Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-17
FARM AND GARDEN.

TIE CRcPs. are told that the growing
wheat crop in this county will not average our
bushels to the acre, if something unforeseen
does not improve it very shorty. S. me farmers
are blowing up trer wheat fields and pla ting
then, in corn. A warm protracted ram is very
much needed, which would improve the grow
ing whea very much Corn planting is pro-
crossing, a.Id our farmers propose pl"nting all
the available land that can be obtain d. hich
10 very wise. considering the poor prospect for
wheat ShephsrdSto,cn Register
The weather continues cool, the thermometer
AT night sinking to 80 degr,c CO. The wheat i'm
proves steadily, and now 'oks promising. Oats
and grass arc backward. Farmer. are straining
every nerve to let in a large crop OF corn. Rain
needed Warrenton hder.
Our wheat crop has very much improved
since thu cold spell. he feel s We have had an
opportunity of noticing and which were quite
yellow for week or So after the freeze are now
cooking very fl jurishiag. The late Wheat has
also considerably improved Lexington Ga:etts
EARLY OR LATE p. ASTISG.-ls it best 10
plant as early as possible, or to defer this work
rs long rs Can be safely done? This is ques-
| ton in which all farmers are Interested, and to
| which each year they are practically obliged TO
| reply. Whine there are many advocates for
each of these extremes, l think there is gold.
en- mean" which will lead to much better re.
| suits Either Of the extremes are open to grave
|
way between. 1t is true. rs the advocates OF
carly planting claim, that if the seed is got into
| the ground very early, the work is do Z and
| out Of the way Of other things which then need
attention. But the objections to this course are
that the ground and weat or are SO cold early
in the season that the seed either rots in the
ground or else is long while coming u often
TAILS prey to wire worms; the plants, if any
appear. are tender and grow very slowly, while
the weeds, which are more hardy, At once &c in
| and possess the land
Lste lsnting is not open to these objections
but it Is open to some which are quite serious II
the season is backward, and the planting is III
off as late MS possible, the plants not large
enough to DE hoed more than once btturc hay!ng
time and there Is dar & r that the crop will not
be fully manurcd before the autumn tro>ts.
think the best way is TO begin the preparation
of the land quite early; plow, and get 1t nearly
fitted to receive the seed Keep blowing and
htung, but do no: put in the seed until b tn
ground and weather are warm. Then go over
tie land W III t barrow, in order to destroy the
weeds which hcve s.nr-et up, An al'o 10 make
fine bed tor the ICED, and do he planting rs
soon as possible Then the or p will get rs good
start rs the W eds, grow r.spl iiy, be ready f'r
the second or third hoeinS before the time for
getting hay, and have abunda t tim" in which
to get perfectly ripe. - Country Gentleman.
VIoLETs.-Perhsps it msy be oi in .erest to
some of our female friends to know how to raise
in winter those sweet scented ana beautiful little
flowers -violets First take Il few Old boards and
con :truct bottom ess box, about three or four
feet in length and two feet square, sinking 1t in
the earth nearly its lull .cpth on the sunny side
of the garden. The top the box should b. slant
ing. and covered VITA g'ass dor or lid on
hi ee After having tn" b"t we'll fix d. plant
four or ii ,e good healthy ct stalks. md the
bed is complete. But to run tn" same success.
FULLY great care is Lere;sary. During the day,
in warm and pelsa It W ,sther, the glass lid
should be opened, but always closed a. night
When cold weather ssts in the 6 ass shoaid be
well covered with dry leaves, aud when wanted
to bloom tn, covering removed On very cold
nights III, box should b, cogcr.d with three or
four pieces OF carpet, also On very cold days.
The plan hiss he n known to wo.k, ani vlo!ets
on Christmas aud New Year male quite plen-
tful.