The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-06-15
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How to Cultivate Weedy Corners.

How to Cultivate Weedy Corners.
A great many families have rear yards |
and corners Of zigzag fences which are
overgrown with coarse grass and noxious
weeds every season, the soil of which |
might be made to produce all the potatoes
that family would need for several months,
by the expenditure Of only few hours
labor. We will suppose, for example, that
one has here and there few small plots of
tough sod ground, which cannot be plowed
conveniently, and which is SO hard, stony
and rooty that one does not like to under
take the job of spading it. If grass and
weeds are a foot high let every stem be cut
down with scythe or bush hook, or trod
down fatty, after which scatter gener-
GUS dressing of ashes of any kind over the
ground, drop Irish potatoes about one foot
apart over the entire plot and cover the
ground with straw, old hay or very coarse
stable manure, which is nearly all straw,
to the depth of four or five inches, and
press it down when the straw is wet. Such
a covering of straw, will keep down all
weeds, kill every spear Of grass, and the
plants will soon come up, grow luxuriantly
and yield crop at the rate of four hun
dred bushels of excellent potatoes per acre,
without any hoeing or wedding. In
Autumn, remove the straw and vines with
a garden rake or manure fork, and the
potatoes will all be exposed to view on the
surface of the ground, as clean aid neat
as if they had just been washed. The
decaying grass and ashes will supply an
abundance of the choicest fertilizing ma
terial for the growing plants, and, if the
seed is free from rot, every potato will be
sound and healthy. In this latitude, pota-
toes may be planted in the foregoing man
ner any time prior to the first of July, with
the assurance of producing satisfactory
crop.
AS Irish potatoes need a generous dress
ing of ashes, they may be scattered over
the ground at the rate of 200 bushels per
acre, and the potatoes will be all the larger
and fairer on account of such an appliea-
ton of manure. Wood ashes are prefera-
bic to coal ashes; yet, there is large
amount of valuable fertilizing material in
the former. The grass that is trod down
and covered with straw will decay speedily
and form excellent plant food for the grow
ing crop. In case one has only limited
quantity of straw and old hay for covering
potatoes thus planted, let a thin layer OF
straw be spread over the seed after it is
dropped, after which scatter sawdust, or
the shavings from planning mill, over the
straw to the depth of two or three inches.
RAISING A FEW FINE sQUAsHEs.
In many instances one or two barrels Of
Hubbard squashes might be produced in
vacant hooks and corners of yards where
nothing but coarse weeds bear undisputed
sway. A hill may be planted here and
another there, and portion of the vines
may be allowed to spread out on the bor-
der of grass plat Spade up an area of
ground about four feet in diameter, and
work in half bushel of fine manure
Several bushels OF excellent manure for
such purpose may sometimes be OBJ
tanned beneath the stable floor. Spread
half bushel of ashes alse over the surface,
and rake them in; after which, stick in six
or eight plump seeds with the points down.
ward. Should the weather continue hot
and the ground dry, let thin layer of
grass or shavings be spread around the
squashes after they have como up; then, if
the hills are sprinkled wit h water OCCASION
ally the soil will retain moisture, and the
surface will continue mellow instead of
being baked, as it will be when not covered
with some sort of matching material. AS
soon as the vines begin to put forth run
ners, pinch off all the plants but four,
which will be sufficient for one hill. Direct
the ends of tho runners so that they will
cover all the area of about ten feet in diam
eter. There is nothing gained by allowing
vines to run ad hbitum. Hence as soon as
they have spread out five or six feet from
the roots, turn the ends carefully around
and let them grow back toward the roots,
which they are not inclined to do. AS
soon as the ends are turned around branches
willstart, which usually yield more squashes
than the main vines. Examine every plant
daily near the root for borers. The pres
ence Of borers is indicated by small hole
in the vine, out of which the depredaters
work their litter. As soon as it is evident
a borer is in the vine, thurst the blade of
sharp knife through the vine, splitting it
in two equal parts, destroy the borers, then
close the wound and tie the parts together
with some pieces of wet corn husks.