Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-05-24

ful of the fact that farmers have much to
do In early spring on their farms, and
have little spare time TO spend in the gar
den. There are, however, few choice
vegetables that can be cultivated without
much labor OF expense, and there are few
persons owning or renting land that can
offer any reasonable excuse for not pro-
ducing full supply for their families.
At the head Of the list we would place
ASPARAGUS.
This Is one of the best and most healthy
vegetables, and is always ready for use in
early spring.
Twenty-Five to fifty cents worth of seed
will produce plants enough for any FAM
lily. The seed should be soaked for twen-
ty-four hours in tepid water, then sown
in rows, covering two inches deep.
When the plants are one year old, trans
plant into rows three or four feet apart,
| and the plants about two feet in the rows.
The soil should be made deep and rich
the richer the better, as a general rule.
The crowns of the plants should be
covered four to six inches deep. A bed
of asparagus, If well cultivated and ma
nured, viii last lifetime.
RHUBARB, OR PIE-PLANT.
This is another very wholesome vege-
table, its peculiar acidity making it very
| agreeable to most persons. The seeds
may be sown in autumn or early spring,
and the seedlings transplanted when one
year old, and placed about the same dis
tance apart as asparagus. II, however,
any particular variety is desired, the roots
must be procured, as 1t varies considera-
| bly, when raised from seed. The Linn@-
us, Downing's Colossal, and Victoria are
the three best varieties in cultivation.
] The plants may be multiplied quite rap
! idly by dividing the clumps of roots. A
rich soil is necessary to produce large,
succulent leafstalks, the part of the plant
used for the table.
sCoKE OR POKE.
| We presume that a majority OF our
farmers look upon this plant as vile
weed, and of no use except as a medicine
for garget in COWS; hence one of its COM
mon names, "garget root" But we can
assure those who have never tried it, that
the young, tender shoots, in spring or
summer, are most excellent substitute
for asparagus or spinach, as it may be
served up in various ways for the table.
The roots are perennial, and a bed of it is
permanent magazine of food. All that
is required to prevent the spread of the
plants is to cut off the flower shoots, not
permitting any seed to ripen.
HORSE RADIsH.
1t may seem superfluous to mention
such an old and well-known plant, but it
is not to be found in one-haf of our gar
dens, although there is scarcely person
who does not enjoy little of this pun
gent favored root as a condiment with
meats. There are few culinary vegeta-
bles of equal importance that are SO gen
orally neglected. 1t is propagated by
dividing the roots in fall or spring, and
planted in rich, deep soils.
To the above list of hardy perennial
vegetables large number might be added,
but supply of even these would be quite
an improvement upon the present farm
ers' almost barren gardens. Among the
valuable but seldom cultivated annual
and biennial vegetables we would especi
ally recommend the following, which are
readily grown without extra care: Swiss
chard, New Zealand spinach, endive,
leeks and sea kale.
A SUCCESSION OF VEGETABLES.
The most general plan of operation in
country gardens is to sow the different
kinds of vegetables in spring, and per
haps all in one day; no more being put in
during the season. This may answer fol
a majority of the kinds cultivated, but il
a succession is desired, then corn, peas
beans, lettuce, radishes, and similar veg
etables must be sown at different times
during the spring and summer. BY plant
ing a few every week or ten days the table
may be supplied during the greater par
of the summer and autumn months
There is nothing which adds so much tc
the pleasures of country life, or to th,
health of a family, as an abundance o
fruits and vegetables, and yet it is nota
BILE fact that those who have the best op
portunities for producing them are th'
most likely to be without.-Neac YorI
Sun.