Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-05
SOME NOTES FOR AGRICULTURIyTs

Raising the SunfiOwor for Its Seed.
Germantown Telegraph
For a year or two the subject of feeding
the seed Of sunflowers to fowls has been
referred TO in poultry journals frequently
with approval, and we have Seen no word
in opposition. Although this flower, if it
can be so called, has come into favor even
among ladies and some pantaloon crea-
lures who are said to be of the male gen
der, it is by no means an attractive floral
attribute. 1t is something among flowers
that the elephant is among beasts, huge
and Incoutil. Still. if it possesses the
merit OF producing wholesome food for the
teatlcicd tribe, it is to that extent so much
beyond flowers i'll solid value.
But it being proved that it is plant of
more or less value for its seed, and being
very hardy in its nature, it substitutes
usefulness for beauty ; and as it will grow
in every out oi-the way corner and place,
where scarcely anything else can be cult
waited, it can DC honestly recommended to
the keeper of fowls to appropriate such
plots Of ground to the raising of it for its
seed. 1t would not require much space to
produce from three to five bushels of Seed
which wo,ild be a substantial addition to
the winter seasons supply of chicken food
Raising v1oIets
There is 40 more popular flower than
the violet, and as it is one that can be en-
jOyed by all with very little labor, while
the expense is not to he thought of, We
are often surprised of its absence in MANY
households. 1t is one of tho earliest to
bloom in fact, it can be enjoyed almost
Throughout the entire year and is Sc
hardy thai it requires very little protcc-
y -,
winter with straw mating, which
bundle Of straw will supply,
will be sufficient to give us flowers
ill the latter part of March, when the
plants, which have been increasing, should
he partly removed and set in the open
ground. a portion of these may be let
remain out all winter, we'll covered with
manure, to be uncovered early in March.
1t is also one of tho prettieSt and most
welcome house flowers, being planted in =:
suitable wooden box and placed in cool
part Of a room, ard aired occasionally by
being set in the sun at Il window in the
rool in which there is no fire, and allow
the sash to be raised for an hour IT mid
day when the weather is not too severe.
There was very little intermission the past
faIl. winter and this spring so far, in
which wc could not gather a little bunch
of viociS {; and VIC should consider it a
real deprivation to be without them.
The Culture OF Ukra.
There is probably not one in ten gardens
where okra is to be found, and We feel like
calling attention again to it. The seed is
to be had at all our seed stores, and fre-
Quently at country stores where the pro-
prictor keeps Oh hand a supply of garden
seeds. We have raised Il crop regularly
for over twenty years, and it would be
hard for us to abandon it. The seed
should be drilled IN rows about three feet
apart. and when the plants get few inches
high they should he thinned out, leaving the
strongest growers stand, to about ten or
twelve inches apart in tho row. Keep the
weeds and grass down, the same as for
corn, and that is all there is about it. The
stalks begin to throw out pods when they
arc eighteen or twc:lty inches high, and
these arc tho things wanted. When the
pods have just escaped from the blossom,
or when they are an inch or SO long, tliey
can be p!ucked and used. There is moth
ing to compare to them for soups, or they
can be stewCd and used as side dish.
When there arc more than for present
use, they can be strung up and hung away
in some dry, cold place for Vintcr, and can
be used then for soups as We'll as in summer.
the difference being scarcely distinguished.
This is very little trouble. and they are
always at hand. OF course they must be
pluckcd. whether for immediate use or for
winter, when the buds are from one to two
inches long and tho outer skin can be easIy
cut with the lngcr-nail.
Buy the seed of the tall okra, and by re
planting it 4 year or two it will become
dwarf enough. though the short stalks
produce about us many edible pods as the
taller ones