The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-22
AGRICULTURAL.

There is not much to do this month in the
way of sewing seeds. Lettuce for posi-
BILE late crop, turnips for table use, winter
radish to make small sized roots-these Will
about furnish the list.
Much work, however, may be done. kohl
rabi may be still set for winter use. Late
cabbage, caulifower, celery, endlVe' ana
other salad plants should have the earth ire
qrently stirred, but lightly, ABOUT thelr
their roots.
EARN celery should have the earth more
and more drawn to them, since it is abso-
luteIy necessary that the leaves be kept mp
RIGHT. With late celery this is not so neces-
sary. since the plants are to be blanched in
huik in the winter trenches, but early celery
must be banked where it is growing, and
about five or six weeks before it is fit for use
in late September and October.
Endive should have the leaves drawn up
and tied over the crowns of the plants a
week or ten days before use, to blanch it
nicely. Caulfower should have the leaves
broken over the curd as soon as it begins
fairly to form. This serves the double pur-
pose of preventing tie buds from becoming
drawn, and also keeps the curd snow white.
Some cultivators, however, simply tie them
torcther over the curd, as recommended Tor
andive.
Onions should be pulled and thrown in
WindroWs as soon as the leaves begin to yell
low, or even before, if they do not ripen OH
naturally, turning occasionally, that the
bulbs may not again take root if the wealth
er is wet. In any event they should be pull
ed and windrowed before they are entirely
dry, since thus they cure much better.
When fully dry they should be gathered in
to heaps or taken directly to the barn floor
on dry day, the tops pulled off, and the
bulbs shelved or cribbed so the air may draw
freely through them. Thus they may be
left until there is danger of hard freezing
weather, when they must be permanently
secured for winter.
Sweet corn, as soon as the boiling ears nave
been plucked for use, should be cut near the
ground and shocked, tying pretty tight at
the top but leaving the butts rather well
spread When cured. bind into suitable
bundles and place compactly under cover.
There is no better winter feed for mich
cows. If squash or pumpkin vines are grow
ing among the hills, this will also allow the
sun to penetrate and assist in ripening the
crop.
Do not neglect the ripening seeds. Gath
er them, dry carefully, and label them cor
rectly after putting in paper bags, being Sc
curely placed where rats and mice will not
injure. Pot herbs should be gathered when
in flower, tied in small bundles, and dried in
the shade.
Gather together all trash from ripening
plants. pile in heaps, and burn or carry to
the manure heap. Stubs of cabbage and caul-
flower, and other plants, and especially
weeds, are always unsightly in the vegetable
garden.
Keep the soil stirred so strawberries and
other runners can make strong root. Ii you
did not make new plantation of strawber-
ries last spring. August is good time to DO
so. Set the plants deep, and if dry spell
comes give them one thorough watering
taking care that the earth is de eply moist
ened.
Ifyou have flower garden do not be
afraid to cut the blosomss for bouquets ano
other ornamental uses. 1t is what they
were made for. Save also seeds of choice
varieties, and carefully dry and label fol
use, as recommended for other seeds.-Pral
RE Farmer.