Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-10-05
Fall Planting of Hardy Plants.

All hardy plants, that start early in
spring, should be set out in autumn. The
best time in this latitude is from October
10Th to November 18th; if later than this,
they should be covered with hay, straw,
or some such material, to keep them from
being severely frozen. The reason why
such plants as rhubarb and asparagus do
better by being planted in the fall, rather
than in spring, will be apparent when we
consider their nature. Young or old plants
of either asparagus or rhubard, just as soon
as the frost is out Of the ground in spring,
begin to develop the buds WHICH form the
stalks. simultaneously with this starting
of the buds, there is development of
rootlets. Now, when We lift these plants
to transplant in spring, these minute fbers
are destroyed-not only by breaking of,
when dug up, but by exposure to the air.
This does not seem materially to il.jure
these roots, for either will grow and do
we'll if the trapsplanting is delayed even
late into the spling months. But what
we contend for is, that they will do bett,
it planted SO early III the fall-say during
Octobvr-that thtse n otlets may be
emitted, and be ready, if thus left undis-
turbed, to impart vigor to. the plant in
spring. am convinced, particularly in
light, dry soils, rhuhprb or asparagus
roots planted in Ottoner will give (conui-
tons of soil and manure being e4usD u
much better growth than when set IN
spring. Last fall put out in October, for
my own use, dozen roots Of rhuba.d.
Not having enough plants then to coin
plete the row, delayed &c ting additional
roots until April. The result was that we
were pulling The stalks from those painted
in October before those set out ia April
were showing signs of starring. This iali
planting is equally advantageous with
hardy bulbs Our stock If lilies is
usually planted in October, and if
by any chance some are left
over until spring, the grorth is
never SO vigorous, and the later the
operation of planting is delayed, the
weaker the growth. This many of your
lady readers, no doubt, have experienced
with their hyacinths and tulips. When
planted early in fall, they form roots be-
fore cold weather sets III, and are ready to
start early in the spring; but if the plant
e has been delayed until December, it is
then too cold for roots to form, and the
couse quence is, feeble flower in spring
or, worse yet, if hyacinths, tulips or GRO
cusses are not planted until spring, the
top starts before the roots, and the result is
complete disappointment, and if the bulbs
flower at all, they are weak and feeble.
This may be further illustrated by plants
Il an ent rely different nature, in any sec
ton of the country where the thermome-
ter does not fall !, .wer than fifteen or twen-
ty degrees below the freezing point. Cab
bages or lettuce plants SET out in October,
W II come to maturity ten or twelve days
quicker than if planted in February or
March. In many parts of the Southern
States this fall pla@''ug of c"hbages, or
sowing or planting Of onions, for market
purposes, may be followed very probably.
No doubt it is done in some places, but l
do not believe it is generally practiced.
In such localities the advantage of plant
ing rhubarb or asparagus in fall would be
even greater than in colder districts, for if
delayed until spring, hot weather rapidly
sets in, and, as in the case of hyacinths or
tulips, above referred to, the tops start be-
fore the roots, and the growth for some
time is feeble.-Peter Henderson, IN AMER
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