Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-29
From The Ohio Farmer.
A Word About GARDENING,

seeas SLouio DC IN tbs gtound. Man,
require TO be planted early. in this la,i
rude. sha, the plants may be ma,uret
of.Es they are exposed to early frost.
A frst and an important considers
don in the formation ef q kiIehcd garIsn
TnE SITUATION.
1t is perhaps better, all things consid
srel. thnt il should have gentle ineli
nation toward the sou:h.cast;yet north
srn aspect is for some purposes. perhap.
pre- erable.-Some vegetables. such u.
caulia0wer, peas. spinach. &C., yield
more abundonlly when no, exposed ,e
the direct action Of the sun.
A moderate elevation is preferable to
either hill or valley. Convenience o.
access should also be duly considered.
Bu. the most important, matter, in select.
Ing a location, is as TO
Soil.
This should be rich sandy loan,
depth Of two or three flet is desirable
lf this csnno, be obtained, and a stiff
clay or gravel soil is selected. see 10 il
'ts; it is corrected by judicious u!mix
lure Of fine loan.
4 sandy soil is improved by The ad
di'ion Of lime. plaster, ashes and vege,.
.b.e manure; while stiff clay soil dc
mands such vegetable and animal ma.
!nures. Lime ami plaster also operate ia
'orably, and charcoal is esteemed BY
many q: very fine fertilizer. 1t has the
power Of absorbing various gasses from
The atmosphere and readily yields them
10 growing plants. Blu, remember tho
manure Of some kind is essential to the
garden; with it the gardiner can do eve.
ry thing; without i, nothing.
Drrrm AND MELLowSEss OF THE SOIL.
This must be secured; i, is the secret,
ofsll successful gardening. The roots
OF garden plants extend themselves to q
great depth in the soil in search Of nour.
ishment. Their delicate hbrils have baen
traced to the depth OF several feet.
Downing remarks. IL have seen the
roots Of strawberries extend FIVE fee.
down in rich deep soil, anl these plants
bore crop Of frui; five :imes as large,
and twice as had some and good as the
common product Of soil one foot Deep"
A deep loan has other advantages, 1t
not only permits the escape Of water af.
ter heavy rains. but by its capillary at.
traction absorbs and therefore furnishes
4 supply Of moisture during protract.
al drought. in fact the only soil sui,a.
Bile for garden is deep mellow loan.
A cold clay soil, or a rich loan OF few
inches in depth resting upon clay sub.
stratum, is not worth the trouble and
expense OF cultivation.
Water.
In Tho selection OF si.s for garden
it is we'll to have reference 10 wa,cr.-
An abundan, supply Of water is abso.
1utely necessary. Loudon remarks. that,
many kitchen crops are lost, or produce
very inferior quality. for wan, Of wat.
ering.
Let,uces and csbbages are often hard
and s'ringy, turniPs an radishes do no,
swell; onions decay; cauilowers die off,
and, in dry seasons become s,intel or
covered with insects, even in rich deep
soils. Copious waterings in the even.
ings during the dry seasons, would pro.
duce that lulncss and succulency which
We find in the vegetables produced in
the low countries, and in the Marsh
Gardens at Paris, and in England at the
beginning and latter end Of the season."
SELECTION OF SEEDS.
After you have gone to the expense
and trouble oe laying Gut and preparing
you. garden, be careful in the selection
Of the choices. seeds. Many Of the
secls offered for sale are worthless, they
nye either Of an inferior variety OF have
lost their vitality. This is exceedingly
yexatious TO the gardener. and we know
ofno way Of avoiding it bu, by know.
ing from whom you procure your seeds.
Possibly an en,.rprising neighbor, or
Iesuar scotsman, mey be able to sup.
ply you. If not, you are liable to be
deceived.
GAaDEx TooLs.
We need scarcely remind the reader
that tho gardener should be we'll proyi.
4!ed with the implements Of his art. or
these, the spade, the hoe, aud rake are
indispensable. Others will be found
valuable assistants, AMI in their seiec.
zion much discrimination should be cx.
.crcisei. Aud see to it that they are
kept in a conspicuous position, and al
The same time kept bri.ht and clean.-