Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-08

WHAT, WHEN AND How To PLANT AND Sow
We can do no more in our brief space thar
to give some general hints upon these points
For the termination of seeds, heat, air and
moisture are essential and for any growth
light is also necessary Plants differ very
much to the temperature 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 ice-house. and actually
penetrate the ice so as to break off by pull :
fno them ~ -R,..Dc makes Some
growth under the snow. The snow-drop
grows up, even through snow Indian corn
on the other hand, will not grow at tenn
perature much, if any, below sixty degrees,
and will rot in the ground at fifty-five degrees
We think lndisn corn may be taken as fair
type OF many garden plants which we may
call tender and which perish by even slight
frost. Robust plants, however, like corn
and potatoes, often have their tops killed to
the ground by frost, and yet grow again
Among the plants that uniniured by
frost, and therefore may be planted early, are
the pea, beet, carrot, cabbage, caulifower
lettuce, parsnp, onions, celery, radish, tur
nip, and spinach. Among those which are
tender, and suffer by frost, are the bean OF
kind, corn, melon, cucumber, squash, toma-
to, nasturtion Okra, egg plant, and pepper.
The SOIL SHOULD BE FINE AND FRKsu.-
There Is a sort of fermentation induced in
the ground by stirring it, and the conditions
of heat and moisture are best met by putting
in the seed just after moving the soil. as by
opening burrows with the pillow, or hills with
the hoe With small seeds. like the carrot
and parsnip, or tender seed, like the beet.
which is very sensitive, this is very impor-
tant. If the soil is not fine, it will not press
the seed or yield moisture to it, and it is
easily shown that fine, light soil contains
nd M linn
soil.
DEPTH OF PL.NTING.-Small seeds are often
smothered by too deep covering Beets and
mangold. rough as they look, may be kept
from vegetation by one inch of moist earth
pressed lightly upon them. They, and near
" all small seeds, should be covered from
one-fourth to one half inch only, and the
fresh earth lightly pressed down with spade
or very light roller. In our list above, we
think all those named are better covered one
half inch or less, rather than more, except
peas and corn Corn may be covered from
one to two inches, and peas to any depth
We prefer to cover peas from three to six
inches deep, we satisfied they remain
longer green than when planted shallow. We
usually cover potatoes three to four inches
If the soil is very dry and light, seeds may
be planted a little deeper than is otherwise
proper
Dun AND SuADE.-EOT ali the pIdnls winch
we have classed above tender, we can
hardly find too hot an exposure though we
may find spot too dry. Corn and tomatoes
and melons want the full heat of the sun
Peas, we think. do better, especially the lat
er crop, if a little shaded by a fence or by /
some other crop. and cabbages, turnips and /
celery may have shaded positions with advan- |
tage Currants and rasrberries do best on I
the north side of a paling fence, while grapes /
like all the sun they can get
as Indian corn of different varieties. inter
mix even at distance of many rods, the first /
wear. Sweet corn, however, of different |
sorts, especially if varying in its time OF
blossoming, NAV be raised within the same
half acre, and be kept distinct enough for
the table,
Melons mix readily with each other, that
is the muskmelon with the watermelon, and
the different kinds of squashes if planted
near, lose their distinctive qualities in one
season. We have never known muskmelon>
and water melons 10 harm each other
Potatoes cannot intermix in this way. Hy
bridization occurs by the fertilization of the
stigma of plant with the pollen of another
% as to produce new seed. This affects not
,nly the seed, but the covering of the seed,
Is the melon and squash. A potato is in no
ense a seed. 1t is tuber, and part Of
he root growth. Seven different varieties
# the potato planted together may, and do,
their seed, SO that the balls will
,roduce new varieties, yet the tubers cannot
I'VE go in for the Crook-neck, and so we think
v,JI most OF our readers after trial of both-Ed.