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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



For the Southern Planter. 

 USEFUL HINTS FOR VIRGINIA GARDENERS. 



BY E. G. EG GEL I NG , FLORIST. 



April, the second of the spring months, gives 

 full employment to all the hours and energies 

 of the gardener. The weather is usually miid, 

 and the frequent showers and the genial rays 

 of the sun. not only cause the useful plants 

 to grow, but also bring out a plentiful crop 

 of grasses and seeds. To. keep these under, 

 lest they hinder the growth of the vegetables, 

 must be the first great concern. Every gardener- 

 should have as the rule of his conduct the 

 homely rhyme : 



"The more we hue 

 The more we grow." 



A few rules of treatment for the leading 

 vegetables, is all that we give at present. 



Asparagus. — The hedslshould be kept clear 

 of weeds, etc., and the earth stirred frequently 

 so as to be kept loose and light, especially where 

 it is inclined. to bake and harden after rains. 

 This will greatly promote the growth of the 

 buds, which are already out in favorable 

 locations. During the month the buds will 

 be in condition for cutting. Care should be 

 exercised in cutting, to cut only the larger buds 

 leaving the small ones that often make their 

 appearance. 



Beans. — Between the first and the fifteen tli 

 of the month a full crop should be planted. 

 Lima beans should not be put in until between 

 the fifteenth and last of the month. It is the 

 better plan to put the poles in before planting 

 the beans, and be sure to put them in deep 

 enough, lest they be blown down by the strong 

 winds. It is well, too, to plant beans enough as 

 they will many of them rot. 



Celery. — If the plants are up then free them 

 of weeds. 



Cabbage. — From the middle of this month to 

 the first of the next, is the period for sowing 

 seed, to rear plants for fall and winter cabbage. 

 It often occurs, that plants for this purpose are 

 scarce. They are liable to destruction from 

 insects and drought, but a proper cultivation 

 will ensure a sufficient supply. The following 

 directions may be safely followed, with the 

 most satisfactory results : 



To make a plant bed for this season, take 

 a piece of poor ground in preference to that 

 whick is rich, and break it very deep, and 

 pulverize thoroughly. Two reasons justify the 

 selection of poor rather than rich ground. 

 First, because the richer the land the more 

 likely the plants are to suffer from the ravages 

 of insects; and secondly, if plants are transfered 

 from richer to poorer soil, they are checked 

 in their growth for the time. The bed may be 

 larger or smaller, according as a greater or less 

 number of plants are wanted. Two thousand, 

 or more plants may be had from a bed twelve 

 by sixteen feet. The seed may be sown in 

 drills or broadcast, at pleasure. If the earth is 

 moist at the time of sowing, or should there be 

 -ain soon after, the plants will make their 



appearance in two or three days. The danger 

 from drought may be easily avoided by irriga- 

 tion. If the soil is dry when the seed are sown, 

 give plenty of water, with the watering pot 

 and strainer, cover the bed with planks raised a 

 few inches above the surface of the soil, and 

 remove the boards so soon as the plants make 

 their appearance. If left covered for a day, the 

 plants will likely be ruined by over forcing. 

 Supposing the plants up they are immediately 

 liable to attacks from insects. To prevent this, 

 the bed should be sprinkled with air slacked 

 lime, directly after the seed are sowed and the 

 application renewed the moment the plants 

 appear. This should be done every eight or 

 ten days, for three or four weeks, and it should 

 be put on early in the morning while the dew is 

 upon the plants. It is vitally essential that the 

 plants be thus protected in infancy. Trash 

 Tobacco will serve the same end and is perhaps 

 better than lime. 



We have been thus particular and minute, 

 because persons so often fail to get a supply 

 of cabbage plants at this season, when nothing 

 is easier, with due attention to them while they 

 are very young. Erroneous ideas concerning 

 their culture is at the bottom of nine out of ten 

 failures which take place. To many persons 

 the views submitted will be novel, but we 

 are sure an experiment will satisfy the most 

 sceptical of their soundness. 



The best kinds are the large Bergen, Drum 

 Head and Savoy. 



Egg Plant. — The process of hardening should 

 be continued, by raising the sash of the hot bed 

 occasionally, as the weather permits. It is not 

 prudent to remove them to the open ground 

 this month. 



Lettuce. — Those planted last fall, should 

 be well hoed. Those sowed in March are not 

 usually large enough for transplantation. Sow 

 now the variety called the India Cape Lettuce, 

 which is the best for summer, as they stand 

 longer before seeding and are very tender. 



Peas — Sow Marrowfat pea for a summer 

 supply. 



Raddish should be sowed every ten or twelve 

 days as they soon become pithy. 



Potatoes. — Concerning this crop it may be 

 well to say, that experience teaches us this 

 lesson, that while to have them early and of 

 good flavor the Northern Mercer is best for 

 seed, these will not answer when they are to be 

 kept for winter. These should be raised from 

 roots grown in our own soils. If such as were 

 planted last month are up, keep them clean. 



Tomatoes. — About half in the bed may be 

 removed to the open ground about the fifteenth 

 of the month, and the balance reserved to sup- 

 ply the place of such as are killed. When put 

 out they need some such support as a stick put 

 by them will afford. Lacking this they will prob- 

 ably be broken by the winds. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



This month is the season for work in this 

 department. Yet there is need of discretion 

 and caution, lest by too much hurry injury 



