Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-08-18
AGRICULTURAL

= "C0n,e let us reason the matter t0geth-
er."-It is practice with many farmers
in ploughing sward ground, to endeavor
to turn the furrow slice entirely over, so
that the grass side shall lie fiat in the pre-
ceding furrow; while others lap every
furrow-slice OH the one which precedes it,
so that it reposes in an angl e Of about As
degrees The latter is called the improv-
ed mode of ploughing. When the furrow
slice is laid quite fiat, the weight and te
nacity of the soil consolidate its surface al
most Immediately, and obstruct the ac-
ton ofthe weather in breaking down the
texture of the soil, as we'll as that Of the
harrow in raising filth, or the greatest
depth Of mould for covering the seeds"
and ifthe surface is level and the soil tena-
cious, the water when in excess, having
no passage under, re1oses upon the top Of
the sod But when the furroW-slice is
Tapped upon the preceding one in an angle
of about As degrees, every furrow forms
an underdrain for the passage or recep-
ton Of the water, leaving the surface dry;
the greatest possible surface of soil is ex-
posed to the influence of the atmosphere
the soil is kept loose and porous by the
breaking down Of the sod, as the roots of
the grasses in it decay, and the harrow,
by reducing the projecting angles of the
furrow-slice, readily produces fine deep
filth.
Strawberries are among the plants
which are most impatient of fixed ]oca-
tion,-they soon exhaust the soil in which
they grow. Nature has therefore provi-
ded the means oftheir Obtaining fresh pas
ture, or rather fresh soil. by means of the
stollens or vines which the parent plant
annually sends abroad. The professional
gardner, knowing these facts, changes
frequently the site of his strawberry beds,
often every two years, and sometimes ev-
cry year, to insure a good crop. We
think we have discovered a specific food
for this desirable plant, the application of
which serves to render change Of location
less necessary Our present strawberry
quarter is five years old. In the fall Of
1884, we covered one bed with light
dressing of tan from a morocco factory,
with view to protect the plants from the
otNClNV VI "lIItol anu III IH0 > ping tllt
tan was suffered to remain on the bed
We were agreeabIy surprised at finding
this bed not only showing stronger and
healthier foliage, but yielding far greater
quantity of fruit, than any other, The
whole quarter was in consequence Dress
ed with tan in the autumn of 1885, and
our crop this year has been treble to what
it has been heretofore; though much of
the increase has undoubt edly been owing
to the favorable season for this fruit.
This month and the beginning of Sep
TENDER is the best season to put out straw
berry beds The ground should be well
MANFRED, and dug the depth Of the spade.
The Methven and Keen's Seeding we
deem the best Of the large varieies.-
Plant the rows OF these twenty inches |
apart, fourteen inches between the plants.
Dip the roots of the plants in thin mud or
puddle before planting, and water them
when planted. They do best on a cool
and moist, though loose soil hence old I
COW manure, mixed with leaf mould or
swamp earth, make for them good dress
ing-Cultar0tor.