Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-07-18
Farm and Household.



too dry they will not sprout, and if buried
deep and compactly, beyond the action of the
air no movement towards growth takes place.
The small seeds of weeds often remain in the
soil for years when turned under deep by the
pillow; when brought again to the surface, the
new and copious growth which at once takes
place has led superficial observers to the erro-
neous notion that they have sprung up spon-
taneously Nurserymen sometimes keep
peach stones dormant year when they hap
pen to have a surplus, by placing them two
feet under the soil till needed. The depth
for planting must depend largely on the size
of the seed; and the general rule has been
given to bury them from three to FIVE times
as deep as their diameter. This rule will vary
somewhat with the nature and condition of
the soil If heavy and moist, the depth
should be less than in light, dry and porous
soil. In q moist, we'll pulverized soil, most
seeds, whether large or small, will grow if
merely covered and kept moist but this con
dition cannot be commonly continued, as a
few dry and warm days will dry the surface
of the soil and prevent the termination of the
seed. Hence the common practice to vary
this rule with circumstances Corn, planted
early in the season when the ground is moist
will grow freely if buried only an inch deep
but under ordinary circumstances two inches
will be better. 1t will find its way feebly to
the surface, after many days, when buried six
inches below. Early in autumn, when win
ter wheat is sown or drilled in, the soil is
usually much drier than in corn planting time
and for this reason, although the seeds are
smaller than grains of corn, it should be plac-
ed at depth of two inches. In dry spring
corn should be planted deeper than in a wet
one, and the old practice of pressing each hill
with the hoe when the work was done by
hand, was useful when the soil was dry.
When planting is done with a machine, roll
or to follow the tube would be useful in dry
weather.
In dry season much care is required to
impart sufficient moisture to seeds when
planted. If the particles of soil are dry, the
small grains or Jumps which compose it will
touch the seed only at a few points, and the
chances for its termination will be small.
Even if moistened by a shower, the water
will be conveyed to the seed only at a few
points of contact 1t is better therefore, to
plant seed after shower than before it, as
the soil is rendered moist and yielding, and,
pressing the whole surface of the seed, causes
termination at once. On this principle, ex-
pertinent has shown that, under common con
ditions, seeds grow much better if planted
after than before the rain. The exceptions
are, when the soil has been so finely pulvor-
lied that it cases the seed well on all sides
while yet dry and when the rain is so copious
that it fills with water for a sufficient time the
interstices which surround the seed.
An interesting experiment was reported by
Peter Henderson at the late Nurserymen's
Convention at Cleveland, showing the impor-
lance of compactly enclosing the seed with
soil Early in July he sowed twelve rows of
sweet corn and twelve rows of beets treading
in the seed after sowing in every alternate
row. In both cases, those which were trodden
in came up in four days, while the others re-
manned twelve days before starting and would
not then have germiuated had not rain fallen,
for the soil was quite dry when they were
planted. The seeds that were trodden grew
freely from the start, and matured their crops
for market by fall. The untrodden rows did
not mature, as they were eight days later in
starting, and the plants were partly enfeebled
besides.
The same general rules apply in some de-
gree to setting out vegetables, and in trans
planting trees. If the soil is dry, it will not
come in contact with the whole surface of the
roots unless finely puverized and firmly
pressed against them, and this process is as
sisted by pouring in water to soften the soil
taking care to cover the surface finally with
pulverized earth. Some writers prescribe the
use of water in transplanting in all cases.
whatever the condition may be; others rs
uniformly object to the practice. The truth
is, the rule should be adapted to circum-
stances, and every planter should have intel
lgence and experience enough to know when
each course would be advisable. Mr.. Hen
derson in the article above quoted, says he
sent dozen rose bushes to lady at Savan-
nah, and he subsequently received woful
story of the death of every one, with the sim
gulnr exception of one on which fat and
heavy man had accidentally trodden. This
awkwnrdness ON his part pressed the dry soil
about the roots and saved it; the others,
loosely buried in dry earth, persisted.
In conclusion we may give the following
brief extracts from Mr.. Henderson's re-
marks
Experienced professional horticultursts,
however, are less likely to neglect this with
plants than in the case of seeds, for the dam
age from such neglect is easier to be seen, and
hence better understood. But with the mex
perienced amateur the case is different
When he receives his package of trees or
plants from the nurseryman, he handles them
as if they were glass; every broken twig or
root calls forth a complaint, and he proceeds
to plant them gingerly Strengthening out
each root, and sitting the soil around them ;
but he would no more stamp down that soil
than lie would stamp on the soil of his moth
srs grave. So the plant in nine cases out of
ten, is left loose and waggling, the dry air
penetrates through the soil TO its roots, the
winds shake it, and it shrivels up and fails to
grow.
1t has often been a wonder to many of us
who have been workers in the soil for n gen
Grafton, how some of the simplest methods of
culture have not been practiced sooner, !
never pass through year but am confound-
cd to find that some operation can not only be
quicker done, but better done than we have
been in the habit of doing it, These i'm.
provements loom up from various causes, but
mainly from suggestions thrown out by ouI
employers in charge of special departments
"A system which we do all in our power tc
encourage
As proof of the value of such improve
ments which lead to simplifying our opera
tons will state the fact that, though my
area of greenhouse surface is now more thar
double that which ii was in 1870, and the
land used in our florists business is one-thirC
more, yet the number of hands employed il
less now than in 1870, and at the same tim,
the quality of our stock is infinitely bette
now than then.
storing Hay.
1t is not sufficient that grass be cut at tn,
proper time and cured in the proper manner
Much hay is damaged through ignorance o
nnPlect of the lnWs of stnrnOa nhn old Enn