Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-21
Transplanting Vegetables.

During the month Of July, farmers and
gardeners in the Northern states either SOW
the seed or transplant many kinds Of late
vegetables. The operation is always more or
less precarious on account of the great heat
at this season and the infrequency Of showers.
Cabbage, beets, turnips celery and similar
vegetable plants are generally removed from
seed-beds at this season, and although not
difficult to make live, still certain amount
Of care is required to prevent severely check.
ing their growth. OF course everyone will So
lect moist, cloudy day in which to transplant
but this cannot always be had, and as the
operation cannot be delayed beyend certain
period, other precautionary means must fire.
quentlY be adopted. If rains do not come,
then prepare the ground in the best possible
manner, and by frequent stirring and deep
culture, moderate supply Of moisture can
be secured even during a severe drouth.
Soil stirred in tho evening will usually ab.
sorb from the air and retain considerable
moisture, while land not moved will be-
come as dry as powder.
When further delay in transplauting is
likely to endanger the crop, give the plants
as they stand in the seed.bed q thorough
soaking with water. Then in a pail, half
barrel or other watertight vessel, or even o
hole in the ground will answer, fill with wa
ter and mix In a quantity of rich unctious
earth of clayey nature, until it is of the
consistency Of thin mortar. Now lift the
plants carefully remove two or more Of the
larger leaves by pinching of, with thumb and
finger, and when a handful is thus prepared,
dip the roots in the mud, or puddle, as us.
ually termed. If the puddle is of proper
consistency, the roots will be entirely coated
over and excluded from the air. which, of
course. prevents willing for time. The re.
moval Of two or three of the largest leaves
also assists greatly as 1t checks the rapid
evaporation of the moisture of the plants,
and the effect is the same as removing Dor.
tion of the branches of the trees when ira MS.
planted.
This preparation for the plants may be
done during the day and even twenty -four or
more hours previous to setting out, if more
convenient, provided they are put in boxes
and set in a shady place. Just at night or
late in the afternoon is the best time to set
out plants in dry time, because, during the
few hours Of shade which follows the roots
will IN a measure, become fixed in the earth
and be all the better prepared to withs tand
the call upon them for moisture by the leaves
during the following day.
In transplauting it is always safe to set
little deeper than when the plants were grow.
ing in the secd-beds, and pack the rth very
firmly about the roots. If cutworms are
likely to trouble the plants, inclose ea Oh stem
In small slip OF paper, passing an inch be.
low and to the first leaves above the ground.
Common brown wrapping paper is best for
this purpose, but old newspapers will answer,
aud If cut up into pieces of the required
form and size, the slips can be put on very
rapidly, aud will cost less than filling up va.
cant spaces caused by cut worms or planting
an entire field as is often necessary where
these worms are very abundant. In setting
out cotton and tobacco plants, the paper pro-
tectors, may often be employed to great ad-
vantage, especially where the common sur.
face cutworms are plentiful. The climbing
will crawl over aud above the pa
per bands, unless smeared on the outside with
some obnoxious substance.
After plants are set out, the frequent stir
ring Of the soil must be continued if the
weather remains dry, and in hot weather it
will do no harm aud much good. A little
care in these matters will usually prevent
failure even during uupropitiOus weather.
Rural Nep York er.