Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-04
agricultural.
Hints for the Season.


w give below several important hints to be
observed about these days, which we copy from
the April number of the .4naerican .4griouitur-
;a
fspqragls Remove the coarser portions
of The Inter with which the beds were covered,
and rhen 90 caref Ky over the bed with g fork
and turn up the surface, taking care TO work
gently around the plants and not inJure either
buds or roots. New beds may b. made II
roots can be procured. The soil should be
moderately light and v-ry rich, and there must
be such natural or artificial drainage, will
ensure dry subsoil. In family gardens It Is
best TO plant in beds, five feet wide, with alleys
between them, this allows Of cutting the
crop without trampling the beds. The beds
are prepared by spacing Is inches or feet
deep WORKING in great abundance If manure.
The best way is 10 trench the bed thoroughly,
working the manure into the bottom OF each !
trench Set three rows OF roots IN the bed,
one row 10 the center, and the others one foot
from The edge, putting the plants foot apart
IN the rows Inc plants should have theI
roots we'll spread, and their crowns three or
four inches below the surface. Keep the beO
free of weeds. If plants 10 ne raised from
seed, them in Trills, foot apart, IN rcL
soil An ounce of seed will produce about a
thousand plants. When well up, hin to three
inches. SILT is considered benz fetal 10 As
paragus and a dressing is frequrn tly applied IL
the spring. Ii is Certainly useful in destroying
weeds an worms, but whether directly bene-
fcisl to the Asparagus. is point on which ex-
perimenters differ, the MAJ 1rity favoring it.
Oaions.-Put out Potato and Top onions
and onion sets, in rows foot 10 inches
apart, ana the bulbs inches distant. Onions
from the seed, or black seed" as growers call
il, are not usually successful much south of Nea
York CITY. Wherever they are grown, they
should be sown early in highly mauured soil
Hen manure is found to be very serviceabIe for
this crop. Get the soil in the finest possible
tillh, and, in the garden, it is good plan to
burn brush the bed TO DESTROY weed seeds.
Be- sure 10 get good and fresh seed, and SOW II
in drills 10 inches apart. An ounce will SOW
abvul 200 feet of drill
Peas-A Light dry soil that has been man
ured the year before, is better than one recent
" enriched Sow as cary as possible, putting
the seeds three inches deep and an inch apart.
II is customary to plant double rows inches
apart Set the brush between the rows. IL
the market gardens the rows three feet
apart. and the peas grow, they are earthed
up, without any brush.
Seeis-Those who save their own seeds
should get cir roots, Seeds ETC., out early. Use
only The best shaped and best kept onions, lurn-
fps, carrots, caboages, etc, and set them out 10
well MANFRED soil. 1t is not well to attempt 10
raise the seed OF more than variety of each
within the limits of moderate garden. Never
SET cabbage stump for seed, but whole plant
and the very hest, and then allow only a few
strong central stalks to grow.
Tomatoes-Seeds may still be soxn under
he hos H.
need to be transplanted to other beds or pot
ted in small pots When the roots are crowd
ed in pots, tie plants come into flower very
early. By pinching off the stem above the
first cluster of flower, the growth is directed to
the side shoots, which may 10 turn be pinched
and thus the plant De kept quite dwarf and
stocky, and the fruit will thus oe improved.
Poultry w hoover will give proper care to
cary chickens, may set the hens early in April
E,riy chickens are particularly useful insect
killers, fO- the first Insects the parents OF
future sssrms. Give seldom more than 10
eggs. Select those of perfect form, of medium
or not extra size, and strong shells. Marx
each egg with lead peach, and on several put
the date at which they put under the
hen. Let nens lay in movable boxes, SO that
when they begin to set they may De removed
a~ey from the lying hens. Feed regularly
ana keep water always before them. Feeo
IN Y always b. KEPT Def re sitting hens If rats
not troublesome. Turkeys should be con-
hned and made TO lay al home in low box or
basket, where they can be controlled, so that
when their young hatch they may be kept in
doors for week or ten days, as they very
apt to die if they get wet. Set Ducks eggs
udder hens. Geese take care of themselves
bar should not be forced to GO far for food
while sitting.
Sheep need dry. well Uttered sheds and yards,
with teed of roots daily, if possible. Boughs
of hemlOck or pine thrown 10 them two or
three times a week, promote the health of the
fnck- WEAVING ewes should have close, well
ventilated sheds, Uttered with straw cut s
inches long, and warm yards. The long tags
OF wool should be clipped of around their
teats, so that there will be no difficulty in the
lambs finding them. Should the lambs be
me chilled, bring them into the XII chen. near
good FIRE; If badly off give warm baths, rub
them dry, wrap Them in blankets, and feed
fresh ewes milk warmed. A few spoonfu.s of
mild milk punch (say one tablespoonful o.
proof spirit in ,escup of milk, sweetened)
Will often revive them at once.
Oren 1t may be q very pleasant thing for
q man whose cattle have lost 100 or 200 pounds
OF fish the past winter, to say that . they are
Just in good working order" But if cattle or
horses running down 10 flesh, they are in
worst condition Tor oeing put to hari work.
They must De vel. led now at any rate, and
thoroughly groomed. Give pair of cattle q
peck of corr meal daily upon hay corn stalks,
cut up and soaked 8 70 IL hours, with all the
good hay they will eat. Allow them q long
nooninQ. water regularly three times q day
see that the Jokes do not pinch or gall them,