All vacant ground should be turned over, and left in a rough state that it may be pulverized by frosts. Strong loamy soils cannot be profitably cultivated unless advantage is taken of the meliorating and gratuitous fertilising properties of the atmosphere. A small portion of the subsoil may be annually brought to the surface, in order to liberate and render available any inorganic substances in its composition. Soils of a ferruginous character, especially, require such treatment, and it is of much importance to turn them over occasionally, in order to expose new surfaces and bring the hitherto excluded earths to the action of the atmosphere. Frost is a valuable auxiliary in this matter. In freezing the water expands and the earthy particles are separated, and during the thawing process a gradual crumbling and granulation take place, producing a friability not readily attained by any other means.

There are few soils actually deficient in inorganic materials, were they duly exposed to the air, so that their latent principles of fertility would be rendered active and available for the uses of vegetation.

A further object of much moment, resulting from the exposure of soil to winter frosts, is the destruction it occasions to insects and their larvae, by disturbing and breaking up their lurking places and nests. This mode of destroying insects is more effectual than is generally supposed. Indeed, when a thorough system of cultivation is pursued, it is seldom found necessary to resort to expedients which are frequently rendered necessary to counteract defective management.

The winter crops should be encouraged towards maturity by frequent cultivation. Celery should be slightly earthed up as it progresses in growth. Some cultivators prefer growing it to its full size before earthing up, others earth up so closely as to injure growth. A medium course is perhaps preferable. When the earthing up is delayed too long, blanching will be imperfect, and size will be gained at the expense of quality.

Lettuce should be planted in frames, for early winter use, a few radish seeds may be sprinkled among the plants.

Vegetable Garden #1

Lifting and storing away the winter root crops will require attention towards the end of the month. Beet, salsify; carrots, parsnips, etc, keep best covered with sand in a dry cellar, and are at all times of easy access. Choose a dry day for lifting, and use precaution not to break the roots more than possible, especially with the two first mentioned; the leaves of these should not be cut so close as to wound the root. Parsnips are frequently left in the ground, and taken up as wanted, but, where the winters are long and severe, they should be housed.

Horseradish may now be taken up and replanted, the largest roots stored for use; they will keep till wanted, if treated as the others.

Spinach should be thinned out, that the plants may have room to extend; they will keep over winter better when thus treated, than when allowed to crowd and grow up weakly. Turnips must also be thinned, if good bulbs are expected.

Vegetable Garden #2

Manuring and digging ground will be a principal feature in the garden at present. If possible, let it be trenched eighteen inches deep. Where the subsoil is clay, a small portion only ought to be brought to the surface at a time; by a repetition of this process, a good depth of workable soil may be ultimately secured, and the growing crops receive no check in dry seasons.

There is a difference of opinion, among practical cultivators, with regard to the propriety of applying manure in the fall, many preferring to apply it in spring, immediately before cropping. Much depends upon the nature of the soil; tenacious soils are much benefited by a heavy application of fresh or undecomposed manure, turned in at this season, as it tends to preserve that porosity so necessary for a free permeation of frost, which is found a valuable auxiliary in cultivation. Manure, applied in .spring, requires to be thoroughly decomposed, that its action may be immediately effective. For the earliest crops of peas, potatoes, onions, etc, fall manuring is, perhaps, preferable.

Vegetable Garden #3

The successful gardener will by this time have ridged up his vegetable ground for winter, but in such parts of the Union where the ground is not at this time bound up with frost, he may continue to do so in the waste quarters, first giving them such manure as they require.

Repair fences, tod out and clean your seeds, prepare labels, nails, and twigs, get all garden tools in repair, provide pea-rods and poles for Lima and other running beans, to be ready for use when wanted. Cauliflower, lettuce, and other plants in frames, should be kept dry; cover them up during snow storms, taking care to expose them to sunshine gradually thereafter. Snow is a very effectual covering against frost, and may be allowed to remain with advantage for a week or ten days if the weather is severe.