Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-24
seasonabIe Suggestions.

Weeds IN the Gdr9en-Gardeners waste a GREAT
deal OF labor in the war on weeds, in which the
weeds often come of victors. The war is an
Improbable one at best, and should be avoided
where possible. This desirable end may be ac-
complished in two ways-by allowing no seed to
lnfest the soil, or If they obtain possession
TO destroy the weeds before they come Nd We
once had the pleasure of walking over the thirty
acre horticultural grounds of friend, where a
dozen weeds could not be found. In answer
to an inquiry, he said, 80 The weeds cannot
grow here; the soil has been cleared of the
seeds, and none are allowed to ripen." This
way or management, although attended with
considerable labor and close attention at first,
he regarded a. much cheaper in the end, in
more ways than one-the labor of killing the
weeds was avoided, the crops were not retarded
or checked BY their presence, and the satisfac-
ton OF controlling his own ground was equal to
the two other Advantages The most successful
farmers are those who eradicate weeds from
their fields by not allowing them to grow. and
the gardener should adopt the same course, by
keeping the ground constantly stirred before the
crops are planted, and then by passing over
the surface between the plants often as
once a week afterwards, breaking the crust
and keeping the whole clean and mellow
without waiting for the small green points
of the weed to make their appearance.
A light fine garden rake is a capital tool for this
work. as il may be rapidly over the surface,
and It accomplishes the twO-fOld operation of
PulyerZing the soil. anu of breaking and killing
the young weeds that are sprOuting below. Let
any one try this operation. and compare IL with
the subsequent pulling up of the weeds with the
Toe, after careleSsly allowing them to grow two
or three inches. and he will be amply satisfied
with the great superiority of the practice of
keeping the surface clean and mellow by raking,
while the rapid growth of the crop will of itself
mole than repay all the labor. A very narrow
and fine rake. made Oh purpose, will work well
between garden drills.
Annals TranspLdnting and TAinning.-The
skil'ful gardener understands the importance Of
giving ornamental plants sufficient room, in
order To develop well the form Of the plant, and
Il tU nd ri hna 81 fha
But there are many other persons who SOW seeds
very thickly, and fail to thin out sufficiently.
The farmer knows well that il he planted fifty
grain OF corn in hill, and the hilBa foot apart,
he would not have good ear; his crue Of apples
would be small II the trees were oAly yard
a aunt and eabbages planted as thick as grass
plies to Towering plants. II they stand in thick
masses in the bed, the plant will be feeble, and
will bear comparatively few flowers, AMI those
small and imPerfeetly developed. The contrast
between such flowers and those growing on n
stout, well branched plant, with a rich and pro-
fuse bloom, will show any one the superiority OF
the latter. Seeds are necessarily SOwn thicker
than they are to remain, and the thin
ming may begin soon after the plants are up.
Whether in the hOt-bed OF in the open ground.
the point OF narrow uowel or Of table knife
may be employed for taking out the supernu-
meraries, which may be set out when wanted,
with small mas of soil on the roots, without
disturbing their growth. As they become larger,
more room may be given. Very few persons
give enough. Asters, for example, If of the
larger sorts, should be about a foot apart, in
order that they may become round and full
headed; the smaller varieties should be six in
ches apart Petunias, in the best rich soil,
should stand a foot and half; DrummOnd phlOx
foot; tall larkspars more than foot, and other
plants at corresponding distances, according to
their height and natural breadth.
I5.PrvciR2 tAs FOTm--SORe ANIMALS grow In
handsome, symmetrical form; others are strag
glers in a greater or less degree. These may be
improved in appearance by pinching in the
longer shoots in tm6-nOt cutting them back,
which would be too late 10 Obviate the mischief,
and would tend to check their growth. Such
plants the aster do not often need this shaping,
but balsams and many others nav be much inn
proved by little timely attention.-C0EEtry
Gentleman.