Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-04-07

provided for the purpose, and in doing
this allow sufficient space to permit q
good stocky growth. The boxes may
not be more than three or four inches
deep, and of a size convenient to handle
or set on the window SILL It is also
good plan to pinch off the top leaves of
the plants when three or four inches
high, as this will make them throw out
side branches, and prevent their be-
coming too tall and slender. -NeW York
San.
How often have we suggested to those
having sufficient ground for garden,
and especially farmers, to pay increased
attention to this important appendage of
family comfort. Farmers, as rule, are
entirely too careless about their gardens,
their whole minds being placed upon
their field crops, etc. The women would
in most cases be competent and gladly
willing to take charge of large portion
of the labor necessary to the proper Gull
tivation of the garden, if the men would
prepare the ground to their hands. In
deed, it is fact that those who pursue
the cultivation of the soil as their bust
ness, rarely enjoy garden product in per-
lection, just because they appear to in
sist upon the error that they don't pay.
Now is the time to think about how the
garden can be enlarged and the number
and quantity of the crops increased. The
stuff can also be got ready for the addi-
tional fence, and the fence itself ere ted
as soon as the weather will permit. The
little hot beds in which to raise your
tomato, cabbage plants and egg plants,
should now be repaired and got ready for
sowing the seed as soon as the time
arrives. One thing must be remem-
bered that there should be no sparing of
the underlying stratum of horse manure
In preparing the beds. -Ge7na01atOaU7a
Telegraph.
The best fertilizer to use in setting
fruit trees of all kinds is partially or
thoroughly decomposed chip dirt. We
made use of the material for the first
time some twenty years ago In planting
an apple orchard, and it was q wonder to
those not in the secret what caused the
trees to make such fine growth the first
season, and afterwards, too, for that
matter. This experiment was so salts
factory that when we set our new Or
chard we made liberal use of this
material, with the same satisfactory re-
suit. These trials hove proved to our
satisfaction that chip dirt is the very
best material to mix in the soil as you
plant the tree that can be possibly be
used, for the reason that it holds
moisture, and is full of the elements of
plant food; therefore, it promotes most
luxurlant, natural and healthy growth.
Repeated trials have satisfied me that
tree Is not only more sure to live, but
will make double the growth the first
year Especially if a dry SEASON. if some
two bushels of chip dirt are properly
used in It's setting, than it would without
it. A single trial will convince the most
skeptical that the best possible use that
can be made of this valuable material is
to apply it to the soil in planting trees
in order to push forward the tree during
the first precarious stages of it's growth.
Correspondent NeaO England Home
stead.
The land intended for tobacco beds
should be well cleared Of rubbish and
thoroughly burned over, to destroy weeds
and insects that may be dorm ant in it.
The soil should be rich and friable, and
have a southern exposure to secure the
advantage of the direct rays of the SUN
in stimulating termination of seed and
growth of plant. Thorough pulveriza-
ton of the ground is of prime importance
"a point that does not seem to be fully
appreciated by some planters The more
finely the earth is comminuted the bet
ter it will be, for on this largely depends
the termination of seed. In regard to
the quantity of seed to a given piece of
ground there is difference of opinion,
but provided the seed is good, the prac-
tice of some of the most experienced
planters is to SOW not more than table
spoonful to 100 square yards. The size
of tobacco seeds is almost infnitesimal,
and in order to secure an even distribu-
ton, the seed are usually mixed with fine
sand and ashes, then sown and cross
sown over the bed, and the ground well
packed with a board or the back of
hoe. In any case the soil should be left
smooth and solid.