•CULTURE OF CARDEN VEGETABLES 
m 
three to six weeks, according to the temperature at the time. Another and 
more simple method consists in laying slats or boards on the plants as they 
grow, which serves the same purpose as the tying up. It can also be grown 
by sowing the seed and thinning out to one foot apart each way, as recom¬ 
mended for Lettuce. 
KALE, or ISorecole. 
German, Blatter-Kohl. — French, Chou Vert. —Spanish, Breton. 
1 oz. will sow 150 feet of drill. 
Kale, or Borecole, may be grown in almost any soil, hut the richer it is the 
more abundant the product. If wanted for use in late fall or early winter, sow 
early in June and transplant, as directed for Cabbage, middle of July. Ii needed 
for spring use. sow Siberian about middle of August and transplant a month 
later. Of all the Cabbuge tribe this is the most tender and delicate, and would 
be much more extensively grown titan it is. if its excellent qualities were gen¬ 
erally known. The varieties are all extremely hardy, and are best when 
touched by frost. 
LEEK. 
German, Lnueh. — French, Poireau. — Spanish, Puerro. 
1 oz. will sow 100 feet of drill. 
The Leek is very hardy and easily cultivated; it succeeds best in a light but 
well-enriched soil. Sow as early in spring ns practicable, in drills one inch deep 
and one foot apart. IVlien six or eight inches high they may be transplanted in 
rows ten inches apart each way.as deep as possible, that the neck, being covered, 
may be blanched. If fine I-eeks be desired, the ground can hardly be made too 
rich, for the Istek is agroBS feeder. 
LETTUCE. 
German, Lattich. — French, Laitue.— Spanish, Leeliuga. 
1 oz. for 8,000 plants. 
The cultivation of Lettuce is universal by all who have gardens, and from its 
tractable nature and freedom from nearly nil insects and diseases, it Is manage¬ 
able in the hands of every one. For early crop, seed mav be sown In the open 
ground in the middle of September, and transplanted to cold frames as soon as 
large enough to handle, being wintered over in the same manner as early Cab¬ 
bage. Seeds may be sown in well-protected frames in February, and in hot beds 
in March, and by careful covering up at night will make fine plants hv April 
for spring planting. But for ordinary private use in the summer months, the 
simplest way is to sow it thinly in rows one foot apart, early in the spring 
and thin out the plants so that they will stand one foot apart. This is easier 
than transplanting, and if sown every two or throe weeks from middle of April 
to middle of August, Lettuce may he had in perfection the whole season 
Lettuce plants may be saved over the winter without glass covering in southern 
parts of the country in dry, well-sheltered spots, by covering with leaves or litter 
late in the season. 
MELON, Musk. 
German, Melone.— -French. Melon . — Spanish, Melon. 
1 oz. for GO hills; 2 to 8 Ills, in hills for an acre. 
Melons thrive best in a moderately enriched light soil; the hills should he 
from three to six feet apart each way, according to the richness of the soil If 
soil Is poor or sandy, plant at. four feet. Previous to planting, incorporate well 
with the soil in each hill a couple of sliovelsful of thoroughly-rotted manure; 
plant eight or ten seeds in each hill early in May. for latitude of New York 
for South earlier, for further North later, and when well up thin out to three or 
four of the most promising. 
MELON, Water. 
German, Wasser-Melone.— French, Melon tl'Eau.— Spanish, Sandia. 
1 oz. for 30 hills; 4 to 5 lbs. in hills for an acre. 
Water Melons require a rich though rather sandy soil for best development 
and thrive best in warm latitudes, growing best in the Southern or South¬ 
western States, although in warm, sandy soils in this latitude fine crops are 
often obtained from Northern-grown seed. Cultivate exactly us for Musk Melons 
except that the hills should be eight and ten feet apart. 
OKRA, or Gumbo. 
German, Essbarer.— French, Gombo.— Spanish, Quibombo. 
It is of the easiest culture, and grows freely, bearing abundantly In any 
garden soil. It is sown at the usual time of all tender vegetables, in this section 
middle of May. In drills two Inches deep, thinning the plants from two to three 
feet apart in row. 
ONION. 
German, Zwtebel— French, Oignon.— Spanish, Cebolla. 
1 oz. for 100 feet of drill ; 6 or G lbs. in drills for an acre. 
