D REEK'S GARDEN CALENDAR, 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



PREPARATION OF THE GROUND.— To secure a fair return in seasonable crops, for the 

 labor and outlay invested, it is essential that the soil of the Vegetable Garden should be 

 well underdrained, thoroughly trenched or subsoiled, and enriched by a judicious 

 application of fertilizing material. It is still the current opinion, based on experience, that 

 (or all purposes well composted barn-yard manure, when available, is the best material. We 

 do not deny, however, that several of the concentrated manures, now manufactured, are useful 

 and convenient, especially for a succession of crops. A very efficient liquid manure is made by 

 dissolving one pound of pure Peruvian guano to ten gallons of water, to promote the growth of 

 vegetables already started, it should not be applied oftener than once a week. 



Previous to preparing a Vegetable Garden, the gardener or amateur should take a blank -book, 

 map out his ground, allotting a place for all the different kinds of vegetables and small fruits he 

 intends to cultivate. As he plants his ground, keeping an account of all he does relative to his 

 garden, he will soon obtain a practical knowledge of the art. 



For those who have not already formed their plans in layiui, o.a a I ^^^luL!^ u.;- c<c/.', and 

 cannot avail themselves of such a slope of ground or quality of soil as they desire, must take 

 up with such as may be within their reach. If practicable, a vegetable garden should have a 

 warm and southeasterly exposure. But when the ground slopes to the north and west, it is 

 important to have the garden located on the sunny side of an orchard or outbuildings. Every 

 person, previous to building, should select the most desirable situation for the vegetable garden. 

 The above illustration represents a satisfactory manner of disposing of different kinds of plants 

 and vegetables, and can be varied to suit the fancy or convenience on a small or large scale. 



Laying out the ground, a border may be formed around the whole garden, from 5 to 10 feet 

 wide, according to the size of your ground ; next to this border a walk may be made from 

 3 to 6 feet wide, and divide the middle in squares or fancy beds, as may be desired, on the 

 sides of which a border 3 to 4 feet wide may be laid out, in which the various kinds of small 

 fruits may be raised to advantage. The centre beds may be planted Avith all kinds of vegetabl«s ; 

 the outer or fence border, for raising the earliest fruits and vegetables, also serves for raising 

 and pricking out such young plants, herbs, and cuttings as require to be screened from the 

 intense heat of the sun, and the very early vegetables which can be protected from slight frosts. 



The mode of laying out the ground is a matter of taste, and may be left to the gardener 

 himself to determine, the form being of little importance in the production of useful vege- 

 tables; and it matters not if the ground is laid out in beds of 4 or lo feet wide, provided it is 

 well worked and kept neat and free of weeds. 



Useful Tables, for the Farmer and Gardeoer, of Seeds and Plants to the Acre, will be found on the second page of cover. 



