Mariposa Democrat., 1857-06-11
Sflariposa 4tmotrat.
AGRICULTURAL.
ulnts for Young Gardeners.

minating power when more than year old
Therefore, be careful to SOW fresh seed when
ever practicable.
But melons, cucumbers, pumkins, and mem
bers generally of this family are exception TO
this rule. The seeds of these should not be
sown till after they are several years Old
Plants from old seeds produce less foliage and
more fruit. [Doubtful-Ed1
The seeds of most kinds Of weeds retain
their terminating power for an almost indefi-
mite period. Hence, weeds should always be
carefully gathered and burnt, as the most cf.
feetual mode of destroying the seeds.
The first leaves which appear on tie surface
Gn many cases called cotyledons) are, for the
time, the sole supporters of tie life of the
young plant. They sustain it till it has formed
roots, and, if prematurely destroyed, or much
injured, the plant will die
Seeds will not germinatc unless exposed to
the influence of moisture, air, light, and heat.
They should, consequently, not be covered too
deep, or they may fail to sprout.
1t is, in ordinary cases, not profitable or ad-
visabe to raise your own seeds. Your soil
and your time should be of more value and
importance to you than the cost of new seed.
Besides, such as is raised on a soil different in
composition from your own will most proba-
bly, thrive better.
The roots of very young plants rarely
hardy enough to bear transpantng well. The
best time for transplantng seedlings is when
they have formed or leaves because at
about that period the young roots and radicles
are able to perform their proper functions more
successfully than earlier.
Roots essentially require the admission and
presence of atmospheric air. The surface soil
should, therefore, always be kept loose and
porus, and clayey ground should be frequent
ly broken up or stirred in dry weather, or
whenever it has become parched or baked.
When bed has been dug over in the fall, it
should be suffered to lie during the winter in
the toughest condition in which the spade has
left it, A greater amount of surface will thus
be exposed to the effects of frost, and the
ground become more thoroughly pulverized in
the spring.
Frost acts with greater severity on roots or
tubers which have been pulled or dug up, than
on such as remain in the ground Hence they
should either be effectually protected, or re-
main altogether undisturbed.
The various kinds Of plants extract different
substances from the soil and well-chosen
rotation of crops is consequently highly ad-
yantageous, and deserves attention.
Leaves absorb moisture from the atmos-
phere, and again part with it they inhale and
exhale air, and thus constitute the more i'm
portant organs of plants If injured or re-
moved, the entire plant suffers accordingly.
The pores Of the leaves, through which the
air and moisture are transpired, are exceeding
ly minute, and very liable to be closed by dust
The foliage of stove plants should therefore be
frequently well sprinkled with pure water, to
prevent or remove obstruction to healthy ac-
tion from this cause.
In their natural condition or growth, the
leaves and branches of plants rarely touch and
cross each other. We should hence learn not
to crowd our plants close together, or to place
even a single plant in a confined position,
where its leaves and branches have not room
to expand or develop themselves fully and free
ly. Air and light are as essential to their Wig
orous and healthy growth as earth and water
The falling off of leaf Of the newly-sct
cutting is an indication that the cutting has
begun to grow But, if the leaf wther and
dry without dropping from the stem, it is an
evidence that the plant lacks vgor to effect the
natural process of shedding the leaf, and will
probably fail to grow
When bushy plants produce an abundance
of foliage with few buds or blossoms, they
should either be transplanted into a poorer
soil, or some Of the principal roots should be
pruned off
Drying winds are injurious, as they rob the
leaves of plants of moisture more rapidly than
it can be supplied by the roots. Plants need
as careful protection from such winds as from
frost
When grass.plot becomes pervaded by
moss, apply some fine rich manure to the
surface. This will reinvigorate the grass and
enable it to subdue and cxpel the intruder.
In pruning always make the cut tOsoard
Yourself. Enter the knife on the side opposite
the bud, a little above its base, and cut through,
sloping to just above the topo the bud The
vitality of the terminal wood will thus be pre-
served, and the wound speedily heal over.
Leaves grown in the shade or in the dark
do not attain the depth of color nor the harsh
ness Of taste which mark such as are fully ex-
posed to light and air. Gardeners take advan-
tnge of this when tying up lettuce or endive,
and earthing up celery, to6lanch them.
Light is essential to enable flowers to develop
their colors fully. Hence the proper place for
Towering plants, in chamber culture, is as near
the window as possible.
All plants have naturally a resting season.
Seek to ascertain the period peculiar to each
particular species Won cultivate and TRANSPLANT