the a 
IVEEBICAN 
GARD^^- 
62 
BAITDELIOIf 
of this vegetf'® 1 although the 
Making is already veij large, 
amount gi'own an 
the supply IS 
SEASOSABLE HIETS. 
With the professional 
tion of actual profit is of first 
aU his investments; in tbe home gaidea 
however, there are many consideiations. 
taken into account beyond andabove amoney 
return. “ I can buy my vegetables oheape 
than I can raise them.” is a rermirk some¬ 
times made by those not inclined to give the 
necessary care to their gardens, and no 
doubt, in many cases, past experiences jus¬ 
tify the assertion. 
CtiUimUng too much ground is one of t 
most frequent causes of unsatisfactory anc 
unprofitable gardening and farming, and the 
beginner especially cannot be warned too 
strongly against undertaking more than ho 
is sure to be able to take care of in the best 
possible manner. A small piece of ground 
thoroughly prepared, liberally enriched, and 
carefully cultivated, will often produce many 
times more than an area ten times as large, 
but tilled indifferently. 
The QuaUtii of VegetaWes depends largely 
upon the fertility and conditions of the soil, 
and the attention given to the gi-owing 
plants. Choice of varieties aud excellence 
of seeds cannot counterbalance lack of fer¬ 
tility and cultivation. 
Fertilizers. —Well-decomposed stable ma¬ 
nure should always form the main reliance 
in the garden; it should be plowed imder 
lightly and well mixed with the soil. Nev¬ 
ertheless, concentrated or chemical fertil¬ 
izers may frequently be used to great 
advantage, either alone or in connection 
with animal manures. In our own experi¬ 
ence, we have invariably derived most benefit 
from the latter method. Concentrated fer¬ 
tilizers should always be applied broadcast, 
harrowed in, and given in successive doses, 
so as to keep up a steady supply of plant 
food throughout the gi’owing season. 
Peas are among the earliest crops in¬ 
trusted to the sod. In planting early Peas it 
should be borne in mind that the wrinkled 
sorts, although best in quality, are more 
tender than the round ones. For first plant¬ 
ings in cold, tenacious soils, the latter are 
therefore to be preferred. In warm, dry 
soils, however, there is little danger of rot¬ 
ting with the wrinkled kinds,— the American 
Wonder especially, which is the hardiest of 
this class,—provided the seed is not covered 
too deep. With all the earliest planted 
Peas it IS advisable not to cover deeper than 
three inches; it is little trouble to make np, 
this deficiency by hilling up after the vines 
appear above ground. 
To insure a succession, early, medium and 
late varieties should bo planted at the same 
time, repeating the sowings every two weeks 
until August. 
Hot-beds made last month need frequent 
attention as the sun becomes more piowcr- 
ful. The sashes should bo lifted as soon as 
the sun strikes them, and an hour afterw 
be removed altogether, 
the soil becomes dry, and then water 
thoroughly, so as to soak the entire mass of 
soil. In the afternoon, half an hour before 
the sun leaves the bed, replace the sashes 
.and when cold nights threaten, protect with 
matting, carpets or boards. 
not equal to 
salad, and as s 
such it 
used prmeipally as a sa-q 
occupies a place of its - 
in taste from anything cultiva- 
The main P<»“t i“^ early in the 
tion is to have demand, it is 
' 6 . 
season. To meet using 
grown on benches m pp to a market- 
able state as ea y 
Iitdooljown plants and other greens be- 
IMPROVED DANDELION. 
(Onc-fifllt nahirul size.) 
come marketable, there is a steady demand 
for forced Dandelion. 
