The Portland daily press., 1881-04-06
Preparing for Gardening.

A large portion of the vegetables cultivat-
ed in gardens depend for successful growth
on very rich suil. Hence she Importance
Of providing plenty of manure and of apply
ing ii properly. Old or rotted manure is al
ways recommended as best by gardeners,
and is generally pronounced Indispensable.
But fresh manure, if not mixed with litter
and if well pulverized and thoroughly diff
fused though the soil, will answer an ex-
cellent purpose Thrown on the ground
carelessly and left in Jumps, it is worth
less. good growth of fire vegetables has
been made where it has been thoroughly
ground into the soil, finely intermixed with
it, and the surface kept clean and mellow
through the season. And yet so many do
all their work by halves, that it may not be
best to recommend it unless for autumn
application, when it will be dissolved dur
ing the several months before it is drawn
upon by growing plants. 1t may also all
swer well for crops that are not set out or
sown till approaching mid summer, such as
winter cabbages or turnips, if applied previ-
ously, and thoroughly broken and worked
i'm with harrow or rake in good season.
Land which is made rich by success
i've manurings every year, will of course be
best, and manure should not be applied for
gardening, especially if in large quantities,
without thorough pulverization and inter-
mixture. The more completely these two
requisites are attended to, the larger may be
the application. Its effect will be greatly
increased by frequent and perfect stirring of
the soil through the season.
Farmers gardens will not get sufficient
cultivation if not laid out so as to be chiefly
dressed by horse labor. If the spade and hoe
are expected to do the work, nine tenths of
such gardens will not be cleaned once
month, and the soil will become crusted a, d
weedy. The remedy is to plant every crop
which will admit it, in drills or rows for the
horse to pass between as often as once q
week through the entire season. This will
accomplish as much work in half an hour as
a whole day or more with the hand-hoe, and
do it better and break the soil finer Before
you begin spring work, lay out your garden,
So far as may be practicable, for this horse
dressi g. Some crops may be planted in
drills two feet apart, and still be culfiva ed
by using steady horse; and if the cultivator
is not of the kind to contract, take out the
outside teeth. When you wish to go deep,
use but few teeth when mellow and superb
cial treatment is wanted, use larger num-
Der.
To secure early as well as good vegetables,
it is of vital Importance to have perfect drain
age. A wet soil may be unfit to work for
weeks, and then give you hard, or crusted,
or lumpy surface. Well drained land may
be worked at once, and be warm and mellow
If the ground needs it,put in pipe-tile rod
apart, and three feet deep. 1t will make the
season month earlier than with a water
soaked soil, and be equivalent to three de-
grees farther south in latitude.
To sum up then; provide in season plenty
of manure. Let it be thoroughly intermixed
with the soil Arrange for all the horse
cultivation practicable. Avoid the common
mistake of occupying more ground than you
can keep in perfect condition. Have COM
plete natural or artificial drainage. If all
these requisites are attended to, your vege-
table garden will be found to be the most
profitable part of your farm; or, in other
words, its products will give you supplies for
the table at cheaper rates than anything else
you consume; and then, if this truth is
properly appreciated, you will give the earli-
est and best attention to it in arranging your
labors for the season, instead of falling into
the error of leaving the garden to take the
last chance of being dressed on some spare,
occasion when you have nothing else to do
and to become filled with weeds.-Country
Gentleman. 600 Va st
Sunlight.
The sun, if you would only open your
house to him, is faithful physician, who
will be pretty constant in attendance, and
who will send in no bills Many years ago
glass was something of luxury but now
we can all have good-siZed windows, and
plenty of them, at moderate cost, and there
is no excuse for making mere loop-holes
through which the sun can cast but half an
eye, and from which one can gain only mar
row glimpses of the beautiful outer world
/ am sufficiently acquainted with the con-
sentative character of many country, people
to know that expressions of disdain will
come from some quarters when l mention
bay windows. Nevertheless bay windows
are good thing. Their effect is vefv much
like letting heaven into ones house, at least
it ought to be like that, for it is nothing but
absurdity and wickedness to darken such
windows with shutters or heavy curtains
until only struggling ray of sunlight can
be seen. --.r orr, -.----,.. u -,.
If bay windows are too expensive, a very
desirable substitute can be had by placing
two ordinary-sized windows side by side
with a wide, capacious ledge at the bottom
for seats or for plants. A room with win
dow like this cannot fail to be CHEEKY, and
its effect in simple cottage house is quite
sumptuous. There is likewise in it's favor
the fact that it is less exposed than the deep
bay window to 6uter heat and cold. In
kitchen or child's bedroom, or in an attic
where the walls are low, two halt-windows
set side by side and made to slide or to open
on hinges, admit a broad, generous light,
and give an apartment pretty aud pleas
ing rustic air. Let the builder endeavor to
have all rooms in daily use, especially bed
rooms and sitting rooms, well lighted by the
sun. 1. .5tFlIitE& m
ITO sleep ON unsunned beds in unsunned
chambers, and to work day after day in UNI
summed rooms, is the unrepented sin of half
the ration," affirms prominent writer.
But this should not be said of that part of
the nation living in the country far from
those towering lex walls whose steps take
hold on basement kitchens, and in whose
depressing shadows many lives must neces-
sarily be spent In the country, with a
whole sky to draw from, let there be light!
If any rooms in the house must look sole
ly to the north for illumination, let them be
the parlor and the spare chamber. People |
who come and go can be cheerful for
while in the north-windowed apartment,
but the constant dwellers in house need
the sunniest rooms.-Farm Homes.