The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-07
9be Tarnt.
Early Planting.

feet rows and - to Is inches apart.
Repeated experiments at the Penn
~sylvania Agricultural College dis
prove the idea that it is better to
cut the potatoes some days before
planting. Our own experience for
/ OF ) years, induces the practice OF
cutting just before planting. Fer,
mented stable manure; well fired
with a little acid phosphate and
plenty of well-rotted, but not leach
ed, ashes, is the Aqulck-
ly maturing plant like Irish pota-
to, demands a highly soluble ma
nure, if the manuring lsdone stimuli
taneously with the planting.
SWEET PoTATOEs.-Bed fine large
potatoes in a cold frame at once for
earliest plants. Water the plants
with warm water, 600 to 1907 every
4 or five days, and keep the glass
on except when the temperature is
above 80. Devote all the soap-suds
and dish-water to the potato beds.
AS the sprouts appear, clip them a
little with scissors to make them
stocky. Has anybody trid the
early Peabody" Prof. Thurber
of the American Agriculturist en-
dorses this variety highly, and states
that he obtained good sized potatoes
in August land in New York; If
Il good thing it ought to be adver-
tlsed.
SOWING IN FRAMES.
Tomato, pepper and egg plant
should be sown in frame or other
warm seed bed, or in a box in kich-
en- window. For the egg plant it
is far better to SOW in frame or box
elevated some feet above the ground,
IN order to protect plants from the
flea beetle. 1t is the only way we
can raise plants, Have named best
varieties in previous numbers.
Enthusiasts may be put out
this month, and may be made to
produce very good sized bulbs.
Seed may be sown for sets-in fact
this is the month for this-10 to II
seed to the square inch. Sow in
drill II to Is inches apart, and
keep down the weeds. old seed
tciU arrays disappoint.
ENGLISH PEAs.-Sow %''little
Gem" or "Blue Peter" in 2 feet
rows, 4 to 6 seed every II to Is
inches. Philadelphia Extra Early
and Caractacus of the taller sorts
are the best.
First corn might be planted to-
wards latter parts of the month.
Tuscarora and Phila. Flint good
early sorts.
MISCELLANEOUS.
There are a number of vege-
tables and herbs that we do not
mentioned. They are either per-
ennial or for seasoning or gar
nishing. Prominent among the
latter are Sage, Parsley, Celerioc,
and should have consideration.
Such vegetables as are under way
from previous sowings or paintings,
should be cultivated, but shallow,
Wnlle freezing is possible.
In odd hours, prepare hills for
cucumbers, melons, squashes and
tomatoes, to be worked over at
planting time. Get ready Z feet
stakes for your choice Trophy To-
matO. From 80 vines one ,eason
we gathered 9 bushels, the bulk of
which weighed 8 to IL ozs.-a few
16 to Is ozs. 1t is a mistake to
think thet tomatoes do not require
rich soil. If set too close, and
coarse unfermented stable manure
used exclusively, they will not give
satisfaction however.
GROUTING PLANTS.
We rarely transplant anything
without grouting, satisfied that it
more than pays for the trouble.
'Grout" is the term applied to a
semi-liquid compound of two or
three parts of COW manure, one part
clay dust, and water to reduce to
the consistency of mush. Into this
the roots of plants are dipped be-
fore being set out. To an ordinary
sized bucket full of the grout, we
add a handful each of rotted ashes
and super phosphate, mixed thor
oughly. This grout induces plants
to throw out new roots speedily and
abundantly. We are endeavoring
to combine with the grout an anti
dote to the cut worm and Nav bee
tie grub. At present we impreg
nate the grout with the odor of
Kerosene, and have cause to hope
that it will be found successful.
Used in other ways, we have found
Kerosene to be most effective insec-
ticide and repellant. Time will
show to what extent and how it
may be used without injury to