing stable manure, and working up the ground thoroughly. Trench- 
ing as done in Europe, or North, is not advisable, at least where there 
is any coco, as by trenching the roots of this pest will get so deeply 
incorporated with the soil that it will be very hard 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 bean 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 barnyard manure. Manure from cows will 
suit best for light, sandy soil; horse manure for heavy, stiff clay lands. 
For special purposes, Peruvian Guano, Blood Fertilizer, Raw Bone, 
Cotton Seed Meal and other commercial manures may be employed 
with advantage. Where the land is very sandy, cotton seed meal has 
the most lasting effect. For quick growing crops, such as Melons, 
Cucumbers, ete., the Blood Fertilizer and Guano applied in the hills, 
is very good. Soap suds are good for Celery; it is astonishing to per- 
ceive 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 market gardeners raise as fine vegetables 
as can be produced anywhere; in fact, some varieties cannot be ex- 
celled, 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 
theyappear. Hoeing and working the young crops during dry weather 
is very beneficial, because the weeds are then easily killed, and hoe- 
ing the ground will make it retain moisture better than if it were 
left alone. 
