The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-28
Work in the Garden.


The garden demands attention in
vines, haulm, leaves and other refuse
waiting to be cleared away, and in
the growth of weeds almost certain to
appear in abundance ut this season.
These last by many farmers are carted
off to the compost heap, where, after
sufficient heating and decomposition,
the vitality of their seed is destroyed /;
but it ought to be borne in mind and
acted upon that slight fermentation
does not always suffice to accomplish
this, and there is danger of returning
to the soil in vegetable manures the
very seed it is desired to keep it free
from. Unless, therefore, troublesome
growths are not to be thoroughly in
corporated in compost heap which is
to undergo complete decomposition, the
safer plan is to burn them on the
ground.
Such portions of the garden as have
been visited by cut-worms and other
pests, or the entire plot if it be of stiff
clay soil, may be fall plowed with ad-
vantage throwing the earth up in
ridges exposes insects in their transfor-
nation state to the weather and affords
the soil an opportunity of becoming
ameliorated by the action of the frost.
This is also a good time for laying
garden walks, especially if these are to
be finished with coal ashes. Tender
plants should now be protected or re.
moved, as the latitude calls for. Small.
fruit bushes and vines should be
mulched, and all plants that are gross
feeders literally supplied with manure
Indeed, the entire surface of the garder
will take kindly to a top-dressing afte
it has been cleared off and raked over
Not a few cultivators contend tha
manure spread at this season is produc
tive OF greater benefits than when ap
piled at any other.
Gardeners ambitious for succession
of early vegetables in the spring viii
soon begin the sowing of seeds in SOM
protected spot, which is to be continue,
at intervals for succession of trans
paintings. s.-Ne1O York World.
Seeds Best Sown inSthe Autumn.
Most people have observed, no doubt
that self-sown seeds, that is, seeds tina
have dropped from the growing plant
of the previous season, sometimes pro
duce the strongest and most health,
plants, that bloom the most freely
This is true of several kinds, and par
ticularly of those that suffer under ex
posure to our midsummer suns. Th
reason is that self-sown seeds get YER
healthy growth in the spring, vegetatin
as soon as frost is gone, and are good
sized plants at the time we usually pu
seeds in the ground, even if they do nc
start in the fall. They thus mature an
flower during the cool weather of spring
The clarkias and nemophilas and annus
arkspurs are noted examples. Their
are also several varieties of hardy ar
nuals that do well with spring sowin
that will bear autumn sowing in th
open ground, and reward us with earl
spring flowers. Sweet alyssum an
white candytuft will give us an abunt
ance of white for early cutting, if SOW
in the autumn. In sandy soil th
portulacca may be sown in autumn wit
good success. Seeds of biennials an
perennials, if sown early enough to pro
duce strong little plants, will flower th
next summer and pansies and Chimes
pinks, though they bloom the first sun
mer, if sown in the spring, will mal
much stronger plants and flower mol
freely and earlier if young plants al
grown in the autumn.- Vick's Fort
Guide.
Grape Cuttings.
A correspondent asks for the best wa
to make grape cuttings. 1t is very sin
pie. Select wood of the current year
growth, cut to three eyes each, fro
STRAIGHTFORWARD wood; tie in small bul
dies; set them on the larger ends on
dry soil, or where no water may stan
Cover all with a mound and they w
winter nicely. Plant as early in IL
spring as the soil is in condition, s
inches apart in the row, at an angle
about forty-fve degrees. Back Il
earth firmly about the bottoms of ii
cuttings and leave the upper eye of eat
cutting just above the surface of
ground. Farmer.