Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-02-04

Garden Work for February.

From The MARYLAND Farmer.
1t is the great aim of all who take
laudable pride in the vegetable garden,
to have what is called an early garden.
To have the first Spring vegetables in
his neighborhood, delights the pride of
eevery gardener. TO do this, one must
scious rovided with all the accessories and
grasp thGimely preparation. There usually
mood. ia mild spell of weather in this
"io nth. when the balmy dry air and the
,roas reased warmth of the sun, mellows
are NJ prepares the ground so that it is fit
= boutculture. 1t is in this section rather
come re for hodbeds, but farther south,
ana the necessary adiuncts to early gar
raung Dec should be made at once, and
ladies Of of lettuce, cabbage. pepper, to-
the mobile DC. should be sown in time
right of fcn,sh seed scattered through the
spokesmaTach kind of seed should be sown
iady OF self, in shallow drills, the drills
-. iucues apart.
fha, As soon as the ground is in order and
gre.he weather permits, beds may be pre-
&C pared by heavy manuring with we'll
: rotted manure, and thorough culture
with spade and rake, or by blowing,
which is best as rule. And the fol.
lowing seeds can be sown in the omen
air.
Potatoes.-Plant a bed of potatoes in
drills three inches deep and broad. with
stable manure or hogs hair thick in the
bottom of thedrills drop the potatoes ten
or twelve inches apart, and cover over
with earth to form ridge six inches
over each row. These ridges are lcveled
as soon as the potatoes begin to appear
above ground. This will be the first
working The medium sized, we'll RI
pened potato is best to plant. Early
Rose is the best sort, cut each bulb in
half or in three parts.
Spinach As soon as the frost has
disappeared prepare bed for early
spinach. The ground should be made
fich aud pulverized fine. Draw the
drills foot apart and one inch deem
SOW the seed and press the earth lightly
over them. That which is already grow
ing should be worked with the hoe and
the earth slightly drawn to the plants
Dee''.-can now be sown for an early
crop.
Raet'sh Prepare a small bed in n
warm spot, make very rich and SOW rad
ish seed, tramp it after sewing and
cover with leafy brush, removing it
every fine Jay and returning it before
night.
Peos.--The pea is one of the first
vegetables that may be seeded in the
open ground 1t is perfectly hardy.
will stand heavy frost without mate
rial injury, aud yields the heaviest pro-
duct when itmatures before warm weather
sets M rlant, therefore, few rows Of
early peas Tom Thumb the Gem. Car
tiers first crop Blue Peter are among the
best Of early dwarf peas. and repeat the
seeding every two weeks for continuous
supply. In this connexion we would
call attention to very remarkable early
pea, and advise every lover of peas to
try small quantity OF the bliss Ameri-
can Wonder Pea"
Grape Tiaes.-Grape vines should
oe carefully pruned this month. and do
not be afraid of cutting off too much
- wood. At late period of the season
Ihey Will be seriously injured by too
profusea How of sap. Dig around the
roots and treat them, to dressing of a
mixture Of lime, bone-dust aud wood
ashes. We have known theai to do adj
'nirably after such working aud manur-
ing, by getting a heavy mulch of coal
ashes. which kept down the weeds and
seemed TO keep the ground cool and
moist and of even Temperature during
the hot months. of summer.
An observing farmer of the Connect.
cut Valley tells how he and his fatbe,