The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-18
for the farmer.
-Ur c.aDEN DRCRnBKH.

A co-resnoutent If the New England Farmer
says: IL is an axiom with all prudent rulers and
GOVERNMENTS In time of peace prepare for WAL"
e. tI,,uphtfuI Gardeners will adopt the spirit
~ This motto. and say, AIN time of leisure pre-
| nor far the busy season." The gardener WHO
| drums his implements nc the FIRST approach of
hard frosts, and gives his garden no more atten-
tion till the opening of another season, ALWAYS
finds himself behind hand in more respects than
one There is always work that is in order; seed
| time and harvest bring their appropriate duties
and so does the season of appropriate leisure!
While there may lie but little labor for the hands,
there is more opportunity for the exercise Of the
mind. Thought, reflection, and planning con-
tribute largely towards success in any calling,
and leisure season is the most favorable time
for This occupation.
Sometimes there is an s'open spell 4" of weather
in December, favorable for out door work. when
improvements, &c, may be made; cleaning mp,
pruning, draining, plOnghing. spading, &c, may
be done. Turning up the soil at this season Of
ten brings tO the surface large number of
insects and their chrysalids &C., which the wea-
ther will destroy, the birds and fowls pick up
and devour. If heavy SHOWS rains and ice
| come and adhere to trees shrubs, or vines atten-
ton is needed, that damage does not occur from
overlooking, breaking or splitting down of the
trees and branches, by gently shaking off the
snow or ice. The fences, gates, &c, will need to
be looked after, to see that they are in good or
| der and kept shut, to keep out farmer Stacks"
or neghbor Don't Cares" cattle, as they range
the highways fields.
Our hints for the practical everyday opera
| tiOns during the winter season must he brief.
| Cold FRAMEs.-In a late article in the Farmer,
| on "COld Frames and their uses" there was an
error in saying " SOW seed Of cabbage and eauli-
| flower the last of September" had in mind to
| say the last of August, and find by referring to
| my notes that such the time. The error
| must have occurred in writing ont the article
| In this latitude the first week in September is
late enough in general seasons; sOwn then, the
plants will have attained growth Of two to four
inches upon the approach of cold weather, when
| they transplanted into the cold frames, the
plants set deep, putting the whole length of the
stem, up to the leaves, into the soil, that the
stem may be protected, As it Is the most tender
part of the plant and is first affected by cold
| The main point in the successful winterng of
plants in cold frames is to give proper ventila-
| tiOn-all that is possible without exposing the
plants to too great cold Attention is needed To
| see that mice do not gain admittance and SO des-
| troy the plants. Trap or poison them, and keep
/ them ont at all events. See that the frames are
well banked up on all sides, and provide mats or
shutters convenient to be used in severe weather.
| The novice in the use Of cold frames may meet
with some drawbacks OF failures at first, in which
case he should not be discouraged, but draw les
sons as to avoid shoals and quicksInds in the
| future.
CoMPosT.-All good gardeners look ont in adj
vance for liberal supplies of compost and manure,
and the winter is the great season for accumula-
tion. Muck or dried earth should be applied in
abundance, TO absorb all the liquids, &c, from
| the privy, pig sty, stable, aud TO mix with the
droppIngs of the poultry. Mick woods earth
mould may be dug and hauled frequently, at any
time during winter, and often easier or more
conveniently on the sled than on the cart or wa
gon. No danger of hanling getting together
too much, as it will keep and be all the better
for keeping.
SEEDs.-Take good care of all home produced
Select the best only, and clean out all others.
Make list of what is wanted, and if you cannot
obtain pure and good of your friends, he in readi
ness to order from reliable producers and dealers
as soon as their stocks are offered.