Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-13
HOME HORTlCULTURE.
Outdoor Garden Operations.
From Our Continent.

FROM Our COnCnenC.
In the majority of all the states in the Union
this is the proper time to begin outdoor opera
tons in the garden. For all hardy plants and
seeds, the sooner they are planted and sown be-
fore hot weather sets IL, the better. AS soon as
the ground is dry enough to be worked, so that
it does not adhere to the spade or rake, planting
or sowing should be begun that Is, of the hardy
kinds, such as fruit and ornamental trees and
all varieties Of small fruits which, of course come
under the head Of ''hardy." But many of our
fruits, flowers and vegetable plants are of trop-
ical origin, and all such cannot be planted until
the danger OF frOsts and even chilly weather is
past For this reason tomatoes, peppers, egg plant
Gin vegetablcs) and nearly all the summer flow
erng bedding or ornamental leaved plants
should not in the latitude of New York or Phil
delphia be planted out until very well on in May
The same rule applies to seeds While such
hardy seeds of such hardy plants as
cabbage, celery. carrots, lettuce, onions,
peas and spinach should be sown not later
than April 18th, for the first op,yet the seeds
OF tropical vegetables such as Lima BEANS
sweet corn. melons, squash, cucumbers or okra
should not be sown until the first week in May
good guide to such readers as are conversant
with farm crops is to plant or sew all the hardy
class fplants or seeds at such time as wheat or
oats are sown in the spring;while the tender or
tropical kind should not be sown until the
in view, guide is given to planting or sowing
in any part of the continent.
There Is no doubt that millions of plants are
annually sacrificed by lack of knowledge as to
the time at which to plant and SOW; the nursery
men and Seedsmen are frequently blamed for
that for which they are in nowise responsible
Their practice in sending out their catalogues
too early, however, has considerable to do with
causing blunders, for inexperienced buyers nat
urally suppose that when these lists are placed
hnfn &c xa11
issuing these catalogues would devote less space
to exaggerated descriptions of trees, plants or
seeds, and more to such concise details of time
and manner of planting. they would confer ben
efits on their customers that would quickly re-
dOund to the advantage of those who take the
initiative in the matter
In connection with spring planting and SOW
ing cannot be too often reiterated the great ne
cessity of firming the soil around the plants
planted, or the seeds sOwn. Peter Henderson,
who has written SO much on horticultural sub-
jects, says he believes his instructions as to the
use of the feet in planting and sowing are more
valuable than anything else he has ever pre-
pared for the public. Let me quote a few of his
remarks upon this subject, as they are particu-
larry applicable at this season of the year. ''The
munity, from the habit of loosely sowing seeds
or planting plants In hot and dry soils, is of q
magnitude which few will believe until tn ey
have witnessed it; and it is loss all the more
TO De regretted, when we know that by sfrming'
the soil around the seed or plant, there is
in most cases a certain preventive. Particularly
in the sowing of seeds consider this matter of
vast Importance, for the loss to the hortcul-
tural and agricultural community by the neglect
Of this simple operation amounts to millions
annually. The mischief done is not confined to
the less important garden operations, but corn,
wheat, cotton and turnips often fail in hot and
dry soils by being sown without being rfimed
sufficiently to prevent the air from shrivel-
ing the seeds. The use of the feet is inn
practicable in firming seeds on the farm but
a heavy roller applied after sowing is an
absolute necessity, under certain conditions
of the soil, to insure perfect germina-
tiOn." The difference in the time of seeds COM
ing up that have been "firmed," and those that
have not been trodden in is eight days; besides
there is q risk that those not firmed may never
terminate. especially IT, there ia no fall Of rain
meantime. Seeds that have been trodden in
also grow freely from the start ana will rapidly
mature their crops; while those where this pro-
cess has been neglected are apt to become en-
feebled by the loose soil drying them. The in
experienced should be warned not to tread nor
roll In seeds il the ground is moist; for then the
soil is in a condition conducive to termination
but too damp to be pressed down.
,o4.sr F. A. BENSON.