Brief Directions for the 
Sowing and Culture of 
GARDEN VEGETABLES 
For the Private Garden, 
By Peter Henderson. 
ASPARAt iUS. 
German, Spargel. — French, Asperge. — Spanish, Esparragos. 
1 ounce for (50 feet of drill. 
Asparagus can he grown from seed, but the best way for the amateur to grow 
it is from roots, which can be planted any time for six to eight weeks from the 
opening of spring. Besides, a year or more can be saved by planting roots. 
For private use or for marketing on a small scale, beds should be formed five I 
feet wide, with three rows planted In each, one in the middle and one on each | 
side, a foot from the edge;-the distance of the plants in the rows, nine inches. 
The alleys between the bedsshould be two feet. wide. In planting a line is set and 
a cut made a little slanting to the depth of six. or eight inches, according to the 
size of the plants. The plants are then laid against the side of the trench, at the 
distance already named (nine inches), 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 sharp 
steel 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 and alleys. The weeds 
that come up close to the plant must of necessity be pulled out bv the hand. 
The deeper the soil and greater abundance of manure that is used*the greater 
will lie the crop, for Asparagus is what the gardeners call a gross feeder. An 
application of one-half pound of salt per square yard annually in spring is very 
beneficial. 
BEANS, Dwarf or Rusli. 
German, Bohne. — French, Haricot. — Spanish, Frijorenano. 
1 qt. to 100 feet of drill; 1 V6 bushels to the acre in drills. 
A succession of sowings can bo made every two weeks from the first week in 
May until September. These dates are for the latitude of New York. Further 
South the first sowing must be done earlier; further North later. Plant in drills 
about two inches deep, and from eighteen inches to two feet apart, according to 
the richness of the soil; the poorer the soil the closer they can be planted. The 
seeds should be dropped about two inches apart in the drills. 
BEANS, Bole Lima, or Climbing. 
German, St&ngen-Bohnen . —French, Haricot a Raines. —Spanish, Judias. 
1 qt. to 150 hills; 10 to 1G qts. to the acre in hills. 
These are more tender and require rather more care in culture than the Bush 
varieties, and should be sown two weeks later. They succeed best in sandy loam, 
which should be liberally enriched with well-rotted manure in the hills, which 
are formed, according to variety, from three to four feet apart; from five to six 
seeds are planted in each hill, about two inches deep. As the matured bean is 
mostly used, the season is too short forsuccesslon crops in the North, though it 
is advantageous to plant succession crops in the Southern States, where the 
season of growth is often from March to November. Hough cedar or similar 
poles about seven or eight feet long should be used for Pole Beans, especially 
the Limas, to climb on. They should be set in the ground at least eighteen 
inches, so as to prevent being blown over. 
BEET. 
German. Runkel Rube. —French, liotterave. — Spanish, Betteraga. 
1 ox. to 50 feet of drill; 5 lbs. to the acre in drills. 
The soil best suited for the culture of the Beet is that which is rather light 
than otherwise, always provided that it is thoroughly enriched with well-rotted 
manure. For an early supply 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. For the South sow earlier; for the North later. When 
the plants have attained three or four leaves, thin out so that they may stand 
five or six inches apart. Keep free from weeds. In October the roots may be 
taken up and stored in cellar or pits outside. 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
German, A' opfkohl Gruner.— French, Chou do Bruxelles. 
Sow outside in drills in April or 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. 
CABBAGE. 
German, Kopfkolil. — French, Chou Fornme. —Spanish, Repollo. 
1 oz. will produce 1,500 plants; half-pound to transplant for an acre. 
The early varieties of Cabbage are cultivated more extensively than any 
other vegetable, in latitudes where the thermometer never indicates twenty 
degrtH»s below the freezing point, seed may be sown in the open border in October 
and planted out on the first opening of spring; but in our Northern States they 
must either be sown in hot beds in February, or, what is still better, wintered 
over in cold frames; for this purpose the seed is sown from the 10th to the 20th 
of September. Attention to date is important: if too soon the plants might run 
to seed, and if too late they would be too small. In four or five weeks from the 
time of sowing they will be fit to transplant into the cold frames. In planting it 
is very important with Cabbage or Cauliflower that the plant is set down to the 
first leaf, so that the stem is all under ground, for, if exposed, it will be split by 
the action of the frost, and will be injured in consequence. The plants are usually 
set out from the middle of March to the middle of April, in rows about two feet 
apart, and eighteen inches between the plants in rows. This earliest crop 
matures in June. For second early the early kinds should be sown first week in 
April and planted out in May. This crop should mature in July and August. 
The late varieties are usually sown in the early part of May, and the plants are 
set in July, at distances of three feet between the rows, and two feet between the 
plants. This crop matures September, October or November. 
CAULIFLOWER. 
German, Blumen-Kohl. —French, Choutieur. — Spanish, Coliflor. 
1 oz. will produce about 1,000 plants. 
Any soil that will grow Cabbage will grow Cauliflower, as their requirements 
are almost similar; but as the product is more valuable, extra manuring and 
preparation of the soil will be well repaid. 
The seed may be sown in September and wintered over in the same manner 
as described for early Cabbage. AY here this is not practicable, it may be had 
nearly as well by sowing the seeds in the hot bed in January or February, and 
transplanting the plants at two or three Inches apart in boxes or in the soil of 
another hotbed, until such time as they are safe to be planted in tilt. I 
ground, which, in this latitude, is usually from the 3 5th of March to the 1 
April. If properly hardened off they are seldom injured by planting out too 
early. For second early and late crop sow at same date as given in the rec- 
tions for Cabbage crop. 
CARROT. 
