Connecticut western news., 1881-05-18
FARM AND GARDEN.

THE CULTURE OF CELERY. - Celery plants are grown in @ cold frame or a nursery bed, and the seed should be sown at once. As soon as the soil is warm enough to start growth is the season for sowing the seed. The seed is sown moder- ately thick, so as to force tall growth. When the plants are two inches high it is advisable to transplant them, on rainy day, into beds, about two inches apart each way. In about month or six weeks they are ready for transplanting to the trenches. These are made four inches deep, and well manured in the bottom. The plants are set six inches apart in the trenches, and the trenches are four feet apart. AS the plants grow the soil is drawn up to them without choking them. When the trench is filled level the plants are permitted to grow un- til they require earthing up. This is done by gathering the stalks together with one hand and drawing the soil to the plants with the other, and packing it down firmly about them. AS they grow, more soil is brought up to them, the tops and crown always being left free. This induces tall growth and makes the stems white.
 SHAKING L1ME.-Lime used as fertilizer is slaked as follows: it is thrown into heaps of four bushels placed so that it can be spread over certain space in proportion to the quantity to be used per acre for in- stance, if 40 bushels per acre are used the four bushel heaps are placed four rods or 66 feet apart. These heaps are exposed to one or two showers of rain, and the lime will then fall to 8 fine powder, when it should be spread at once. If this method is not desirable, the lime may be heaped in convenient place and sufficient water poured over the heap to reduce it to pow der when it may be hauled to the field and spread.
 MANeELs. Any good rich soil, the richer the better, will give a paying crop of man. gels. A strong gravel is good, or sandy loam, but I prefer @ pretty heavy loam, almost clay if naturally or artifcially under-drained, this, if rich, will give the very best results both as to quantity and quality. I have had splendid results by manuring in winter or early spring heavy clover sod and blowing it down in early spring; have also had the same by using a corn stubble well manured. have also raised fine crops succeeding crop of man, gels. The main point is to have the land rich and fine; blow deep and be careful to blow well harrow, cultivate and roll till the surface is mellow and no Jumps are left mark rows thirty inches apart, with marker similar to commander. Sow not less thar 200 pounds of bone-four and three bushels of salt per acre; to do this, throw it length wise of the rows, so as to get all you car immediately on them. For ridging the ground we use three-tooth cultivator o1 corn hoe, by removing the centre tooth, ant setting the others so as to throw the soi toward the centre, and by letting the horse follow the mark we make @ slight but suf6 cient ridge, just where we desire the row The reason for ridging is because all Jumps and stones naturally roll down hill and O. course away from the row of small plants that are directly on top of the ridge and we can begin to cultivate much sooner by hay ing the land ridged.
 LETTUCE. w. D. Philbrick tells the ''New England Farmer" how to have lettuce ! in spite of drouth :-Black-Seeded Tennis ball is the best variety for outdoor growth It will head in hot weather if kept moist otherwise it will run to seed without head ing. In very dry weather, lettuce seed sometimes comes up with difficulty; in sucE times it is best to water the land thoroughly the day before sowing; then, immediately after sowing, mulch the surface with light covering of hay or straw, which must be removed directly when the seed breaks ground; if the mulch is left on too long the plants will come up weakly, and will burr | off in the hot sun.