The seed of the Broad-leaved, or Improved 
Dandelion, which is the variety principally 
grown, is planted in rich soil, in rows one 
foot apart, as early in the spring as the 
ground will permit. The plants, as soon as 
large enough, are hoed aud tended — not 
thinned—and kept free of weeds all the 
season. About the first of September the 
tops are hoed off lightly, after which the 
roots throw up a few gi-eeii leaves, sufficient 
to mark the rows. Just before the ground 
freezes the roots are plowed out, taken up, 
and brought to a pit, or “ninter house,” 
where they are stored by setting them thickly 
in the ground as they grow in the field. The 
When ready for use, the plants 
T 3 ud, with leaves six or seven inches l"* 
They are prepared for market by puliJ'**'' 
the roots, cutting them off, and pickin 
all dead leaves; tying them in hua^v”® 
weighing eight ounces; and, finally, wash' 
them. By this plan they are handled va 
out loss or shrinkage. '‘®- 
The usual price is one dollar per ^ 
bunches; and, as I have never been able t** 
raise enough, I am contemplating the build 
ing of a separate house for raising DandeV 
on a larger scale. A space 3x6 feet willyj”"* 
one dollar and a half every month for fo^ 
months, varying somewhat according to tb' 
size of the roots, for the larger these are th'^ 
heavier will be the tops. The same roots 
cannot be used a second time; a new stock 
has therefore to bo raised from seed every 
year. W. H. Bull. 
MAKING A NEW GABDEN. 
On farms where the land required for a 
garden spot is generally of comparatively 
little value, better and more satisfactory 
results would frequently be obtained by pre. 
paring a new plot. In this case, the proper 
working aud mixing of sufficient quantities 
of fertilizers with the soil is of the greatest 
importance. 
Well-rotted stable manure, free from grass 
and weed seeds, is best. The amount of 
benefit derived from fresh manure applied 
to a new garden cannot be very great during 
the first season. This should have been 
spread in the fall to obtain best results, but if 
not, the sooner it is done in spring the better. 
As soon as the ground is dry enough it 
should be well harrowed, and the manure 
plowed under. Another di-essing of manure 
should be given then, and again plowed 
under. This is far better and more effective 
than to apply the entire quantity of manure 
at one time. 
If you have a supply of poidtry droppings, 
this should be worked in where Peppers, 
Onions, or Cabbages arc planted, as it is 
difficult to get the soil too rich for'these 
plants. Ashes are especially valuable for 
Onions and Salsify. 
Rotten chips or sawdust are good for 
Lettuce and Radishes, aud if a top-dressing 
is given where these are to be sown, a de¬ 
cided improvement in the crop will follow. 
Night soil can be utilized to good .advan¬ 
tage by applying it between the rows a" 
hoeing in. 
broad leaved dandelion. 
(Ohc-llflk natural size.) 
temperature here 
»''ovo 00°, and 
sometimes the ground freezes around 
roots; there is sufficient light to 
tops a little. 
the 
green the 
From here they are transforrod In n 
Water only when Attcri!lmffim!''i^'^the'i^^^^ 
I obtained good cuttings of Asparagus 
the 
After planting 00 , 1 ,,),^ ,. 
rapidly, and are readv In 
weeks from the setting Tho'“.I"f, 1 "' 'r'"' 
rows five inches imnvi 1 l’''n’ed m 
mi.xed with plenty of fine Im..;. 
a liberal dressing of wood asl " 
t. 01 wood ashes m addition. 
HI 
ii 
- ---* >4/18 
second year from seed, by giviug the oe 
dressing of unleaehed ashes, working i" 
well; then a good application of sta « 
manure very early iu the spring, well wor 
in, and a liberal quantity of nigM 
worked iu the ground between the 
using cither pioiiltry manure or "’S'**’* 
tlioy should ho worked iu around the le 
of growing plants, or be applied and , 
well into the soil before ■ sowing * ,],i 
Tlioy are very strong fertilizers, and j 
not bo allo.wod to como iu direct con 
with seeds or plants. . j|,c 
It is, of course, not ns easy to obtain 
viny best rosults from entirely now g* 
as from laud that lias had more ^ii 
cultivation ; but by availing oneself 
those moans, which may bo had .o» 
farms, satisfactory crops may bo raise 
the first year. 
N. J. 
