THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
23 
pust well rotted, aboalten inches each way, the 
third year the buds will be eatable. Beans, 
English Dwarf the climate is too hot lor ; Kid- 
ney or Snap cannot be safely planted until 
April, as a slight frost will kill them ; plant in 
hills 12 inches apart and three in the drills. 
Pole Beans may be planted the same time, poles 
should be about four feet apart and four or five 
beans around a pole. Beets may be planted- 
from February to April, they are slow in ger- 
minating and should be soaked in water thirty- 
six hours before planting; let the ground bemel- 
low and plant in drills 12 inches apart and 3 
inches in the drill ; cover the seed about an inch, 
when the plants are up three or four inches, 
thin them out to eight inches. Brussel Sprouts 
and common Kail may be sown broadcast any 
time from April to May, and transplanted the 
last of July two feet apart each way, Broco- 
11 and Cauliflower, need only to be known to be 
extensively cultivated here ; Brocoli is only a 
purple variety of Cauliflower, perfectly hardy; 
early Cauliflowers rar(dy ever come to anything 
here, but the late kind, with the Brocoli, maybe 
sown broadcast any time from April to May 
and transplanted in July or August two feet 
apart each way, they will produce their rich 
pulpy heads all winter. Cabbage, early varie- 
ties may be sown broadcast from January to 
March, and transplanted as soon as the, plants 
w’ill bear moving; the late kinds from March 
to June, transplant the last of July, putting the 
entire stock in the ground up to the leaf, which 
will cause it to head large and firm. Carrot is 
rather slow in germinating and should he soak- 
ed twenty-four hours before planting, plant in 
drills 12 inches apart, as thin as possible in the 
drills, thin out to five inches. Celery may be 
made very fine by sowing in rich ground and 
not transplanting ; plant in March, drills three 
feet apart, sow as thin as possible in the drill, 
and knoll or trample the seed -in, when up to 
three or four inches, thin out to eight inches, as 
the plant increases in size draw the earth to it 
in clear dry weather. Cucumbers, Squashes 
and Melons, are not safe to plant before April. 
Esfg Plant is very tender and should not be 
planted before April, plant in drills and trans- 
plant as soon as the plant is three inches high, 
two feet apart. Early Corn may be planted the 
last of February, in hills four feet apart each 
way, three kernels in a hill; some kinds will be 
eatable in six weeks from planting. Leek is 
hardy, and maybe sown in drills 12 inches 
apart, in February. Lettuce may be sown 
broadcast or in drills, any time from January 
to April, transplant as soon as the plants bear 
moving. Okra is tender and may be planted 
about the first of April, in drills three feet apart 
and six or eight inches in the drill. Cnion 
hardy, but difficult to vegetate, unless soaked 
twenty-four hours before planting, sow in drills 
12 inches apart, three inches in the drills, about 
the middle of February, let the ground be rich 
and mellow, and trample the seed in, or stamp 
aboard along the drills after planting; there 
are no finer Onions made in the United States, 
than are made here from seed. Parslev is 
hardy, slow in vegetating, and should be soaked 
tbirtyrsix hours before planting; it may be 
sown in drills or on borders, in February. Par- 
snip is hardy, may be sown in drills in Februa- 
ry l2 inches apart, thin out to five inches in the 
drill. Peppers are tender, should not be plant- 
ed until April, plant in drills 12 inches apart, 
and transplant as the plant will bear it. En- 
glish Peas, the early kitcds may be planted in 
January, February and March, the latter kinds 
in March and April, plant in drills two feet 
apart, drop the peas thick in the drill, cover 
about one inch, keep the ground mellovv, and 
when the peas a^^e six inches hiuh- stick them; 
the early Dwarf kind need no sticking; for Fall 
Peas, plant the early kinds in August, and 
shade with straw. Radishes and Salsify are 
hardy, and may be planted in Fehrnar/ and 
March, in drills 12 inches apart, and four in the 
drills; Salsify remains good in the ground all 
winter. Spinnage is hardy, may be planted in 
February in drills eighteeq inches apart, in rich 
ground, and thin out to ten inches in the drill. 
