St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-05-12
TIE CALIFORNIAN.
Ghe farm and Garlea.


Farmers Stock racrs and IIorticulturists ar inVeu
10 contribute T. this dcI artment such matc'S " '"
within their own experience and observation
PLANTING RASrEEERIEs.-1hc rasp-
berry, TO lie a success, wants Il deep,
loose soil, but at the first planting it
.hould have but about two inches OF
earth over the top root OF the plant
Cut away all the stems OF last years
Growth down to four inches above the
newly starting bud. In planting some
set two or three plants in a Hill at three
feet apart each way hut our practice
has been successful with two plants at
two feet apart along the rows, a"I the
rows three feet wide.
BrppING OFT PIANrs.-Wc caution
against too early planting cat I'll "e"-
ding ont plants Nerbcnas' g'raiI!"''''
fender roses. etc that have been reared
IN the house by fire heat, will not be al
,onccd 10y planting ont ere the first t.
the tenth OF May. Many Il plant that
has crown all the season and is establish
rd will bear the autumn coll into No
ycmbcr without injury, but the same
class or variety Of plant taken now from
the greenhouse or living room Windows
and planted ont in ;hc ground feels every
change, and lis health Is affected as much
rs the human frame, were il to have the
warm clothing of winter removed and
the linen OF summer substituted.
CrLTIyATION AND COOKING OF As
rAEAGr's.-Wc copy the following from
the Providence JomW0i:
No vegetable is more desirable III lis
season, than asparagus. 1t always COM
manlS good price, Is never very plcnti-
iul, hardly ever of such quality Is it
might or ought 10 he, and yet Is easily
raised, with but very little care after the
bed is well started. In this, as in most
other matters, it is the first step which
counts, and costs Whatever the char
acter of the soil in which the bed is to
he made, il is to he thoroughly prepared.
There is nothing mysterious, nothing com-
licatcl, nothing beyond the means and
knowledge of the plaincst farmer in rcla-
ton to it, or necessary 10 success. There
is no need Of digging n cellar and paving
the bottom with stones, bones or leather.
A spade, in good gardening soil, will 90
deep cnou. h, and if the soil be thorough
ly pulvcrizcd and Il GOOD quantity Of well
rottcd manure mixed with it, vigorous
twO-ycars-old plants put in twelve inches
apart, the Crowns set four inches below
the surface, taking care 10 place the roots
rs nearly rs possible in the position they
originally grew, and not to tread ON the
bcd-using n board to step on-thc
work is done. Then dress with salt as
the weeds begin to GROW; cut the tops
in the autumn, and cover with manure,
Iorking it in III the spring, and repeating
the process yearly, and asparagus will
grow and flourish from generation TO
generation. That which is purchased in
the market is, usually, onc-half of il at
least, worthless. If well cared for, it
will crow quickly, should be cut an inch
below the surface Of tie soil, and the
whole stock will then he tender and pal
atablc Coed cooks improve the tender
ness OF asparagus which is too old by
putting into the water in which it is
cooked, little Soda but it should be
crown so quickly, and prepared for the
table 50 soon after being cut, as not to
need any such artistic treatment. 1t is
unnecessary 10 say that the flavor can
never he restored by such means Some
persons cut asparagus into small pieces
before cooking it this seems TO us an
unwarran.ed mutilation. Tic stalk
should have grown in two days: it will
then be cXquisitely tender; of a deep
green, with head purple, glistcning in
the sun, with the color OF the robe of an
ancient Roman consul it will break as
sqnarcly as diamond-scraichcl glass, and
far more easily than a maidcn's heart at
the loss of her first lover; its perfume Is
pangcnt and agreeable its emerald tint
lively, as It is one of the earliest, so is it
one Of the most grateful productions of
the garden. 1t is to he treated gently.
Cut in the early morning, while the dew
yet lies upon it rcIrcshin2ly, it is to be
washed in cold water, kept in shady
place until near the dinner honr, then
put into Il small quantity of water and
boiled until 1t is about half done then
the water should be poured oil and milk
put in, and allowed to cook until a fork
can be thrust through it easily; take il
up SO as not to break stalk, and dish
1t on toasted bread, season, and you lave
dish often asked for, but seldom seen.
RAISING CrcuMrErs.-In reply to a
correspondent, the Nar EoyhDd Farmer
says:
Raising cucunbers Is branch Of mar
ket gardening; a part Of a trade which
requires an apprenticeship as much as