The Onion thrives best in a rather deep, rich, loamy soil. The best culture 
requires that the ground should is* deeply treached nr ploughed nnd manured tin* 
previous autumn, and laid up in ridges during the winter to pulverize. As earlv 
in the spring ns the ground is In working order, commence operations hv level¬ 
ing the ground with a harrow or rake, and roll or tread it firmlv ; sow thinly in 
drills about a quarter of an inch deep and one foot apart; cover with fine soil 
and press down with the back of a spade,or a light roller,or with the foot along 
each row. When the young plants are strong enough, thin gradually so that 
they stand three or four inches apart. Keep the surface of the ground open 
and free from weeds by frequent hoeing, takingcare not to stir the soil too deeply 
or to collect It about the growing bulbs. 
PARSLEY. 
German, Petersilie.— French, Perall— Spanish, Peregil. 
1 oz. for 150 feet of drill. 
Parsley succeeds best in a rich, mellow soil. As the seed germinates very 
slowly, three or four weeks elapsing sometimes before it makes its appearance it 
should be sown early in spring, great care being taken that the drills be not 
inore than an inch in depth and that tin* Heed 1 m* well pressed down after sowing. 
Sow thickly in rows a foot apart and half an inch deep. For winter uhc, protect 
in a frame or light cellar, or a few plant* may be placed in pot* or boxes and 
kept in the house for convenient u*e in winter. 
PARSNIP. 
German, Panina Are.— French, P&nais.— Spanish, Pastinaca. 
1 oz. for 200 feet of drill; r» to 0 lb*, in drill* for an acre. 
Sow a* early in spring as the weather will admit, in drills eighteen Inches 
apart, covering half an inch deep. When well up, thin out to five or six inches 
apart in the rows. I nlike Carrots, they art* improved by frost, and it is usual to 
take up in fall a certain quantity for winter use, and store as directed for Turnips, 
leaving the rest in the ground until spring, to be dug up as required. 
PEAS. 
German, Erbse — French, Pois.— Spanish. Guizante. 
1 qt for 75 feet of drill ; 2 to 3 bushel* in drills for an acre. 
Peas come earlier to maturity in light, rich soil. For general crop, a deep 
loam, or a soil strongly inclining to clay, is best. For early cr< jps, decomposed 
leaves or leaf-mold, if convenient, may be used, or, if the soil is very poor, 
well-rotted manure should be used. For general crop, a good dressing should 
be applied, and for the dwarf-growing kinds the soil can hardly be too rich. 
When grown as a market crop. Peas are sown in single rows, two or three 
inches deep and from two to three feet apart, according to height of variety or 
the strength of the soil. When grown in small quantities for private use they 
are generally sown in double rows.six or eight inches apart.and the tall varieties 
staked up by brush or our Pea Trellis. For an early crop, sow in February, 
March or April, according to latitude, as soon as the ground can be worked, 
and make repeated sowings every two weeks for succession. After the first of 
June sowing should be discontinued until August, when a good crop may some¬ 
times be secured by sowing an extra early sort for fall use. 
PEPPER. 
German, Pfeffer. — French. Piment. — Spanish, Pimiento. 
Requires exactly the same treatment as directed for Kgg plant. 
For Exhibition. —Ruby King, Sweet Spanish and County Fair are the most 
desirable and attractive varieties. The plants should stand two and one-half to 
three feet apart to admit abundance of sunlight. Plenty of manure or fertilizer 
should be worked into the soil around the roots, and frequent applications of 
liquid manure should be given. 
PUMPKIN. 
German, Kurbis.— French, Co urge.—Spanish, Cal a baza. 
1 oz. for 30 to 50 hills. 
Pumpkins are now principally cultivated for agricultural purposes. They 
are usually planted in fields of corn or potatoes, but may be profitably raised in 
fields by themselves. Sow first of May in this latitude, in hills eight feet apart. 
RADISH. 
German, Rettig , Radiesehen. — French, Radis, Rave, Petit Rave .— 
Spanish, Rabano. 
1 oz. for 100 feet of drill; 0 to 10 lbs. in drills for an acre. 
Radishes thrive best in a liwht, sandy loam. Heavy or clayey soils not onlv 
delay their maturity, but produce crops much Inferior, both in appearance and 
flavor. For a continuous supply,sow from the middleof March until September, 
at intervals of two or three weeks. For an early supply they may be sown in a 
hot bed in February, care being taken to give plenty of ventilation, otherwise 
they will run to leaves. If plaster is incorporated with the soil in the row at 
time of sowing the seed, the Radishes will always turn out brighter in color, 
crisper, and of better quality. 
