unpropitious seasons, from unfitness of the soil to promote vegetation, 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

vorable seasons. Some plants are retarded by cold, others by excess of dry weather; and at such times, seed may fail to vegetate for want of pressure. In the event of drought after heavy rains, seed and young plants often perish through incrustation of the soil, and from other untoward circumstances, which can neither be controlled nor accounted for, even by the most assiduous and precise gardener. It must, however, be conceded, that failures often occur through seed being deposited too deep in the ground, or left too near the surface. Sometimes, for want of sufficiency of seed in a given spot, solitary plants will perish, they not having sufficient strength to open the pores of the earth; and frequently injudicious management in manuring and preparing the soil will cause a failure.

I have been induced to expatiate, and to designate, in the seventh range of the preceding table, such plants as are generally cultivated first in seed-beds and afterwards transplanted for the purpose of being accommodated with space to mature in, with a view to answer at once the thousand and one questions asked by inexperienced cultivators.

QUANTITY OF SEED.

Some persons, from ignorance of the nature and object of raising plants for transplanting, ask for pounds of seed, when an ounce is amply sufficient for their purpose. For example, an ounce of Celery-seed will produce ten thousand plants. An ounce of Cabbage-seed will produce from three to four thousand; sufficient, when transplanted, to cover nearly half an acre of land-which land, if sown with spinach, for instance, would require from four to six pounds of seed.

TIME TO COMMENCE GARDENING.

The following directions for the management of a garden are founded on the results of practical experience in the vicinity of NEW YORK CITY, where the soil is generally susceptible of gardening operations towards the end of March. These direc

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

with decayed tanner's bark, leaf-mould, or any similar mould; on this pack the roots as thickly as possible, and fill up the boxes with the bark, etc. Any place in a forcing-house will suit them where they can enjoy the necessary degree of heat. Besides Asparagus and Mushrooms, Sea-Kale, Buda-Kale, Angelica, small salad, and various potherbs may be raised in the same manner."

Those who have not the conveniences recommended in a

greenhouse, may place the boxes in a hotbed. The glasses being laid on, and the beds covered at night, will soon promote the growth of the plants, and produce vegetable luxuries at a season when garden products in general are comparatively scarce.

It is unnecessary to show of how much value such processes may be in minor establishments, or in a new country. I wish it to be understood, that in order to the successful cultivation of some of the rare vegetables I have treated of, great pains must be taken in every stage of their growth. If the advice I have given be attended to, I flatter myself we shall soon obtain a supply of many of these luxuries of the garden. My directions are founded on the success attending the practice of some of the best gardeners in this country. I have also had sufficient experience to warrant me in this attempt to contribute my mite towards the attainment of this kind of useful knowledge.

HOTBEDS.

For the purpose of raising Mustard, Cress, and other saladherbs, also Egg-plants, Tomato-plants, etc., in small quantities, a hotbed may be made early in the spring, of good heating materials, on the top of which may be laid leaf-mould, old tan, or light compost, to the depth of about nine inches. The various kinds of seed may be sown in boxes or flower-pots, and plunged in the top mould up to their rims, and by being well attended to, a supply of small salads, as well as small seedling-plants, may be raised without much labor or difficulty. This method is also well calculated for raising annual flowerplants at an early season.

ADAPTING PLANTS TO SOILS.

The various species of plants which occupy our greenhouses, gardens, and fields, require each their peculiar aliment-they having been collected from all the diversified regions, climates, and soils through earth's remotest bounds; they consequently comprise natives of mountains and rocks, as well as of plains, valleys, and watercourses. The most essential aliment for natives of warm climates and dry soils being HEAT, artificial means are used in cool seasons and unpropitious climates to produce it. Natives of temperate climates require salubrious air, hence they are cultivated to the greatest perfection in our Northern States in spring and autumn; and in our Southern States in the winter; and natives of humid climates, as also amphibious plants in general, require a more than ordinary share of MOISTURE, and grow best in wet soil; but these THREE ELEMENTS collectively constitute the food of plants in general, and should be judiciously imparted to the various species, in due proportions, according to circumstances. I have also shown that the roots of various species of plants require each their peculiar aliment, which is not to be found in all descriptions of land. This is demonstrated by roots of trees being frequently discovered spreading beyond their ordinary bounds in quest of salutary food.

DEEP PLANTING.

Although it has been admitted that excessive deep planting of trees and plants is injurious, and in many cases fatal to their very existence, it does not follow that all annuals and biennials are injured by the same means. On the contrary, the earthing up of particular species of plants in a late stage of growth is calculated to promote early maturity, which constitutes the most essential art in gardening for the market; because the earliest crops are always the most profitable. It is moreover a necessary practice in climates where the seasons for gardening are short-as without such practice, many kinds of vegetables