Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-29

NUMBER 10.
up to August 1st, the only early cabbages
in market came from New York, and from
the garden of a clergyman of horticuul-
tural tastes. Farmers buy and carry
home radishes, lettuce, potatoes, beets,
etc. that might be better raised at home.
Farmers usually have no hot-bed to start
carly plants, such as lettuce, cabbage,
tomatoes etc, for rtransplanting, although
they have plenty of manure and lumber,
and the glass need not cost over two dol
lars, to make a good beginning. As
rule, the list of vegetables is confined to
potatoes, turnips, cabbages, beets, peas,
cucumbers, and beans The long list
beyond this, found in almost every vii
lage market, and often upon the tables Of
mechanics and day laborers, in wanting.
Generally good supply of fruit, except
ing apples and currants, is wanting
There is no valid excuse for this dirth of
wholesome vegetables and fruits, where
the raw material SOIL snnshtne, manure,
and rain are so abundant. The farmer
who consents to go without these things,
not only loses much wholesome an i
pleasing variety on his table, but the
most economical means of maintaining
the health OF his family. The sanitar V
influence of good fruits, eaten daily the
year round, it is admitted by all eminent
physicians, although the free use of fruits
diminishes the profits Of the profession
The most healthy families, as rule, are
the largest consumers Of fruit. The sub
acid and acid fruits in Summer regulate
the bile, prevent fevers, aud make small
doctors bills. What is of equal impor-
tance, the cultivation of a good garden,
with full list of vegetables and fruits
that will flourish in the climate, has nm
important bearing upon success in field
husbandry. 1t stimulates inquiry, culti-
Yates observing habits. gives breadth to
the mind, leads to study and reading,
and makes farming more a business of
mind than of muscle. Good gardens on
farms would soon make agricultural pa.
pers and books necessity in every far
mer's home.
Digging swamp Muck.
The present month is a good time to get
out a supply of swamp muck, 1t is i'm
possible to answer the question as to the
exact value of this material as applied to
land The quality of muck varies great
ly, some of it not being worth the ex-
pensc of removing it from the beds, even
when this can be done with ease. The
fertilizing value of most muck depends
largely upon the nitrogen they contain,
and that this element may be available,
the muck needs to undergo n process OF
decomposition. The nitrogen must be
liberated from its insoluble organic
compounds, and form soluble substances,
as the nirates. and ammonia compounds.
To secure this, muck should be either
placed in heap and subjected to the in
iluence of freezing and thawing-weath-
ering rs it is termed, or be mixed with
mannrc in q compost heap, and there I'M
dergo decomposition, to fit it for use rs
fertilizer. At this season the muck
beds are usually filled with water, but by
beginning at one side, boat or scow
may be used to advantage.
Good Water for tho Stock.
Pure water and an abundance of it is
one of the essentials Of every good farm.
This water should be at or near the barn
or barns. Duling the Summer months
when the farm stock is in the pastures
with green fodder, the wate: supply does
not seem to be of SO great Importance.
A good stream may be all that is necos-
sary, even if it is situated half mile
from the farm buildings; but in Winter
a supply close at hand is of great value.
Barn-yard wells are convenient but are
seldom receptacles of pure water. The
water too frequently would serve better
purpose if used as fertilizer upon the
land than given to the animals Far
superior to the we'll water is that OF some
spring which is brought to various places
in and around the farm buildings from n
neighboring hill side. There are a very
many places where pipes can be laid and
the very best of water brought i'll to sup
ply the wants of the stock. There is a
great loss sustained by farmers in giving,
or allowing their stock to seek and drink
water that is at the point of freezing. 1t
not only chills the system, but requires n
large amount of food to bring it to blood
heat. Spring water though cool is not
ice cold. Before the winter sets in, and
the stock are all in their quarters, every
one should see that his water supply is
health of his animals, and the profit
French Gardening.
An American market gardner divides
his ground into many lots, and plants
nearly every variety of truck known to
the market The French gardner gives
himself up to the cultivation of a special
class or succession of fruits or vegetables,
and, by long study and practice, by ex-
perimeuting with various manures, soils
and modes Of culture, arrives Mt pertec-
ton. He is also much more economical
of spare and more prodical OF labor than
we are, or in fact, We need be. He sell
dom suffers his ground to lie fallow; crop
succeeds crop in endless rotation the
caulihower is set among the melon hills.
ready to spread as soon as the melons are
gathered. Between the rows of aspara-
gus are planted early potatoes, lettuce.
etc, in such manner rs to keep the
ground constantly fruitful, and when the
weather becomes frosty and the sun loses
goodly share of the forcing power,
| large bell glasses are employed, one OF
which is placed over each plant-espocial-
| " in the case OF salads-and heat is then
concentrated upon it until its full growth
| is fairly attained The enormous size Of
the French asparagus is chiefly due to
the manner of planting. Instead of set
ting the plants closely together, as we do,
IL space of at least six inches square IL
allowed to each ''stool," which enables it
to such large amount of nutriment from
the soil and become strong and solid
plant. Each "stool" is also manured re-
pcatedly every season, the soil being
carefully scraped away down to the roots,
the compost being placed around them,
and the earth put back again. The
French system of cultivating the apple,
pear and peach is also peculiar. The
trees are grated and dwarfed. A strong
wire is stretched along in front of each
row, about three feet above the ground
Upon this wire single branch of each
tree is trained. and as soon as well
started this branch is made, heavy by
heavy pruning, the only fruit-bearing
on the tree. The consequence is that
tho entire strength of the tree goes to the