DREER S GARDEN CALENDAR. 



ESCULENT GARDEN. 



Preparation of the Ground. — To secure a fair return in season- 

 able crops, for the labor and outlay invested, it is essential that the soil 

 of the Esculent Garden should be well under -drained, thoroughly trenched 

 or sub soiled, and enriched by a judicious application of fertilizing material. 

 It is still the current opinion, based on experience, that for all purposes, 

 well composted barn-yard manure, when available, is the best material. 

 We do not deny but that several of the concentrated manures, now 

 manufactured, are useful and convenient, especially for a succession of 

 crops. 



The exposure of a garden has much to do with the early maturity of 

 the crops ; an exposure to the morning sun is desirable. The soil must 

 be in a friable state to secure the prompt vegetation of the seeds, and 

 the destruction, or rather prevention of weeds, is one of the most desi- 

 rable results of frequent stirring of the surface. Soils are susceptible 

 of alteration and improvement in texture ; heavy clays can be rendered 

 open and poreus, and light sandy soils may be consolidated and 

 rendered more retentive of moisture. For all such details we must 

 refer the amateur to more extensive treatises on these subjects. 



Garden Requisites. — There are several aids to the economical 

 management of the garden, which are almost indispensable; one of 

 these is the hot-bed frame, for the forwarding of plants for early 

 planting. A frame, such as is shown in the cut, may be made of various 



sizes, according to the ?ize of garden, from four sashes upwards. The 

 length of sash is generally seven feet, by three and a half wide, the 

 size of glass six by eight inches, making the entire frame of four sashes, 

 fonrteen by seven feet. The frame should have a southern or south- 

 eastern exposure, should be made up with fresh horse manure and a 