German, Mohre. — French, Carotte. — Spanish, Zanahoria. 
1 oz. for 125 feet of drill; 4 lbs. for an acre. 
The Carrot, like other root crops, delights in a sandy loam, richly tilled. 
For early crops sow in spring, as soon as the ground is in good working order; 
for later crops they may be sown any time until the middle of June. Sow in 
rows about fifteen*inches apart, thinning out to three or four inches between 
the plants. In field culture, when grown for horses or cattle, the rows should be 
two feet apart, so that the crop can be worked with the Horse Cultivator. As 
Carrot seed is slow to germinate, extra precautions must be taken to firm the 
seed in the soil. 
CELERY. « 
German, Seleri. — French, Celeri. — Spanish, Apis. 
1 oz. for 3,000 plants. 
Sow in the open ground as soon as it is fit to work in April, and keep care¬ 
fully clear of weeds until time of transplanting in June or July. The tops should 
be shorn once or twice before transplanting, so as to ensure •‘stocky” plants. 
The lower halt of the root should also be cut off before transplanting. 
After the ground has been prepared, lines are made on the level surface, 
three feet apart, and the plants set six inches apart in the lines. If the 
weather be dry at the time of planting great care should be taken that the 
roots are properly “firmed.” Our custom is to turn back on the row and press 
by the Bide of each plant gently with the foot. This compacts the soil, and 
excludes the air from the roots until new rootlets are formed, which will usually 
be in forty-eight hours, after which all danger is over. After the planting of the 
Celery is completed, nothing further is to be done for six or seven weeks, except 
going through between the rows with a cultivator or hoe and freeing the 
plants of weeds until they get strong enough to crowd them down. This will 
bring us to about the middle of August, by which time we have usually that 
moist and cool atmosphere essential to the growth of Celery. Then we begin the 
“ earthingup ” necessary for the blanching and whiteningof that which is wanted 
for use (luring the months of September, October and November. The first 
operation is that of “ handling,” as we term it; that is, after all the soil has been 
drawn up against the plant with a hoe, it is further drawn close around each 
plant by the hand, firm enough to keep the leaves in an upright position and 
prevent them from spreading. This being done, more soil is drawn against the 
row (either by the plow or hoe, as circumstances require) so as to keep the 
plant in this upright position. The blanching process must, however, befinished 
by the spade, which is done by digging the soil from between the rows and 
banking it up clear to the top on each side of the row of Celery. Three feet is 
ample distance between the dwarf varieties; but when larger sorts are used the 
width of the rows must be at least four and a half or five feet. 
For fuller details on Celery culture please refer to our book, “Gardening for 
Profit,” fully described on page G. 
CORN, Su^ar. 
German, Welschkorn. — French, Mais. — Spanish, Maiz. 
1 qt. for 200 hills; 8 to 10 qts. in hills for an acre. 
All varieties of Sweet or Sugar Corn may beeither sown in rowsfour and a half 
feet apart, and the seeds placed about eight inches apart in the rows, or planted 
in hills at distances of three or four feet each way, according to the variety 
grown or the richness of the soil in which it is planted. The taller the variety, 
or the richer the soil, the greater should be the distance apart. We make our 
first plantings in this vicinity about the middle of May and continue successive 
plantings every two or three weeks until the last week in July. In moresoutherly 
latitudes planting is begun a month earlier and continued a month later. 
CRESS, or Pepper Crass. 
German, Kresse. — French, Cresson. — SpanlHli, Mnstruco. 
A well-known pungent salad. Requires to be sown thickly in rows and 
covered very slightly. Sow in April in open ground in rows one foot apart and 
thin out as needed. To keep up a succession, sow frequently, as all varieties 
deteriorate rapidly. 
CUCUMBER. 
German, Gurke. — French, Concombre. — Spanish, Coliombro. 
1 oz. for GO hills ; 2 to 8 lbs. in hills for an acre. 
Cucumbers succeed best in warm, rich, sandy loam. They should not be 
planted in the open air until there is a prospect of settled warm weather— In 
the vicinity of New York about the middle of May; plant in hills about four feet 
apart each way. The hills should be previously prepared, by mixing with the 
soil of each a shovelful of well-rotted manure. Plant eight o'r ten seeds in each 
hill. When all danger from insects is past thin out the plants, leaving three or 
four of the strongest to each hill. The fruit should be gathered when large 
enough, w hether required for use or not, as, if left to ripen on the vines, it de¬ 
stroys their productiveness. 
EC.G PLANT. 
German, h’ierpflanze. — French. Aubergine. — Spanish, Ilerengenn. 
1 oz. for 1,000 plants. 
The Egg Plant will thrive well in any good garden soil, but will repay good 
treatment. The seed should be sown in hot beds or warm greenhouse In March 
or April, and when about an inch high, pot in two-inch pots. Plant out, about 
June 1st, two and a half feet apart. If no hot bed is at hand, thev can be grown 
in any light room where the temperature will average seventy-five degrees. 
ENDIVE. 
German, Eodivien.— French. Chicoree.— Spanish, Endlria. 
1 oz. for 100 feet of drill or 2.000 plants. 
Endive is one of the best salads for fall and winter use. Sow for an early 
supply about the middle of April. As It is used mostly In the fall months the 
main sowings are made in June and July and transplanted one foot apart each 
way when of sufficient size. It requires no special soil or manure, ami after trans¬ 
planting, if kept clear of weeds until the plant has attained its full size the 
process of blanching begins. This is effected by gathering up the leaves 'and 
tying them by their tips in a conical form, with Raphia. This excludes the 
light and air from the Inner leaves, which become blanched in the course of from 