Tomatoes may be planted the ia.st of March, 
plant in drills eighteen inches apart, and thin 
out to eighteen inches in the drill, they can also 
be transplanted. Turnips, early kind may be 
planted in drills in February and March, twelve 
inches apart, thin out to G inches in the drill; 
late kinds in July, August and September, 
broadcast, except Rutabaga’s, which should be 
sowed in drills three feet apart, and thin out to 
ten inches in the drill. Button Onions, Onion 
Sets, Garlic, Shallots, &c., may be put in the 
ground any time from October to April. 
The above directions are what my own expe- 
rience has proved to suit this climate,* and it 
they are folio wed with ordinary seasons there 
will be few failures in Gardening. 
Truly yours, Cuas. A. Peabody. 
Plantation Garden for tlie South. 
BY T. AFFLECK. 
These dircalioiis for the management of the Plantation 
Garden, being prepared for the latitude of Natchez, 
Miss., can very easily be adapted to a degree or two 
farther north, or south. 
The garden is a primary object on every 
plantation. Much is saved by it; and much 
added to the health and comfort of the laborers. 
Wholesome, well-cooked vegetables are pre- 
ferable to anything else, during hot weather. 
The garden must be proportioned in extent to 
the nuinber to be supplied from it. For one of 
some size, instead of a spot laid off in small 
beds, to be cultivated exclusively with the spade 
and hoe, select a piece of good ground, no mat- 
ter what the exposure. Shape, if possible, an 
oblong square ; run one main center walk or 
road lengthwise ; and such otheis as may be 
thought requisite; and enclose ihe who'e with a 
good and sufficient fence. Even though natu- 
rally very rich, add a coat of well-rotted manure, 
as early as practicable in the winter; and im- 
mediately turn it under, by running two good 
plows in the furrow, one behind the other — thus 
plowing it to the depth of ten inches, or as deep 
as the soil will admit ol, even turning up a little 
of the 'subsoil, if not positively bad. When in 
this rough state even a slight freezing is of great 
advantage. As the ground is needed for plant- 
ing, give a top-dressing of manure or rich com- 
post, turning it under with a light plow; and if 
at all cloddy, run the harrow over it. 
As more correct and particular directions can 
be given, and with less repetition, where each 
variety of vegetables is treated of separately, 
thac plan is here adopted, in preference to giving 
a monthly calendar. 
Potaloes.— The sweet and the Irish potatoe 
are vegetables of great importance. They are 
cultivated here in the same manner as in the 
middle states, and should be planted as early as 
March or April. 
Twraips are sown from the 20ih of July to 
last ol September — sowing three or four sepa- 
rate patches, at as many different times. They 
are usually sown broad-cast, but would pay well 
lor the trouble of drilling and tending. The 
turnip patch is most commonly enriched by pen- 
ning the cows on the spot intended for it— but a 
niece of newly cleared ground is better, produ= 
cing sweeter roots and fewer weeds. 
Cabbages are produced abundantly in the 
south, il properly managed, and are the favorite 
vegetable on a plantation. They head best on 
old land enriched with stable manure. For 
early spring use, make several sowings of seed 
frotn the middle of August to first of October, 
of early York, sugar loaf, &c. During very 
cold weather, protect the young plants with pine 
boughs, or magnolia leaves; or with stiff brush 
lai I between the rows and covered with corn 
stalks and other litter. Plant out earl'y in Feb- 
ruary. For summer use, sow in January, pro- 
tecting as above; plant out wheirlarge enough. 
