Drecr^s Gardc7i Calendar. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



■1(1 REPARATION OF THE GROUND. — To secure a fair return in season- 

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

 tI the soil of the Ve^^etable Garden should be well under-drained, 

 jj thoroughly trenched or subsoiled, and enriched by a judicious ap- 

 plication of fertilizing material. It is still the current opinion, based 

 'On experience, that for all purposes well-composted ham-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. 



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 desira- 

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

 alteration and improvement in texture ; heavy clays can be rendered 

 )pen and porous, and light sandy soils may be consolidated and rendered 

 nore retentive of moisture. For all such details we must refer the 

 mateur to more extensive treatises on these subjects, to be found in 

 ur " Farmer's and Gardener's Library," page 95. 

 Garden Requisites.— There are several aids to the economical 

 oana^ement of the garden, which are almost indispensable; one of 

 hese is the hot-bed frame for the forwarding of plants for early plant- 

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



:es, according to the size of garden, from four sashes upwards. The 

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

 glass six by eight inches, making the entire frame of four sashe» 

 irteen by seven feet. The frame should have a southern or vsouth- 

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

 cleaves mixed with it: this must be laid in aheap preparatory to 

 ng used, and when in a proper state of fermentation, prepai-ed for 



• rece])tion of the frame. A fev^ inches of rich loamy soil must be 

 ' :^ad over the manure, then cover the frame with the sashes and after 



uling a few days to allow the rank heat and steam to pass off, the 



• 1 can be sown. Where the ground is well drained, a better plan is 

 j'g out a space the size of the frame, from one to two feet deep, ac- 

 'ling to the season and the heat required, in which the manure is 



•ed, care being taken to pack it firmly and evenly. 



he Cold frame for wintering Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce Plants, 



should be constructed of inch boards one foot high at the back by 



nine inches high in front and six feet wide; five short posts to the length 



of sixteen feet boards will answer to keep in position. The shutters 



