The New-York Gardener, Or, Twelve Letters from a Farmer to His Son; In Which He Describes the Method of Laying Out and Managing the Kitchen-Garden (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824. Excerpt: ... MAY. Having your ground dug, and your roots in readiness, strain a line ten inches from the alley, and with a spade throw out an opening or drill, six inches deep along the line; here place the onions upon their bottoms, about eight or ten inches apart; then with a rake draw the earth into the furrow, so as to cover the bulbs two or three inches; then remove the line fourteen inches further back, and plant another row as before, and so proceed until all are planted. By planting the seed onions thus deep in the furrow, you will afterwards be able to support the stalks by drawing the earth about them, and the wind will neither loosen or throw them down. LETTUCE. This in some families is distinguished by the name of Sallad; and it is truly a valuable one. Let it be your ambition to have it early, and 6f a fine quality. There are many varieties of this plant. Take care to be provided with a good kind of seed; such as will form a large head, and will not run to seed before they attain full growth. The place selected for a lettuce bed should be defended from the northwest winds. Make the ground rich with well rotted manure, intimately incorporated therewith. Let the surface be raked fine, and lie a little sloping G, south. Sow the seed sparingly, broad.. or in rows, as you may choose; then lightly, with the fine rake, cover the seed. Here you may also sprinkle a little cabbage seed, and perhaps draw a number of fine plants, without injur)' to the lettuce. When the lettuce comes up, take care that it does not stand too thick. While small it should be pulled out, before the plants crowd and oppress each other. These may be transplanted into good ground, at the distance often inches apart, and before they grow large, every other one should be drawn for the use of ...