Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-03-21

.oun early to get anything like proper
crop ; for, unless they get good growth
before warm weather, they are severely
and onions are by this means ffc-
ouently not larger than chestnuts.
All garden crops should be grown on
the drill system; it is otherwise impossible
to do them full justice in culture. A rake
should never be employed in the prepara-
ton Of ground for seed. This as rule.
Exceptions may be made in particular
cases ; but very much injury results from
the prevailing system Of breaking and "a
king the ground until it is as fine as pow
der. Our heavy rains beat such soils into
/. mortar consistency, and the sun bakesis
into a hard crust, through which young
plants cannot penetrate. Equally inJuri'
Gus is that old system, which is yet frs-
quently recommended, to trampls in seeds. |
The great feature in cultivation is to
keep the soil loose, more especially on the
surface, as it retards evaporation OF oon-
tanned moisture, and admits the unimpeded
access of the various agents Of vegetable
growth to the roots Of plants.
With regard to the depth that seeds
should bs covered, it is safe rule to cover
them with depth of soil about equal to
their own thickness. This cannot always
be strictly done but it should be aimed at
as near as possible.
Much difficulty frequently occurs in
raising young crops in strong soils, from
their liability to bake on the surface, as
alluded to above. A slight covering of
hay or short grass prevents the formation
of this crust, and enables the tender plants
to get through the surface but, unless
carefully watched, and the covering reno
we'd at the exact moment, the crop will
run risk of destruction from its being
shaded and drawn up tender. The best
material that I have ever used is wheat
chat. A slight sprirkling over the drills
will prevent injury from rains, &C., and,
from its nature, offers no resistance to the
future growth of plants. OF course, it is
allowed to remain. know of no superior
method to insure speedy germinstion aud
growth Of small seeds, such as celery, car
rots, &c. Even should the weather prove
otherwise unfavorable to their growth, .
good crop of young plants may thus be
rendered certain.
For early crops the old adage Of "sow
thick and thin quick" is very appropriate.
One pint of peas will SOW row Of GO feet;
for late crops the same quantity will SOW
100 feet. Carrot one ounce will SOW q
row of $50 feet long; parsnip, half an
ounce $50 feet; Spinach, one ounce 12O
feet; beans, one pint will plant $50 feet
Of q row; and half an ounce of cabbage,
broccoli, cauliAowers, and their allies, will
seed bed of 40 square feet.
Those who have wet, late soils to work
Oh, will find it great advantage in thei'
early crops Of peas and beans to plant theu
on the surface, and throw little soil ovel
them with a spade. Thus elevated the
, plants are in better position to withstand
T extremes either Of wet or cold.
. New plantations Of asparagus, rhubarb
9 and horseradish may be made now. Th'
8 soil should be trenched eighteen inches
r deep, and heavily manured. The forme
4 is most readily cultivated when planted il
rows three feet apart, plant six inche
, apart. Two year old plants should b
3 used, or SOW seed and thin cut as they al
: vance.
n Those who have the convenience Of
a greenhouse, grapery, or even spare franz
f may forward few dozen pots Of swee
corn, peas, or dwarf beans. BY doing SO
i a dish or two of these vegetables may b
had several days in advance of the regula
Z crop. The corn should be put out in tn
ground when about foot high, the pea
and beans when grown three inches. Soy
the peas thickly over the surface Of tn
: pots, and, when planting them out, separ
J, ate them gently in the drill. They shoul'
e be staked at once, which will protect then
$ from frosty nights. The above is the mos
l convenient method of forwarding peas. l
, is necessary that all crops thus forwarded
d should be thoroughly Injured to the wea
ther, by exposure several days before 6na
# transplantiug.
( FLOWER GARbEN-To have good dis
play Of flowers during next summer, di
o five or six inches Of manure eighteen in
h ches deep in the flower beds. If the groun'
/ is trenched over and the POOR soil brough
}. to the surface, so much the better. Th
r surface soil being poor will throw th
h plants into flower at once, and this 6owe,
. ing property will be maintained as warn
!. weather increases, on account Of the root
coming in contact with the manure below
:. QrNvnAb RkMARKs-This ia a seaso,