The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-03-31
Pr,paring for Hardening.

A large portion Of the vegetables Gull
tivated in gardens depend for success
full growth on very rich soil. Hence
the Importance of providing plenty of
manure and of applying it properly.
Old or rotted manure is always recon-
mended as best by gardeners, and is
generally pronounced indispensable.
But fresh manure, if not mixed with
litter, and if well pulverized and thor
oughly diffused through the soil, will
answer an excellent purpose. Thrown
on the ground carelessly and left in
Jumps, it is worthless. A good growth
of fine 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
the work by halves, that it may not be
best to recommend it, unless for autumn
application. when it will be well DIS
solved during the several months be-
fore it is drawn upon by growing
plants. It may also answer well for
crops that are not set out or sown till
approaching midsummer, such as win
ter cabbages or turnips, if applied pre-
viously. and thoroughly broken and
worked in with harrow or rake in good
season. Land which is made rich by
successive 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 intermixture. 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 STIR
ring of the soil through the season.
Farmers gardens will not get suffi-
cient 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 a month, and
the soil will become crusted and 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
a week through the entire season. This
will accomplish as much work in half
an hour as 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
dressing. Some crops may be planted
in drills two feet apart, and still be
cultivated by using steady horse; and
if the cultivator is not OF the kind to
contract, take out the outside teeth.
When you wish TO 60 deep, use but few
teeth; when mellow and superficial
treatment is wanted, use larger num-
Der.
TO secure early as we'll as good vege-
tables. it is of vital Importance to have
perfect drainage. A wet soil may be
unfit to work for weeks, and then give
you hard, or crusted. or lumpy sur
face. Well drained land may be work
ed at once, and be warm and mellow.
If the ground needs it, put in pipe-t tile
a rod apart, and three feet deep. twill
make the season q month earlier than
with water-soaked soil, and the
equivalent Is three degrees farther
south in latitude.
To sum up then; provide in season
plenty Of manure. Let it be thoroughly
intermixed with the soils Arrange for
all the horse-cultivation practicable.
Avoid the common mistake of occupy
ing more ground than you can keep in
perfect condition. Have complete nat
ural or artificial drainage. If all these
requisites arc attended to, your vegeta-
BILE 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 ap-
prociated, You will give the earliest 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. Gentleman.