Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-02-24
A01ICULYU1A1.
Starting Cseanseea Asls'
undaf 02ona

Starting C1eanbeEa 1slsaA Ae.,
under 01asA
There are handreds Of towns and cities
the country that are not supplied
with early vegstablss, sinply because the
truck grower and gardeners do not under
stand the secret Of the forcing such. IL b
very simple indeed. Al that u necessary
is TO make IN Ordinary hot-bsd (as describ-
ed on another page Of this nunber,) and
for Cucumbers, Nelons. SQuAshes, and
seed in drills IN the bed IL this latitude (lS)
about the Arst Of April; II further south,
say about two weeks earlier TO each latitude.
Be sure that the dirt II warm before SOW.
ing, and that there 10 plenty Of coarse ma
terial banked up against the outside Of the
bed. In cold nights cover its sash with
mating Of some kind. or straw, or hay
The plants viii be up and form strong
plants within Q week or ten days, when
they can be transplanted into another bed
as follows: Cut sod to inches square
and place them in the bed inverted; or
take cheap "gift" quart or pint boxes and
set in close together, filed two-thirds full
with good rich soil. On warm day, after
saturating the plants In the seed bed, lin
them carefully and transplant four or i've
seed leaf While they are growing raise
the sash tribe at the back side on pleas
ant DAYS to admit little ffeSh air. As
soon as they show their third rough leaf
nip the point OF the vine to cause IL to
branch out. Keep the temperature st-60
deg to SIS deg. Keep the plants and soil
from getting too dry by daily sprinkling
with tepid soft water. and II the roots pro-
trude above ground scatter in q little more
dirt around them. Be careful to water
when the weather Is mild, Is IL will not an
swer to allow cold air to strike the young
tender plants. After the vines commence
10 run they can be taken from the beds and
set where they are to remain through the
season, This is done by digging = hole =
foot deep, and dumping In . wheelbarrow
OF fresh mauure.-Pack it down dark with
the feet and cover with about 4 to inches
of dirl, and In this set the sods or box
plants-after breaking OF the box Re-
member to satuarate the sods well with
water before they are transplanted. Over
this place a box two feet square. covered
with a single sash made to 1t, or We have
used muslin oiled, being careful TO uncover
on warm pleasant days.
We know OF . party who realizes every
wear from few hundred hills Of cucumber
one dollar to the hill, and this too, with
only small village markets. The seed can
be sown directly In the inverted sods or
boxes, but 1t is better to SOW in the seed
bed and transplant. As they become more
hardened and the roots grow more nbrous.
TOMATOES should be sown about the
same time in the hot-beds, In drills three
inches apart, covering but slightly with
rich mould. As soon As they get to 5
inches high transplant into another hot-bed
three inches apart each way, remembe ring
TO statuate the seed bed we'll with tepid
water so that soil will cling to the roots.
Keep well watered and give plenty Of air
on mild days. As soon as settled weather
comes transplant TO the open ground.
Ssturate well with water and take up with
each plant quantity Of dirt; although
when We have set large quantities We have
paid but little attention to this, simply set
ting them In damp weather. III there Is
danger Of frost, cover the plants with news
papers, or have boxes made q foot deep
with top. and set right over each plant.
1t Is one of the best paying crops grown.
especially IL got early, when they are worth
81 10 81 per bushel.
Those who have not conveniences Tor
growing in hot beds. or who only want q
few plants for their private garden. can
start the seed in pans or boxes set In their
kitchen windows. The same direction for
tomatoes answers for early Cabbage and
Lettuce, only that the latter do not require
80 close attention aud are not SO liable TO
be hurt by cold snaps, and too, they require
no covering in the spring after being trans
planted out doors to protect them against
frost. Another crop that pays to start in
the hot-bed is
ONIoNs.-Simply SOW the seed early in
March in this latitude. thickly, in drills
three inches apart. Keep well watered,
and when the ground is settled and the
plants get say two or three inches high,
transplant out doors in rows, three inches
apart, and the rows one foot apart. The
great advantages in thus starting them arc
as follows:
First-The seed may be poor and but q
small proportion grow hence by starting
them thus long vacant spaces are avoided
in the plantation, and every foot Of ground
is made 10 count and pay.
Second-The onions will be ready for
early pulling to sell in punches about As
soon as IS I" onions.
Third-No matter how short the season
is, every onion will get ripe.
Fourth-It Is less labor, because il saves
the tedious. laborious work of hand weed
ing and thinning and transplanting 70 ill
up vacancies, and IS the soil Is freshly pre-
pared when they are transplanted, they
grow right ahead and get the start Of all
weeds. This is great mistake, for the
work of transplanting is done very rapidly
whep the ground is fresh and in the right
condition. finely pulverized, &C. just IS
fast as person can stick their finger into
the soill nd withdraw it the work can be
done; while If you are hand wedding,
many times the weeds are fine and. too,
hide the onions SO that it is . very slow,
tiresome job. very large quantity can
be started under Q sash.
II but few are wanted, they can be
started in = box or pan in the window
Fruit Recorder.