The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-01
The Garden and the Farm.

merly, as people have learned that not one
or two, but great number of causes CON-
bine to produce results in business en-
bracing so wide and diversified field as
that of the farmer.
We have been often reminded, when on
the farm, how easy it is to mistake the
causes of success or failure Of crops, or to
judge OF the value of experiments by sim
gle trial. A few years ago a neighbor in
planting corn tried the experiment of plac-
ing little hen manure under each hill, and
slightly mixing it with the soil before de-
posting the seed. Exactly twenty rows
were thus planted, and these rows came up
quicker and grew much more rapidly than
the remainder of the field. At the time OF
caring this superiority was still manifest
tho manfred hills 'tasseling" about a
week earlier than the other, and seemingly
stronger and larger. just at this critical
period the corn was cultivated thoroughly
both ways, the cultivor cutting close to the
hills, and of course, cutting off many roots.
The corn was apparently not injured by
this severe treatment, though we had
doubts of its ACCESSIBILITY even then. At
harvest time the crop was unexpectedly
poor. The ears were very short, poorly
filled, and many not fully ripe. The crop
WAS ltjt UlOTb tubD Wnht hhu bSCh "a
pected. Coming to the MANFRED strip, this
instead Of being better, was rather inferior
to the unmanured row beside it,
What was the cause of this tailure2 1t
was decidedly interesting to hear the COM
ments of the neiebbors on the result. Hen
manure was condemned as fertilizer for
corn, despite hundreds of instances where
1t had proved valuable. Some gravely ar
gued that hen manure benefited the crop
at first, but "exhausted" the soil so that the
final caring was defective. Others though.
that hen manure "lacked" something need
ed to perfect the grain, and was only USE
full in growing fodder. If the experiment
had been made with superphosphate, ashes,
salt, or even guano, some such conclusion
as the above would probably have been gen.
orally acquiesced in. Fortunately, the
value of hen manure has been tested by too
many experiments to be discredited AL
together, the result was generally consider
ed mystery.
And yet the probable explanation lies on
the surface. The last deep cultivation evil
IDENTIFY cut the corn roots too late for them
to recover, possibly dry spell followed,
which aggravated the difficulty. 1t is per-
fectly natural, under such circumstances,
that the best corn should be most injured,
for it was in the condition most liable to in
jury. Had the cultivation been shallow,
or had it come two weeks earlier the corn
crop would have been doubled, and the
corn most forward would have been as much
the best in the crib as it was during the ear
ly part of the season.
Possibly our explanation may be imper-
feet in some particulars. 1t becomes ey-
erYbody to be very cautious in stating the
direct results of a single experiment. We
are often amused on hearing the positive
and dogmatic approval or condemnation OF
some practice by men who have tried it,
perhaps, once, and straightway advise or
condemn it altogether. In this way, if cir
cumstsnces favor, we will agree to prove
that barnyard manure does no good-nay,
more, is absolutely injurious-a statement
which, however clearly it might be shown
from one or even two or three experiments,
no farmer would believe. This habit of
considering instead of Jumping at conclu-
sions 10 increasing among farmers, and we
more and more frequently hear the thought
full remark that "perhaps some other and
uHsuspected cause had something to do In
producing the result; and this is one of
the best signs for American agriculture.
Rural Ne,o Yorker.
THE BEST VEGETABLE rhAur.
April and May are the two busy months
in well-mansged vegetable garden. Du-
ring these months, the most important work
of the season has to be hurried through,
for planting time is short, and there are
many small matters that need prompt at
tentlon. First of all is the selection of
choice garden seeds of recent growth, and
such as will be found true to name. The
surest way is to select from each year s
crop few of the best specimens of the
same to raise seed from. For the rest,
send to some responsible seed merchant,
and don't depend on the kind of stock
found in small boxes in the country gro
Gerry stores. AS matter of reference for
those not familiar with the best sort of veg
etabl seeds and plants, append the follow
ing list. naming two or three kinds of each
to select from.
Dwarf beans,-Early valentine and ref
ugee.
Pole beans.-Large white lima and hor-
ticultural cranberry.
Beets.-Dsrk red Egyptian and long
smooth blood.
Cabbage. Jersey Wakefield Carly and
premium fiat Dutch and drumhead savoy
(late.)
Cucumber.-White spine and long green.
Carrot BLISS improved long orange.
Corn.-Moore's early and Stowelps ev-
ergreen.
Cauliflower and late erfurt.
Celery. incompatible and Boa
ton market.
Egg plant. New York.
Lettuce.-Curled Silesia and butter.
Musk melon.-Skillman's fine netted.
Onions. w bakersfield red and white
Portugal.
Parsnips. smooth.
Peas.-PhiladelDh extra early, Carriers
first crop, champion Of England, and
white marrowfat.
Peppers. squash and bull-nose.
Radshes. --Turnip scarlet, long scarlet,
and white Spanish.
Squash. Summer crookneek, Boston
marrow, and hubbard.
In this brief list will be found the lead
ing kinds grown both by market and pri-
vate gardeners near large cities. With
bush beans, peas, and radishes, it is best to
repeat the sowings every two or three
weeks, until the middle of June. By toll
lowing this plan, fresh supply of these
sorts will keep coming on for table use un-
til late in the season.-Sor,bnerS Monthly
rHE FLOWER GARDEN.
Very little can be done in the flower gar
den this month besides the work of prep
aration, by which much time and labor may
be saved during the busy months of May
and June.
All decsying weeds, plants and rubbish
should be cleared away from the beds and
borders, and burned. Manure may BIZ
-. Al. L l. Al. a.
out Of the ground.
Beds containing early towering bulb
should be uncovered, the manure or leaves
removed and the ground raked smooth be
fore the buds appear.
Lawns and grass borders should receive
attention at once. If compost was applied
last fall, the coarser particles and stone
should be removed by raking over tho sur
face. Where the grass has become thin
seed should be sown before raking. If NJ
compost was used in the fall apply it now