Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-02
Agricultural.

HINTS ON STARTING GARDEN PLANTS EARLY,-
 Various methods may be restored to for pro. curing early vegetables and flowers, in All cli. mates, especially in the colder regions of the most Northern States and of the British pro- vinces. Greenhouses, hotbeds, and cold frames. are the most desirable. and these are destined to come into more extensive use, when people gen orally learn how simple, cheap, and valuable they are.
 | First let it be remembered, that soil deeply drug and thorougly drained, is in a condition to receive seeds or plants much earlier than an or dinary soil, no matter how dry it may be. A from the horse stable, also tends to warm the soil
 The smaller seeds, lettuce, cabbages, cauli- flowers, turnips, tomatoes, many of the flower seeds etc. may well be sown in cheap earthen pots or boxes of earth. These boxes if water tight, should have gimlet holes in the bottom to drain of excess of water; an overdose of water with no drainage, will often stop or greatly re- tard the growth While the weather remains cold during the day. these boxes or pots may be kept in warm light cellar, or better still, in room slightly warmed by fire heat But as soon as the outdoor temperature during the day is above the freezing point. they should be left in the sun, and only be brought in at night when there is a prospect of frost. By very little ! care of this kind, any one may have an abundant supply of plants, ready to be transferred to the open ground when danger of frost is past. Another method which has been highly com mended by some, is thls Cut turf or grass sods in square blocks, or in long piece; if grass sods pare off little of the grass side. Invert the pieces and plant in them various seeds, such as cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, melons, corn, tur- nips radishes, indeed anything which is desired fo aapIy ThNro k, 1osl IL on the south side of the house, or barn taking care to supply, from time to time, just water enough to keep them barely moist On cold nights they can be covered with old carpeting, or blankets or straw, until the plants begin to appear. As soon as the condition of the soil and weather render it safe, the seds or turf may be cut into small pieces each containing one or more growing plants, and then set them into the open ground. There is a double advantage in this process; gain of one to three weeks in time is secured, and the sod or turf is an excel lent material for promoting future growth and fertility. Any one who will try this method for a single season, will not be likely to omit it af. forwards. Three or four hours or time expended in this way, will secure considerable supply of extra early products of various kinds.
 Those who have few old baskets, will find the following plan good one: Put into the bas- kets quantity of soil, with rotten chips, with or with or without some well routed manure as may be needed by the soil used. Plant in each basket few melon, cucumber, squash, or pump kin seeds. The basket 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 basket in the soil one in hill without disturbing the contents. The roots will find their way out in the surrounding soil By starting early So as to have large viz orous plants growing in the baskets of earth by the tine the weather is settled, you may have cucumbers ready at the table almost as soon as other people have plants coming up, and melons and other products proportionately early.- American Ag,'icuHurist.