American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-04-18
ia N nB
9arm -, -, Garden.
KITCHEN GARDEN.

t1e uliIefenCeS IN lOCailtltS are moTe
manifest than they are few weeks
later. 1t is impossible to give direc-
tions which will not require some
discrimination on the part of the
reader. AS a general thing, many
seeds are planted too early; for all
but the very hardy plants it is bet
ter to wait until the ground is well
warmed. Shelter is of great i'm
portance to the garden, and close
fence or thick belt of evergreens,
to ward off the prevailing winds, will
bring things forward much earlier
than when the winds have full sweep.
1t may be that there are some who
have not yet mtde their selection of
seeds; they should do SO without de-
lay.
Asparagits.-Remove the coarser
portions of the litter with which the
beds were covered, and then go care
fully over the bed with fork and
turn up the surface, taking care to
work gently around the plants and
not iniure either buds or roots. New
beds may be made if roots can be
procured. The soil should be mod
erately light and very rich, and there
must be such natural or artificial
drainage, as will ensure dry subsoil.
In family gardens it is best to plant
in beds, five feet wide, with alleys
between them. as this allows Ct
cutting the crop without trampling
the beds. The beds are prepared by
spading Is inches or 2 feet deep,
working in great abundance of ma
nure. The best way is to trench the
bed thoroughly, working the manure
in the bottom of each trench. Set
three rows of roots in the bed, one
row in the center, and the others one
foot from the edge, putting the plants
foot apart in the rows. The plants
should have their roots well spread
and their crowns three or four inches
be ow the surface. Keep the bed
free of weeds. IF plants are to be
raised from seed, SOW them in drills
a foot apart, in rich soil. An ounce
of seed will produce about a thous-
and plants. When well up thin to
three inches. Salt is considered
beneficial to asparagues, and a dres-
sing is frequently applied in the
spring. 1t is certainly useful in de-
stroying weeds and worms, but wheth-
er directly beneficial to the Aspara-
gus, is point on which experiments
differ, the majority favor it.
Artjchoke.-The true artichoke is
but little known in this country; and
is not much esteemed except by a
few. 1t is plant with large thistle
like heads, which are the eatsble por-
ton. The seed is sown this month
in drills, foot apart. Where there
are old plants, suckers may be taken
this month.
Beans.--It is too soon in most
places for any but the English or
Broad Beans, which are not much
fancied by Americans. These can
be planted in strong clayey soil, as
soon as the frost is out, in drills 2
feet apart. limas may be sown on
inverted sods in the hot-bed.
Beets.-Sow the early sorts in
rich, light and finely worked soil, in
rows Is inches apart. Soak the
seed in warm water for "a hours,
turn the water off and keep the dish
covered in warm place until the
sprouts show themselves, then roll
the seed in plaster and SOW. An
ounce of seed will be enough for
about hundred feet of drill.
BroccoH.-A plant much like
cauliilower, but quite inferior to it.
Treat the same as cabbage.
Cab5ages Plants, wintered in
cold frames, may be put if not already
done. Those started early in hot
beds, are to be transplanted when
largo enough and the weather is suit
able. The plants should be- previ-
fusly hardened by free exposure to
the air. Sow seed in the open bor-
der in drills, about four inches apart,
An ounce of seed will be enough for
40 square feet of bed. The young
plants, whether ander glass, or out
of doors, are aptto be injured by the
Cabbage flea. We have used ashes,
freely sprinklel over the plants, with
success. Others recommend Scotch
snuff, SCOT, and lime. Cabbages need
very rich soil and thorough culti-
vation. One of our best cultivators
informs us that the free use of lin?
will prevent club-foot, and that, by
using it, he grows cabbages on the
same land, year after year indef-
niuely.
Cucltmbers.-Sow in cold frames,
which are to be carefully closed at
night and aired during the day. Keep
the plants from being burned by the
sun when the sashes are on. Some
weeks may be gained with cucumbers
by starting the seeds on bits of in
verted sod. These may be placed in
n frame under rlass. or set in hoy