Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-31
THE FARMER's GARDEN.

i. THE FARMERS GARDEN.
What, Wien, and How to Plant and
Sow.-We can do no more in our
brief space than to give some gene
raj hints upon these points. For tho
germination of seeds, heat, air, and
moisture are essential, and for any
growth light is also necessary. Plants
differ very much as to the tempera-
,ure necessary for the termination of
their seeds. We have seen rye throw
out roots two or three inches long on
blocks of ice in an icc-house and act
ually penetrate the ice 80 as to break
off by pulling them, and rye no doubt
makes some growth under. the snow.
Thesnow-drop grows up, even through
snow. 1ndian-eorn, on the other
hand, will not grow at a temperature
.ninch, if any, below sixty degress, and
will rot in Che ground at ffty-dce de
grees. We think Indian-eorn may
be taken as fair, typo of many gar:
den plants which We mayeall tender,
and which perish by even slight frost.
Robust plants, however, iiko corn and
potatoes, often have their tops killed
TO tho groupd by frost and yet grow
again.
Among the plants that are uuin-
jured by frost, and therefore may be
planted carly, arc the pea, beet, car
rot, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, par.
snips, onions, celery, radish, tu"nip,
and spinach. Among those which
are tender, and suffer by frost, arc the
bean of all kinds, corn, melon, cucum.
Der, squash, tomato, nasturtion, okra,
eggplant and pepper.
The Soil should be Fine and Fresh.-
There is q sort of Fermentation induc-
cd in the ground by stirring il, and
the conditions of heat and moisture
are best met by putting in the seed
just after moving the soil, as by open
ing furroxs with the plow, or hills
with tho hoe. With small seeds, like
the carrot or parsnip, or tender seed,
like the beet, which is very sensitive,
this is very important. IF the soil is
not fine, it will not press the seed or
yield moisture to it, and il is easily
shown that fine, light soil contains
more air and moisture than q coarse,
lumpy soil.
Depth Of Planting.-Small seeds ore
often smothered by too deep cover
ing. Boots and mangold, ropgh as
they look, may be kept from vegctat-
ing by one inch Of moist earth press.
ed lightly upon them. They, and
noarly all small eocds, should be COW
cred from onc.fourth to one.half inch
only, and the fresh earth pressed
lightly down with o spade or very
light roller. In our list above we
think all those named arc better cov-
cred ono half inch or less, rather than
more, except peas and corn. Corn
may be covered from one 70 Two inch
es. and peas to any depth. We pre-.
fer to cover peas from three to six
inches deep. and We arc satisfied they
remain longer green than when plant
ed shallow. We usually cover pota.
toes threo or four inches. If the soil
is very dry and light, seeds may be
planted little deeper than is other
wish proper.
Sun and Shade.-For all the plants
which We have classed above rs ten.
der we can hardly find too hot an ex.
posure, though we may find spot
too dry. Corn, and tomatoes, and
melons want the full heal of the sun.
Peas We think, do better, especially
the latter crop, if little shaded by a
fence or some other crop, and cabba--
ges, turnips, and celery may have po-
sitions with advantage. Currants
and raspberries do best on the north
of paIing fence, while grapes like
all the sun they can get:
Hybridizing Or M;zing.-Certain
plants, as Indian. corr of different va.
rieties, intermix even at distance of
many rods, the first year. Sweet
corn, however, of different sorts, es.
RsstaAy Y varying In i4s tsas Of baos.
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