GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES- 



19 



hard and tasteless. In fast, it is combined with a 

 good deal of labor to raise good Lettuce during the 

 summer months. The Perpignan is the best for 

 summer use. Okra can still be sown. 



Large White Solid Celery may be sown now, but 

 must be well shaded, and if the weather is dry, 

 should be regularly watered. 



Late Italian Cauliflower maybe sown. 



Lima or Pole Beans can be planted; the South- 

 ern Prolific is the best variety for late planting. 



IN THE FIELD. 



Cow Peas can be planted now between the Corn ; 

 or the Crowders in rows, the latter is the best to be 

 used green. If Cow Peas are sown for fertilizing 

 purposes, one bushel per acre should be used and 

 plowed under when the ground is well covered 

 with vines, or sometimes they are left until fall, 

 when they commence to decay, and then plowed 

 down. It is best, however, to plow them down 

 when they have the most foliage, that is whilst 



they are b'.ooming, as they then contain the most 

 fertilizing properties. We consider Cow Peas the 

 cheapest and most beneficial fertilizer forworn 

 out land. 



Sweet Potato slips can be set out yet, taking ad- 

 vantage of an occasional ram ; but if it does not 

 rain they must be watered. As the top of Shallots 

 gets dry, which indicates their being ripe, they are 

 fit to be taken up. 



Pull them up and expose to the sun for a few 

 days, and then store away in a dry, airy place, 

 taking care not to lay them too thick, as they are 

 liable to heat. 



Sorghum can still be planted and as it resists 

 considerable drought, will do fairly well. 



IN THE ORCHARD. 

 Besides Bndding, nothing can be done. 

 IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 

 Follow instructions given for last month. 



JUNE- 



IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



The sowing during this month is similar to the 

 preceding; that is, not a great deal can be sown. 

 The growing crops will require attention as weeds 

 grow fast now. 



Corn may be planted for the last supply of roast- 

 ingears; also a few Water and Musk Melons. 

 Cucumbers, Squash and Pumpkins planted during 

 this month, generally do well ; but if the weather is 

 hot aud dry, they require an abundance of water. 



Southern Prolific Pole Beans are the best to plant 

 yet this month, as they stand more heat than any 

 other variety. Continue to set out Sweet Potato 

 slips. 



Sow Yellow and White Summer Radishes; En- 

 dive for salad, also Royal and Perpignan Lettuce. 



'Jo sow Lettuce during the summer months re- 

 quires a great deal of attention ; in fact, it requires 

 more care than most people are willing to bestow. 



Before sowing, soak the seeds for half an hour in 

 water, take them out put in a piece of cloth 

 and place in a cool spot under the cistern, or if 

 convenient in an ice box. Keep the cloth moist, 

 and in two or three days the seeds will sprout. 

 Then sow them. It is best to do so in the evening, 

 and give a good watering. 



If the seeds are sown without being sprouted, 

 ants wiil be likely to carry them away before they 

 can germinate, and the seedsman be blamed for 

 selling seeds that did not grow. This sprouting 

 has to be done from May to September, or, if the 

 weather is warm and dry in the latter month, up 

 to the middle of October. 



Should the weatner be moist and cool in the talk 

 it can be dispensed with. 



Some late Cabbage for winter crops may be sown 

 in this month, as the plants are generally easier 

 raise 3 during this than the following months; but 

 we consider this month too early for Cabbage seed, 

 as the plants become too hard and long-legged be- 

 fore they can be transplanted. 



Late Italian Giant Cauliflower may be sown yet 

 at the early part of this month; towards the end 

 Early Giant can be sown. Some cultivators trans- 

 plant them, when large enough, at once from the 

 seed-bed into the open ground ; others plant them 

 first into flower pots, and transplant into the 

 ground later. However, if transplanted at this 

 time of the year they will have to be shaded for a 

 few davs and watered until they have taken a good 

 hold. 



Sow Tomatoes for late crop towards the end of 

 this month. 



IN THE FIELD. 



Cow Peas for fertilizing purposes can yet be 

 sown. Plant Sweet Potato slips for a late crop. 



IN THE ORCHARD. 



Nothing can be done. 



IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



Follow instructions gi% r en for April. 



JUI,Y. 



IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Towards the end of this month plant Pole and 

 Bush Beans. In the early part sow Tomatoes for 

 the last crop ; also, some Corn for roasting ears. 



If the weather is favorable, Corn may be planted 

 also for stock food. Cucumbers con be planted for 

 pickling; also Early Giant Cauliflower, Endive, 

 Lettuce, Yellow and* White Summer Radishes. 



In new ground some Turnips and Ruta Bagas 

 can be sown, but it is better to wait until next 

 month, as they are apt to become hard and stringy. 



After the 15th of this month, Cabbage, such as 

 Frotscher"s Superior Late Flat Dutch, Improved 

 Drumhead, Crescent City Flat Dutch, Stein's 

 Early Flat Dutch, St. Denis or Cbou Bonneuil and 

 Brunswick may be commenced with. The above 

 are the leading kinds. 



It is very hard in our climate to say which is the 

 best time to sow, as our seasons differ so much. 



Some seasons we have early frosts, other seasons 

 not before January, and Cabbage is most easily 

 hurt by frost when heading up. When the plants 

 are small yet, or half grown, or when they are 

 headed up, they a~e not so much affected by cold 

 weather. It is therefore necessary to make two or 

 three sowings at different times, so that in case 

 some of the Cabbage is destroyed by frost, the 



other is coming on. As a general rule plants raised 

 from seed sown in July and August give the best 

 results, they are almost sure to head. 



September, in our experience, is the most un- 

 favorable month for sowing Cabbage ; as generally 

 plants raised from seed sown in September are 

 ready to head when frost sets in, and therefore, 

 more liable to be hurt. Still there are some excep- 

 tions Some years ago, the seed sown in Septem- 

 ber turned out best, because we had no frost until 

 very late in the season. 



Brunswick is the earliest of the large growing 

 varieties and should be sown in July and August, 

 so that it may be headed up when cold weather 

 sets in. It is more tender than the Flat Dutch and 

 Drumhead. The same may be said in regard to 

 the St. Denis and Improved Early Summer. 



All Cabbages require a strong, good soil, but the 

 Brunswick and Flat Dutch in particular. 



The ground should be well fertilized, with either 

 stable manure, cotton seed meal or superphos- 

 phate; but we consider Cow Peas planted on the 

 Cabbage land and plowed under the best and 

 cheapest fertilizer. 



The standard varieties, Superior Flat Dutch and 

 Improved Drumhead, should be sown at the end of 

 this month and during the next. 



A large quantity of seed must be sown at this 



Flower Pots from i to 15 inches, the Best Standard Pot. 



