For the Southern States. 17 



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 too heavy, it ought to be made light by applying stable man- 

 ure, and working up the ground thoroughly. Trenching as done in 

 Europe, or North, is not advisable, at least not 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. Ex- 

 posure 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 barnyard manure. Manure from cows will suit best for light 

 sandy soil, horse manure for heavy stiff clay lands. For special pur- 

 poses, Peruvian Guano, Blood Fertilizer, Eaw 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, etc., the 

 Blood Fertilizer and Guano applied in the hills is 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 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 any- 

 where, in fact some varieties can not 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 moisture better than if it were left alone. 



