12 HENDERSON'S GARDEN GUIDE AND RECORD. 



BRIEF DIRECTIONS FOR THE SOWING AND CULTURE OF 



Garden Vegetables 



ASPARAGUS. 



1 ounce for 50 feet of drill. 



Asparagus Seed is sown in the spring. The earlier the better after frost is out of 

 the ground and the soil in good workable condition, not sticky. Scatter the seed an inch 

 apart in drills 2 to 3 feet apart and cover with about 1 inch of soil. After the plants are 

 well up thin them to stand not less than 2 inches apart. Such seedlings, if kept cultivated, 

 free from weeds and not allowed to suffer from lack of water during summer and autumn 

 will be fit to be planted out in permanent beds the succeeding spring and should commence 

 bearing in 3 or 4 years. 



Asparagus Roots. A saving in time of 2 years or more is made by purchasing roots, 

 which can be planted any time for six to eight weeks from the opening of spring. For 

 private use, beds should be formed five feet wide, with three rows planted in each, one in 

 the middle and one on each side, a foot from the edge ; the plants in the rows should be 

 1 foot apart. In planting a cut is made a little slanting to the depth of six or eight inches. 

 The plants are then laid against the side of the trench, at the distance already named, 

 care being taken to properly spread the roots. The crown or top of the plant should be 

 covered about three inches. In a week or so after planting the beds should be touched over 

 lightly with a rake, which will destroy the germinating weeds. The raking had better be 

 continued at intervals of a week or so, until the plants start to grow, when the hoe or hand- 

 cultivator may be applied between the rows. The weeds that come up close to the plant 

 must be pulled out by the hand. The deeper the soil and greater abundance of manure 

 that is used the greater will be the crop, for Asparagus is a gross feeder. An application of 

 one-half pound of sajt per square yard annually in spring is very beneficial. 



BEANS, Dwarf or Bush. 



1 qt, to 100 feet of drill; 1 bushel to the acre in drills. 

 Beans succeed best in sandy loam, enriched with well-rotted manure. Sowings 

 may be made every two weeks from the first week in May until September to supply a suc- 

 cession of "snap beans" in the latitude of New York. Further south sow earlier; further 

 north, later. Plant 2 inches deep in drills eighteen inches to two feet apart, according to 

 the richness of the soil. The seeds should be dropped about two inches apart and the plants 

 thinned out to stand about 4 to 6 inches apart in the row. 



BEANS, Pole or Climbing. 



1 qt. to 100 hills; 10 to 16 qts. to the acre in hills. 



These are planted in hills formed, according to variety, from three to four feet apart; 

 from five to six seeds are planted in each hill, about two inches deep. The season is too 

 short for succession crops in the North, though it is advantageous to plant succession crops 

 in the Southern States. Rough cedar or similar poles seven to eight feet long should be 

 used for Pole Beans, to climb on. They should be set m the ground at least eighteen inches, 

 so as to prevent being blown over. In localities subject to severe wind and storms, the 

 poles are slanted so two or three, the latter in triangular fashion, are tied together at their 

 tops, thus forming a very strong structure. 



Pole Lima Beans are grown the same as other pole beans, excepting, being more 

 tender, must be planted about 2 weeks later. 



BEET. 



1 oz. to 50 feet of drill; 5 lbs. to the acre in drills. 

 The best soil for Beets is rather light, thoroughly enriched the year before, with well- 

 rotted manure. For early, sow in spring, as soon as the ground is fit to work, in drills 

 about one foot apart and two inches deep. For main crop, sow the first week in May, 

 and for winter use, sow in June. These dates are for the latitude of New York. South, sow 

 earlier; north, later. When the plants have attained three or four leaves, thin out to 

 four inches apart. 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 



1 ounce will produce 1500 plants. 

 Sow outside in drills in May and transplant two feet apart in July. Cultivate same 

 as Cabbage; thus it may be had in fine condition from October until December, and in 

 the Southern States may be had in use from November to March. 



