tance apart. It therefore follows, that if one hundred loads be allowed to the acre, each load must be divided into three heaps. If seventy-five loads only be allowed, every load must be divided into four heaps, and so on in proportion to the quantity allowed. But if the gardener should choose to drop his heaps five paces, or fifteen feet apart, he may make such distribution of his loads as to have one hundred and ninetythree heaps on the acre of land; in which case, by dividing each load into four heaps, he will require only forty-eight loads to cover the acre, and he may decrease the quantity still more, by allowing greater distances from heap to heap, or by dividing his loads into smaller proportions, so as to accommodate himself to whatever quantity of manure he may allot to any given quantity of ground.

THE VITALITY OF SEEDS.

As it may not be generally known that some kinds of seed are apt to lose their vegetative qualities much sooner than others, the following hints are subjoined as some rule for the gardener's government, provided the seed is carefully preserved, and not exposed to excess of heat, air, or dampness :

Parsnip, Rhubarb, and other light, scale-like seeds, cannot be safely trusted after they are a year old. Beans and Peas of different species, Capsicum, Carrot, Cress, Leek, Nasturtium, Okra, Onion, Salsify, Scorzonera, and small herb-seed in general, may be kept two years. Artichoke, Asparagus, Eggplant, Endive, Fetticus, Lettuce, Mustard, Parsley, Skirret, and Spinach-seed, may with care be preserved three years. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Kale, Radish, and Turnipseed will keep four years, if properly attended to. Beet, Cucumber, Gourd, Melon, Pumpkin, and Squash; also Burnet, Chervil, and Sorrel-seed, have been known to grow freely when five, and even seven years old; but it is not prudent to venture seed in the garden, or any other place, when there are any apprehensions that any portion of it has lost its vitality by age, or in any other way.

In order to put such on their guard as may attempt to raise seed either for their own use or for the market, I would observe that great care is necessary; as it is an indubitable fact, that if seed of similar species be raised near each other, degeneracy will be the consequence. It is therefore difficult for any one man to raise all sorts of seed, good and true to their kind, in any one garden.

If roots of any kind become defective, they are unfit for seed, as the annexed fact will show. I once planted for seed some beautiful orange-colored roots of Carrots; but as they had been previously grown with some of a lemon-color, they produced seed of a mixed and spurious variety; and as this is not a solitary instance of degeneracy from the like cause, I have come to the conclusion that, as in the animal frame, so it is in the vegetable system-disorders frequently lie dormant from one generation to another, and at length break out with all their vigor. I would therefore advise seed-growers not to attempt to "bring a clean thing out of an unclean;" but if they find a mixture of varieties among their seed-roots, to reject the whole, or they will infallibly have spurious seed.

SEEDS OF STONE FRUIT.

If the seeds of the Apple, Pear, and Quince, and the pits of the Apricot, Cherry, Peach, and Plum, were not planted in autumn, let it be done as soon as the earth can be brought into tillable condition in the spring, because exposure to frost is usually essential to their vegetating, unless the shells are separated by some means, so that moisture can reach the germs. The chief object of exposing pits to frost is, simply to open the shell.

CAUSES OF FAILURE IN THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS.

As some gardeners attribute all failures of seed to germinate to its defectiveness, I shall offer a few observations to convince such persons of their error.

Seeds denominated hardy and half-hardy, are subject to risk in

unpropitious seasons, from unfitness of the soil to promote vege tation, rendered so by cold rains and variable weather. If sprouted seed survive a severe chill, it is the more susceptible of frost, to which it is frequently subjected early in the season. Some species of plants that, in an advanced stage of growth, will stand a hard winter, are often cut off by a slight frost while germinating, especially if exposed to the heat of the sun after a frosty night, or while in a frozen state. Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Turnip, and many other growing plants, which survive the ordinary winters of England, are here classified as halfhardy, for the reasons above stated.

The most tender species of plants frequently perish from excess of rain. Lima Beans, for instance, have often to be replanted three or four times in the month of May before any will stand. Melons, Cucumbers, Egg-plants, Tomato plants, etc., are sometimes cut off by variableness of the weather. Those who plant tender things in open gardens early in the season, must reconcile themselves to loss in the event of unfavorable weather, instead of throwing blame on the seeds

man.

Such species and varieties as, from their nature, are apt to vegetate quickly, are very liable to be devoured by insects. before they make any show on the surface. Turnip-seed, for instance, will sprout within forty-eight hours after being sown; and under favorable circumstances, most of the species of this class will come up within a week; but if insects attack the seed-beds in dry weather, a total loss of crops will be the consequence. Every experienced farmer is convinced of this fact, by having frequently to sow his Turnip-ground three or four times before he can get any to stand.

Sometimes a sudden shower of rain will cause plants to grow out of the reach of insects; but every good gardener should have his remedies at hand to apply to seed-beds in general, and especially to those in which plants are raised for the purpose of being transplanted. The seeds of some plants require from two to three or four weeks to vegetate in unfa

22

In order to put such on their guard as may attempt to raise for their own use or for the market, I would

necessary; as it is an indubitable fact, near each other, dege

Tfficult for

QUANTITY OF AND

Nome persona, from ignorance of the nature and obiect of raising plants for transplanting, nak for pounds of seed, when an ounce is amply sufficient for their purpose. For examplo, an ounce of Celery seed will produce ten thousand plants, An ounce of Cabbage seed will produce from three to four thou sand; sufficient, when transplanted, to cover nearly half an aero of land-which land, if sown with spinach, for instance, would equire from four to six pounds of seed.

The following directions for the management of a garden 1 results of practical experience in the

TIME TO COMMENCE GARDENING.

foun

, where the soil is

toward

tions may, however, be applied to all other parts of the UNITED STATES, by a minute observance of the difference in temperature. In the extreme northern parts of the State of New York, as well as in all other places similarly situated, the directions for the beginning of April will apply to the latter part of the same month, with very few exceptions. In our SOUTHERN STATES, the directions for APRIL, which may be considered as the first gardening month in the EASTERN, WESTERN, and MIDDLE STATES, will apply to January, February, or to whatever season gardening operations may commence in the respective States. In the varied climates of each particular State, if the same rule of application be pursued, success is certain.

FORCING VARIOUS KINDS OF VEGETABLES.

The following simple method of forcing vegetables on a small scale is recommended by a correspondent of a London magazine. The writer says:

“I obtain mushrooms in winter by a very simple process. Provide boxes three feet long, and one foot eight inches deep; a quantity of horse-droppings, perfectly dry, some spawn, and some light dry soil. Fill the boxes by layers of droppings, spawn, and soil, which must be well trodden down. Repeat these triple layers till the boxes are full, and all trodden firmly together. Four such boxes at work are sufficient for a moderate demand; and out of a dozen, four brought in at a time, and placed upon a flue of a greenhouse stove, will produce a fine supply. The surface of these portable beds may be covered with a little hay, and occasionally, though sparingly, watered. It is not absolutely necessary that they be set on the flue of a greenhouse; a warm stable, cellar, or any other similar place, will suit equally well. This plan is also convenient for affording a plentiful stock of superior spawn.

"The same-sized boxes will also do for Asparagus; but for this purpose a sufficient stock of three-year-old plants must be at hand; also eighteen boxes, four of which are the necessary set to be forced at one time for one family. Half fill the boxes