Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-29
Farming and Gardening.


EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZER. - A
lady residing in New Hampshire writes to the
New England Farmer, as follows:-
Judging from the published analysis of the
Grafton Fertilizer DIR. Nichols is reported to
have said: 1t is but little more than ground
oyster or clam shells. | would hardly give five
dollars ton for this insoluble, unassmilable
dolomite delivered at my farm. In fact, should
not want il at any price,
awe profess no knowledge of chemistry, but
having tried this fertilizer on flowers and vege-
tables, we feel called on to speak what we
know of its effects on vegetation. In the spring
of 1869, we obtained about pint of the worth
less powder; had but little faith in it; supposed
it ground-up rocks that would not do any hurt,
and not much good. We scattered it broadcast
upon our rose-bed, where grew Gels, Gen.
Jaquemino and an old-fashioned moss, small but
valued because its giver now dwelt in the land
beyond the sun. To our surprise, they COM
menced to grow and bloom as never roses
blOomed before in this north countree.' Gen.
Jaqueminot sent up stocks two or three feet in
height, covered with its richest buds. Gels, not
to be outdone by its more brilliant neighbor,
threw out three stocks with the most enormous
clusters of buds,-certainly over a hundred on
one stock. The Moss blossomed finely, and
threw up three or four stocks six feet high
The growth Of the roses gave us full confidence
in the fertilizer.
"In the spring of 1870 we secured quantity
of it, and commenced operations with it. When
the roses were uncovered Gen. Jaqueminot was
dead. 1t had grown so luXuriantly the previous
season that it could not endure the severe cold.
But the Gels, a NOisette rose and the moss were
alive. They were closely trimmed and the fer
tilizer applied. Three heaping teaspoonfuls
(iron) were dug all about the roots, but not
close to the stalk. They grew in grace and
beauty, and blossomed perfectly. The powder
was also scattered all over their leaves, and it
drove the slug entirely away. Directly across
the pathway yellow Harrison rose was left uD-
touched with the fertilizer; its leaves were en-
tirely bighted, its roses shriveled and spoiled.
1t had been left for an experiment. and we con-
sidered that the merits of the fertilizer were
fully tested in the trial.
awe used it thoroughly on all our flower beds,
dug it in broadcast, and the growth of the
Japan lilies surpassed any that we had ever
seen. Geraniums, heliotropes, verbenas, giadi-
ous, in fact, all bedding-out plants, ANIMALS
and perenials made rapid growth and blossom
ed gloriously. Pansies, always rank feeders,
were covered with large blossoms under its in
huence. A mound eight feet in diameter was
treated to a heavy dose, three or four quarts of
the fertilizer being used. Nothing would grow
uponit, and we were satisfied that too much of
this fertilizer as well as too much guauo or
other concentrated fertilizer, was fatal 10 plant
life. This is not doubted by any of my neigh
bors who have used it.
Spinach is gross feeder, and must have a
rich soil TO grow luXuriantly. In June ours
was of slow growth, and evidently needed slim
ulants; the Grafton fertilizer was dug in with Il
trowel, an iron spoonful at each side of root.
In one fortnight its growth was trebled. The
soil of our home garden is a heavy clay loan,
and many loads of sand have been added to it,
but it is still heavy. Dr. Nichols will say more
sand is needed. Yes, we know it, but far up
the hill side, lies garden of graYelly, sandy
loan filled with river stones Here the ferti-
lizer was applied to potatoes. The ground had
been manured with coarse straw manure. To
each hill of potatoes a gill of fertilizer was
added. The seed was Jersey peachblows
always yielding small crop. On the previous
year not much more than the seed was gathered.
Last autumn the yield was at the rate of three
hundred and fifty bushels to the acre,
Corn, beans, melons, tomatoes, grapes, in
deed all our garden vegetables, were greatly in
creased in quantity by its application. The
season was intensely hot and conducive to
rapid growth, but our melons and cucumhers
were ahead of the season. We live where il is
said to be "nine months winter and three
months spring" and we are forced to fight for
our flowers and vegetables. In the Grafton fer
tilizer we believe we have weapon which will
be of the greatest service to New Hampshire.
In justice to 1t we have taken up the pen We
have used this fertilizer in a liquid form, and
can dissolve as much of this "insoluhle, unas-
similable dolomite" in water, as Of Peruvian
guano."
VEGETABLE GARDENs.-The editor of the
VineIand Weekly talks thus of vegetable gar
dens:
"The professor of horticulture at college had
habit of saying that if you wanted good veg
etables you must 20 to the city; that in the city
markets there was large supply of all varieties
Of vegetables, while in the country but few var-
cites could be obtained, and those were of inie-
rior quality. AS this professor came to us from
the city, we boys considered his statements as
sarcasms flung at our rural homes with an exu-
berance of well meant patriotism, and laughed
at his idea of going to the city for vegetables.
Further experience has convinced us that he
was right, The city Is the best place 10 buy veg.
etables. Go into any of the large city markets,
| and the abundance, excellence and variety of
vegetables is a surprise and a delight. All
the varieties are found in their season, in the
| greatest plenty and of superior quail
| ty. The most iastidious epleuTe can crafty
| his taste, and the poorest laborer can obtain
good potatoes and cabbage for the morrow's
dinner. But in the country vegetables are often
| scarce and inferior. Sit down to dinner at a
farmers table, and often the only vegetable
found on it is the potato, Yet his broad acres
| lie all about him; he has all the facilities for
supplying his table with the best vegetables for
the whole year. Country and village markets
never have good supplies Of vegetables, Often
1t is almost impossible to find any variety what.
| ever.
Asparagus is one of the most delicious vege-
tables, and is not difficult of cultivation, yet the
families living in the country and in villages
| where they have gardens who have an asparagus
bed are very few indeed On most tables aspar-
agus is never seen. Celery is one of the most
delicious articles of food, and can be cultivated
with success, yet the family garden that has its
| celery is very rare. There is that old standby
the parsnip Wherever there is a garden il
might be had in perfection for seven months in
the year, Yet very few persons who have gar.
dens grow more Of it than enough for q few
meals. Caulifower is liked by all. 1t is the
very sublimation of all the cabbage family, but
il is neglected by those who grow vegetables fol
their own tables.
$50 we IDaight go through with long list Of
the finer vegetables, which are to large extent
neglected in the country. This neglect is in sew
eral respects unwise. well stocked vegetable
garden is economical 1t supplies large par
Of what the family consumes, and lessons the
bills for meats and groceries Fresh vegetables
well cooked, are healthy and nutritious. More
over, vegetables are u qualification to the ey,
while growing, and, If nicely served, are graft
fcation both to the eye and the palate when the,
come upon the table. Vegetables are econom
zeal, they are healthy and nutritious, they arr
beautiful. There is no reason why people in tn
s.s.1.