RHUBARB. 
German, Rhabarber.— French, Rhubarhe.— Spanish, Rnibarbo Rastardo 
Sow in April, in drills a foot apart, thinning out to about the same distance 
apart in rows when a few inches high. The following spring transplant Into 
deep, rich soil, about three feet apart each way. If propagated by dividing the 
roots, it may be done either in fall or spring, planting it at the same distance 
apart as given above. The soil cannot be too rich. 
SALSIFY, or Oyster Plant. 
German, Bocksbart.— French , SalaWs. —Spanish, Ustra Vegetal. 
1 oz. to 75 feet of drill. 
The Oyster Plant succeeds best in light, well-enriched mellow soil, which, 
previous to sowing the seeds, should he stirred to a depth of eighteen inches. 
Sow early in spring,in drills eighteen inches apart; cover the seeds with fine soli 
an inch and a half In depth, and when the plants are strong enough, thin out 
to six inches apart. . 
SPINACH. 
German, Splant. — French, Eplnnril . — Spanish. Eapinaca. 
1 oz. for 100 feet of drill ; 10 to 12 lbs. In drills for an acre. 
Sow thinly in rows about twelve or iifteen Inches apart. The main crop is 
sown in September. It is sometimes covered up In exposed places with straw or 
salt hay during winter, which prevents it from being cut with the frost, but in 
sheltered Helds there Is no necessity for covering. For summer use it may be 
sown at Intervals of two or three weeks, from April to August. Spinach is best 
developed and most tender and succulent when grown In rich soil. 
SQUASH. 
German, Knrhiss. — French, Courge. — Spanish, Calabasa Tonitanera. 
1 oz. for 50 hills: 3 to 4 lbs. in hills for an acre. 
It is useless to sow until the weather has become settled and warm. Light, 
rich soils are beat suited to their growth, and It is most economical of manure 
to prepare hills for the seeds in the ordinary manner by incorporating two or 
three sliovelsful of well-rotted manure with the soil for each hill, as Is done for 
Melons. For bush varieties, from three to four feet each way, and for the run¬ 
ning sorts,from eight to ten feet F.iglit or ten seeds should lie sdwu ineacli hill 
thinning out after they have attained their third and fourth leaves, leaving 
three or four of the strongest plants. 
TOMATO. 
German, Liebesnpfel. — French, I'omnte. — Spanish, Tom ate. 
1 oz. for 1,500 plants; Vi lb. to transplant for an acre. 
The seed should be sown early in March in a hot bed, greenhouse, or Inside 
the window or sitting-room, where a night temperature of not less than sixty 
degrees Is kept, in drills five inches apart and half an inch deep. When theplants 
are about two inches high they should be set out three Inches apart In boxes 
three inches deep, or potted into three-inch pots, allowing a single plant to a 
pot. They are sometimes shifted a second time Into larger pots, by which 
process the plants are rendered more sturdy and branching. About the middle 
of May, in this latitude, the plants may be set In the open ground. They are 
planted for early crops on light, sandy soil, at a distance of three feet apart. In 
hills in which a good shovelful of rotted manure has been mixed. On heavy 
soils which are not suited for nil early crop, they should be planted four feet 
apart. Water freely at the time of transplanting, and shelter from the sun a few 
days until the plants are established. Tomatoes will always produce greater 
crops and be of better flavor when staked up, or when trained ugulnst walls or 
fences. 
TURNIP. 
German, Steekrube.— French. Naret.— Spanish, Xu ho Cornan. 
1 oz. to 1 50 feet of drill; 1 to 2 lbs. per acre In drills. 
Turnips do best in highly enriched, light, sandy or gravelly soil ; commence 
sowing the earliest varieties in April In drills, from twelve to fifteen inches 
apart, nnd thin out early to six ornlnelnches In the rows. For a succession,sow 
at intervals of a fortnight until the last week in May for early crop, and from 
August to September for lute. August sowings may be made for the fall and 
main crops. Turnips may be preserved until spring by cutting off the tops 
about one inch from the bulb nnd storing in a cellar or cool shed during winter, 
covering the roots with dry sand; they should lie harvested before severe frosts 
set In, for, though comparatively hardy, few of the varieties will survive the 
winters of the Northern States In the open ground. 
