| 
| 
i 
| 
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 isa 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 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 greatestimportance 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. Cow manure will suit 
best for light, sandy soil, and 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. Of late years most gardeners who work their land 
with a plow, use Cow Peas as a fertilizer with excellent resuits. They 
are sown broadeast at the rate of 14 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, ete., the Blood Fertilizer and Guano ayp- 
plied in the hills are very good. Soap suds are good for Celery; it is 
astonishing 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 
atop 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 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 culti- 
vation 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. 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. 
