The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-05-24
FARM AND GARDEN.


the ladies of the household. The fol-
lowing directions from Brecks New
Book of Flowers, is orthodox in every
respect:
To ascertain if plant wants fresh
potting turn it carefully out of the pot,
with the earth attached to it, and ex-
anime the roots. If they are matted
about the sides and bottom of the ball,
the plant evidently requires fresh pot
ting. Then carefully reduce the ball of
earth, to about third of its original
bulk; single out the matted roots, and
trim away all that are moldy and de-
cayed Probably the same pot may
then be large enough, but, if it re-
quires larger one, it should be about
two inches broader for middle sized
plant; three or four for large plant.
If the roots are not matted, but the
pots are filled with fbres, keep the ball
entire and carefully plant it in large
pot. At the top of a large pot, an
inch, and of a small one half an inch,
should be left for the reception of water,
without danger of overflow. A little
gravel, charcoal, or pieces of broken
pots should always be placed at the
bottom for drainage.
A plant newly potted must never be
exposed to strong sun. 1t should be
watered and placed in the shade imme-
diately, and there remain till it is root
ed, which may be known by its starting
to grow.
Plants are frequently destroyed by
re potting, merely from the careless
manner in which it is done. When the
roots spread, plenty of room should be
left open, little hillock made in the
centre of the pot, and the plant being
placed thereon, the roots should be dis
tributed around it in regular manner,
observing that they are not twisted or
turned up at the ends. The earth
should then be filled in little at a
time, and the pot gently shaken to set
tie the earth to the roots all the way
down. When filled it should be press
ed down with the hand. 1t is very
common to fill in the earth at once,
and press it hard down, which not only
wounds the tender fibre, but often
leaves a hollow space around the lower
roots, and deprives them of their proper
nourishment. But the thing most nee
essary to be observed is, that the roots
be allo,oed their natural course.
All plants should be kept clear of
weeds, not for the neatness alone, but
because these exhaust the nutriment
which should feed the plant.
The best water for plants is undoubt-
edly rain water; if this can not be OBJ
tanned, river water will do; pond water
is not so good, but worst of all is hard
spring water. In winter, and for deli
cate plants, even in summer, waiter
should be placed in the sun until it be-
comes tepid before it is used.
The water should never be allowed
to remain in the pan under the pot, as
it tends to rot the roots. 1t may be
well to observe that plants should be
watered with nose on the spout of
watering-pot, and the more finely it is
perforated the better, SO as to sprinkle
the water lightly over the flowers and
leaves, without bending them down
with its weight.
Many persons think it sufficient to
water the roots, which is great mis-
take. 1t materially contributes to its
health and beauty to sprinkle the whole
plant:
Comforting the garden, woods, and flowers
With the cool spray of artificial showers"
Of such plants as are succulent, it is
generally advised to water the leaves
but seldom, lest redundacy of moist
ure should rot them. The best way in
watering all plants, is rather to cast the
water at, than to pour it on them, as it
falls more lightly. 1t will be observed
that more water. as we'll as more shelter,
must be necessary for potted plants,
than for those in open ground.
Flowers must not be denied the light,
toward which they naturally turn; the
want of it will injure their health as
much as the want of water, air, or
warmth.
They must also be allowed air; even
those that will not bear the outer air
must have the air of the room frequent
ly freshened by ventilation, to preserve
them in health. Care should be taken
not to let plants stand in draught, for,
when SO situated, one strong gust of an
easterly wind will often prove sufficient
to destroy them.
FEEDING FOR MILK AND BUTTER.-l
In feeding cows for milk and butter,
the following suggestions were made at
the Maine Agricultural Society: Raise
your own cows, do not buy them
strange animals are ill-treated, and often
injured. If you wish to get all the
milk possible, feed high, and in two
years "you can drive all the milk out
of a cow" On the contrary, feed mod
erately, and many cows will hold out
till they are twenty-one. Several in
stances were mentioned. Cows treated
kindly will not be vicious. No rule for
feeding them can be of universal appli-
cation, their constitutions must be re-
garded as much as in the human race.
Abundant testimony was given in favor
of fodder corn-with preference for
sweet, although Southern corn yielded
the most. One herd had been wintered
on it thus far-cut with a hay-cutter-I
two quarts shorts and two quarts cob