Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-15
NUMBER II
Hints Oh Starting Garden Plants early
in Sprin2.


Hints on Starting Garden Plants early
I'm Spring.
Various methods may be resorted to-
for procuring early vegetables and flow.
lers, in all climates, and especially in the
lcolder regions of the most Northern
Estates, and Of the British Provinces, as
we'll as for tariag the growth of those;
plants whiel lkWiH not ordinarily mature
where the season is very short, Green.
houses, hot-beds, and cold frames, are
}the most desirable, and these are dss.
tined to come into more extensive USE.
when people generally learn how simple,
Icheap, and valuable they are. OF these
I'VE speak from time tosEime here wgs
will only refer to one or two methods
that may be adopted by all
First, let 1t be renem bered, that soiT
deeply dug and thoroughly drained, is
in condition to receive seeds or plants
much earlier than an ordinary soil, mo-
matter how drJyit may be. A free ad-
mixture of fermenting manure, like that
| fram the horse stable, also tends to warm,
+ the soil.
The smaller seeds, lettuce, cabbage;
caulihower, turnips, tomatoes, many of :
the flower seeds, ETC., may well be soRn
I'm cheap earthen pots, or in boxes oe
earth. These boxes, If wateE-tight,
should have gimlet holes in the bottom
to drain off excess Of water an over
dose of water with no drainage, will Of
ten stop or greatly retard the growth 4
Though not indispensable, it is always
preferable to water at the bottonss letting
only so much soak in as will naturally
rise by capillary attraction. While the
weather remains cold during the day.
these boxes or pots may be Kept in a
warm light cellar, or better still, in. q
room slightly warmed by fire heat.--
But as soon as the out door temperature
during the day is above the freezing
point, they should be left out in the sun,
and only be- brought in at night when
there is a prospect of frost. Tt answers
very we'll to leave them on the SOUTH
side of the barn during the day, and re-
move them tothe barn floor at night,
covering with straw if needed to- keep
out frost. By p very little care Of this
kind any one may have aniabundant sup
ply of plants, ready to be transferred to
the open ground when danger Of frost is
past. -
Another method which has been
highly commended by some, is this:
Cut turf or grass sods into square blocks,
or in long pieces; if grass sods, pare off
a little of. the grass side. Invert the
nIa md inf
such as cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers,
melons, corn, turnips, radishes, indeed
anything which is desired to grow early.
These can be laid closely together ON
the south side of the house, or barn,
taking care to apply, from time to time,
s s ass2 asss water zeneag to keep them barely
moist. On cold nights they can be COW
cred with old carpeting, or blankets, and
straw, until the plants begin to appear
after which the pieces should be tempo
rarily removed to the cellar Whenever
there is danger of frost As soon as the
condition of the soil and weather. renders
it safe, the sods or turf may be cut into
small pieces, each one containing one or
more growing plants, and then set them
into the open ground There is double
advantage in this process: a gain of one
to three weeks in time is secured, and
the sod or turf is an excellent material
for promoting future growth andfertility.
Amy one who will try this method for a
single season, will not be likely to omit
it afterwards. Three or four hours of
time expended in this way, will secure
a considerable supply of extra early pro-
ducts Of various kinds
Those who have a few old baskets
will find the following plan a good one:
Put into the baskets quantity of good
soil, with rotten chips, with or without
some well rotted manure, as may be
needed by the soil used. Plant in each
a few melon, cucumber, squash, or
pumpkin seeds. The baskets can be
carried in or out according to the state
Of the weather. After the plants are
in vigorous growth, and the weather
suitable, set the baskets in the soil, one
in a hill, without disturbing the con-
tents. If the sides and bottoms of the
baskets be not pretty open, a>number
Of holes should be punched through.
The roots will find their way out
into the surrounding soil. BY start
ing early, SO as to have large vigor-
Gus plants growing in the baskets of
earth by the time the weather is settled,
you may have cucmbers ready for the
table almost as soon as other people
have plants coming up, and melons and
other products proportionately early
Ame'ican Agrieuzturist.