The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-04

we're sown later. and when the first have
done bearing these will supply their place.
The pie plant, or rhubarb. now haslarge
leaves, and long leaf stalks, fit for use.
Cwrants, and gOoseberries are now in leaf
and blossom. The peach buds are swof-
len. and the earlier kinds just bursting, and
unless we have frosty weather as the trees
are going out Of blossom, we shall proba-
bly, have good crop Of this delicious
fruit.
Under the shelter Of the fence we see
the gardener sowing radish seed. Rad
ishes to be worth eating, must have very
rapid growth, otherwise they are hard and
worthless. They require mellow, warm
ground. In England they generally cover
radish beds with top.dressing of coal
ashes, giving them black and singular
appearance. Wood or coal ashes might
be used TO advantage in this country.
Beets and carrots are sown, and these
require a very deep soil, as the roots ex-
tend into the earth, and it is impossible to
get we'll formed roots. unless the ground ii
dug or plowed deep and well pulverized-
We have seen the blood beet two feet in
length. How could it have grown to such
length if the ground below six or seven
inches had been as hard as it is in It's
natural state?
Beans are very tender, and a slight
frost destroys them after they are above
ground so they are not yet planted, and
will not be until nearly the last Of the
month. The most delicious of all beans
is the Lima. They require long and strong
sticks, and are fine when used as shell
beans in the summer, or dry for winter.
Every body should plant few Lima beans.
They like dry, warm soil, little inclin.
ed to be sandy.
In the hot-bed you see lettuce and rad
ishes fit for use, and celery, tomato, and
other plants, almost ready to put out in the
open ground. But it is not too late yet to
start celery or tomato plants. Once we
started them in warm sunny situation
on the first of May, without heat from
manure, merely by placing few boards
around and covering them nights, and had
them ready to transplant in pretty good
season.
Melons and cucumbers are now sowT
in the open ground. though in the hot-bed
you will see melon plants in pots. These
will be placed in the open ground the last
of this month, and will be earlier than
those started from seed in open ground.
But those who have warm sandy soil,
can raise good melons without this trouble.
Asparagus is great luxury, and as the
gardener Is now making bed, we will
notice his operations. The plants he is
placing in The bed are two years old from
seed. The seed is sown in the spring, in
drills about one inch deep, and twelve
inches apart. Some at this stage water
them with boiling water. They are then
covered, and the earth well pressed down,
In two years the plants will be ready to-
transfer TO beds. Those who live near
nurseries had better buy plants, as they
will thus obtain asparagus for use two
years earlier. As we can not stay to see
the whole operation Of making the aspar.
agus bed, will explain it: Mark out bed
about four and half feet wide, and as
long as is needed, dig out the surface
earth three inches deep, and lay it on the
sides Of the bed; then spread short well.
rotted manure three inches thick over the
bed, dig it we'll in, and smooth off with
the rake: then line out four rows on the
bed length-wise twelve inches apart, and
the two outer rows nine inches from the
edge of the bed. Place the plants flat on
the rows twelve inches apart; this will
make them twelve inches apart each way;
then fill up the bed with the earth taken
out, and dress it neatly off with the rake.
In cultivating the garden, as in every
thing else, it is necessary to do whatever
you attempt, peH. Dig deep and make
the soil fine; thisi digging we'll. Manure
we'll, Tor manure is the food of plants, and
without this food they will either die from
starvation. or be poor and sickly and
worthless, if they find enough in the soil
barely to sustain life. In the next place,
sow the seed carefully, so as to have it
even all over the bed-not too thick in
some parts, and too thin in others, as is
too often the case. Then take good care
of the plants when they come up. by des.
troying all the weeds that interfere with
their growth, and take the food from the
soil which your plants need. Keep the
ground mellow, so that the air can pene.
trate, and the rains descend to nourish
them. If they require brush like peas, or
poles like beans, TO sustain them, furnish
them early, a little before needed; for ifa 4
little too late, the plants droop and become 4
injured and never obtain good form. il
done early, you have the satisfaction of |
seeing the fruit Of your labor; if too late,
you have had all the trouble and very lit
tie compensation. So it is with farming
and gardening operations generally; he
that expends his time and labor in doing
things well-and 10 be well, OF course
must be seasonable-is generally satisfied
with the result Of his labors, but he that
half does things never gets paid even for