For winter use, sow drumhead or other large 
sorts, in April ; lelthem stand in the nursery 
beds all summer, when they will ru.n up a tall 
stem; during the rains in August, set them out 
in rich ground, laying their long stems in so 
deep as just to leave their heads out of the 
ground. Il planted out sooner they will rot; if 
sowed much later than April they will not head; 
and the roofs being placed tolerably deep in the 
ground, enables the plants to stand the autumnal 
drought. Plants from seedsgrowa in the South 
will not head. 
Okra . — A large mess of okra soup (called 
gumbo) should be served on every plantation at 
least lour days in the week, while the vegetable 
is in season. The pods are gathered while still 
tender enough to be cut with the thumb nail; 
cut into thin slices, and with tomatoes, pepper, 
&c., added to the rations of meat, forms a rich 
mucilaginous soup. It is planted about the 
first of March, in drills four feet apart, leaving 
a plant every two and a half or three feet, if the 
ground is rich, which it should be. 
Peas . — Although the dwarf, marrowfat, charl- 
ton, &c., are occasionally grown in sufficient 
quantity for plantation use, il is but rarely. 
They would form an excellent and wholesome 
addition to the rations. The crowder and com- 
mon co'vv peas being of easy cui'.ure, requiring 
no sticks, being great bearers, and lasting all 
summer, are indispensable. In winter the ripe 
peas form a fine variety. They are planted at 
any time from the 1st of February to the last of 
July, either among the corn or alone, in drills 
three feet apart, leaving a plant at every foot. 
Beans.— Kidney or snap beans are planted in 
succession during March, April and May, ei- 
ther in hills two and a half feet apart, or in rows 
three feet apart, leaving a plant every lour inch- 
es. The Hale white bunch bean sent from the 
North in such quantities, can be raised in the 
Sou'h as easily as any other sort. 
Lima Beans, or butter beans, are grown in 
hills tour leelapart, first planting a stout pole in 
the hill plant first of April ; leave three to four 
plants ; or they are drilled along the walks, first 
forming a rough arbor of stakes or of canes lor 
them to run on. They are easily cultivated-- 
procuring and planting the stakes being the 
principal labor — and are very productive and 
nutritious. 
Tomatoes are indispensable. Sow the seed 
m a bed that can be protected, early in Februa- 
ry. Plant out as soon as there is no longer 
danger of fro.st, in rows four feet apart, a plant 
every two and a hall feet. A few seeds may 
be sown about last of April, and again about 
last of May, to bear until frost ; the early plant- 
ings will cease to bear by August. 
Onions and Scallions ought to be cultivated 
in considerable quantity. They are of easy 
culture and favorites with the people. Bunches 
ot scallions may be divided and set out in rows 
at anytime from September to March. Onion 
seed is sown in drills during the fall or early 
winter, and are drawn while young and used 
as scallions — leaving enough of plants to occu- 
py the ground, where they will bulb. 
/Sgii^sA.— Of this there are two sorts, with, 
many sub-varieties — the summer bush and the 
1 running squash. The former will produce the 
greatest number on the smalFst space ot 
ground— the latter, however, continue longer in 
bearing. Plant toward the end of March, and 
again about the middle of April; the bush sorts 
in hills three feet apart, leaving one plant in a 
hill; the running squash in hills seven feet 
apart, leaving two plants. The Kentucky cn= 
shaw, a large, striped, crook-necked sort, can 
be kept, with a slight protection, all winter. A 
good supply of squash is desirable, as a whole- 
some and favorite vegetable ; jt v.'ill moreover 
prevent your people using young, green pump- 
kins, which are vety un wRolesome. As the 
squash become fit for use, they must be picked 
off for use, or the plants will .soon cease to bear. 
Mustard, which may be sown broadcast, and 
tolerably thin, the seed being very small, in Oc- 
tober or November, on a piece of good ground. 
Mustard makes a wholesome and favorite dish 
all winter, and early in the spring, boiled with 
a piece of pickled pork. Like turnips, when 
sown for the same purpose, it requires no cuU 
tiyafion, if the ground is tolerably clean, 
