200 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



manent bed for those you wish to transplant. Those 

 raised where they are to remain succeed best. 



Let the soil be light, and well enriched with good com- 

 post manure. Leaf manure is better than hot dung. Dig 

 it up deeply and thoroughly, at least two feet deep, and 

 lay it off in beds three feet wide, with alleys between two 

 feet in width. Upon each of these beds plant two rows 

 of plants eighteen inches apart and the same distance in 

 the row. Take up the plants very carefully with the 

 trowel, so as not to disturb the roots. If you plant cut- 

 tings of old plants, put two in each place, to guard against 

 failures. In all cases, be careful in transplanting that the 

 roots are not broken or dried by exposure to the sun and 

 air. During the dry, hot weather of summer the beds 

 should be liberally watered, the first season after replant- 

 ing, as upon their summer growth depends the next 

 season's crop. Keep the soil clean, and after the plants 

 get well rooted, dig over the ground between the rows at 

 least ten inches deep, making the soil as fine as possible, 

 and after a few days dig in the same manner, on the out- 

 side of each row, that the plants may not receive a check 

 by having all their roots shortened at once. 



The coming autumn, the earthing-up must be a little 

 increased ; give a coat of leaf mould or compost manure 

 and over this a thick coat of leaves, which will bring the 

 plants on early in the spring. The next spring remove 

 the litter and dig in some of the manure into the alleys, 

 and then if you blanch with pots, spread over the beds 

 about an inch deep of clean sand. The shoots may be 

 blanched and a few cut for use but sparingly, as the plants 

 must not be weakened. The better way is not to remove 

 the covering of leaves until you have gathered what you 

 desire. On a portion of the bed to produce early, the winter 

 covering of compost and leaves must be yearly applied. 



