The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-06-29
The culture ~ sage.

Sage IS most profitably grown as a
second crop. The seed should he sown
III early spring in drills about EIGHT
inches apart, they Young plants kept
free from weeds, and the ground about
them pulverlzed by frequent hoeing
Previous to sowing the seed the around
should be enriched with some light
kind of manure, thoroughly rotted and
we'll spaded under. After fining down
with the rake the lines are struck out
the seed soWn-one once being sutli-
clent for 300 feet of drill-and covered
lightly. Ii the ground IS dry enough
TO permit, 1t IS always best, after the
seed Is sown and covered, To rIl the
bed or pat 1t down with the spade
Inns is very important, particularly in
dry weather. Many argyle that the less
compact the ground the greater its
power to absorb the dews, and conse-
quently the better it is for the seeds
Ills, at first sight, would appear to be
true but, though more moisture Is
absorbed at night, 1t is also more cas-
lily evapotated during the day, and il is
the extremes of moisture and drvness.
rapidly alternating, that cause seeds to
shnvel and die. In very dry weather,
II have occasion to SOW seeds, I fre-
uently walk over the drills, PRESSING
the soil upon the seeds with the ball ot
the foot \ uniform degree 1f inois-
ture, even If 1T is not great, with the
proper amount vi heat, viii soon Ger
inmate seeds. This is an important
point, and one IN which failure very
often occurs
The young plants are allowed TO crow
III the seedbed until July, when they
are planted in the field, The s,,ws fifteen
inches apart and the plants IN the rows
ten lnches. by frequent hoeing and
proper attention, the sage will com
pletely cover the ground by early feil.
provided, of course, that the ground
has beer Will well MANFRED, when il
should be gathered before hard frosts
y ready market Is found for it. Ill
the cities, i'll the green state, but those
unhandy to market generally dry it
and keep until winter.
To dry 1t nicely reduires some care.
We stretch stout twice across a build
ing, or attach it 20 tue rafters, having
the strings about Is inches apart, then
cut the sage close to the GROUND and
hang on these strings After a little
practice u - rapidly done, as the plants,
by beIng cut low, viii not average more
than three branches each. maxine ttle
labor OF hanging mu"h lighter than il
1t should ht cut high The plants
stUnld not be crowded too much upon
the-Strlngs, and should be abundantIy
aired, as this will tend to give the SAGE.
when dried, a lively green ecidi. When
preparing for 's'ariet, which it is best
tn do tn a damp day, we take from the
strings and place III pile convenient
to The workman, who, with a block be
tore hIm, grasps a small handful aud
chops off the ends of tiG branches
while two or titIee other workmen are
engaged in tying III small lunches
One active chopper viii thus keep in
employ about three tyers. The coarse
ends OF the branches are useless for
market purposes.
Some market prefer H. huy hy
weight, when IT II prepared the same
as when sold hy the bunch. exeept that
1t Is not tied, but packed loosely IN
bags, containing ), 10, or % pounds
We consider this method OF raisino
sage much superior TO the old one ot
allowing the plants to remain in the
ground year after year BY this plan,
ut occupies the ground but two and i
half OF three months, and may follow,
early vegetables that are cleared of by
the middle or last of July. NJ