Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-08
agricultural.
The Farmers Garden----NO. 3.

Having selected our ground, laid out our
general plan. and prepared the ground by
ample manuring for general purposes, we
may next inquire what the garden shall con
tain. As spring opens we shall want the
first green things that grow, and those are
rhubarb, and asparagus, and horseradish,
and these are all found on our permanent
border.
Without writing book, we cannot give
directions how to cultivate each plant, nor
without drawing upon devoted heads
wrath and Indignation, can we in all cases
commend particular varieties. A hint here
and there shall endeavor to offer Peas are
the first out of doors crop To be planted, and
they may go in whenever the ground is open.
We have often seen them green and flourish
ing, peeping through an April snow The
Dan - 'Rourke for the earliest, the dwarft to
follow it /; and the Champion of England
sown at intervals of two weeks, will give a
good supply throughout the summer. Sweet
corn Is luxury which should not be over
looked An early white sort may be found
at the seed stores, and for a late kind We
know of none superior to the black. To
have a constant supply till frost. plant at
fur different times, at intervals OF two weeks
OF plant late varieties soon after the early.
AS to potatoes, their variety is legion
Every neighborhood has its favorite and we
do well to adopt such varieties as have re-
Gently proved successful near he early
Goodrich is in fashion just now, but we have
never proved it. The Dover or Riley for a
late potato has no superior, that we know of,
in quality. We should like in our garden a
few cheap frames with glass, under which
lettuce. tomatoes, carly cabbages, caulifOw-
ers and cucumbers might get early start.
The cauliiiOwer is very little cultivated,
though great luxury to most persons We
raised them in abundance and perfection last
year In the open air, with no unusual care,
except to give them dose of superphosphate
for which all that class-the brassica-oi
plants are especially grateful Beans. early
and late, we all like. The old Horticultural
Is good, Ond the Lima, when the season is
long enough, is best, and TO these add the
best varieties of the seedsmen For selaeehoe
tho eoalI0Peti- for early, the Boston marrow
next, and the Hubbard for fall and winter
are as many as one garden can safely con-
tain.
A few onions, radshes, carrots, parsnips.
beets, turnips, and cabbages, seem essential
to every garden. Melons are luxury for
which we must expend much care an labor.
but on higher land we can have them if we
will. The tomato in many families is used
daily and in large quantities, and is deemed
indispensable. To get it early, plant in box
OK IN tile mousse OF under glass lFalneS ana
transplant. They are very hardy and pro
ductive. and they Will not grow in the open
air until the weather is hot for any man
persuation. Egg plant and satisfy, or vege-
table oyster, are excellent when properly
prepared. We imagine they are not much
cultivated by our farmers. Spinach is much
used in New York, but not in New England
1t is sOwn in early spring, and comes int
market in five or six weeks. or it may be
sown in autumn and protected by slight GOV
ering. 50 as to be much earlier, as early a
April LIST in New Ork.
Liberal reservation should be made for GU
cumhers for pickles, and purple cabbages fol
the same use must not be forgotten. Mar
tynias and institutions are both excellent fOl
pickles, and the latter also gives splendid
flowers.
We have named most Of the plants neces
sary for farmers garden. Far longer list
may readily be found. All that we have
named we have successfully raised in New
Hampshire and Massachusetts, with a few
cold frames to give our tomatoes, elephants
&c an early start.
For the fruit garden in New England, JUS
now we mention the sure crops, pears
grapes raspberries, currants, gooseberries
blaekberries, and Strawberries, but do
not despair yet of the apple. peach, ounce
plum, and cherry although they are all II
trauble of some kind UatchmaH q Rct7ec
tor