Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-08
FARM AND GARDEN.


timely NOTES UN RURAL TOPICS. |
.sa-onsDie Hints for Sensible Husbandmen. |
Protect the Currants.
Germantown Telegraph.
As The currant is among the first fruits |
to ripeD, it is we'll to think of the remedies |
to secure the crop. The insect-no matter |
by what name it is known-which destroys
tie foliage SO as to prevent the fruit from
ripening will now commence operations.
Its first appearance should be met with a
busting, early in the morning when the
dew is upon the leaves, of hellibone or,
in lieu Of this, free sprinklings of the
bushes, VIXEN the dew has disappeared, of
whale oil soap and water, made quite
strong, say pound and a-half of the soap
TO three or four gallons Of water or, in
place Of this, carb0lic soap and water may
answer equally well. This fruit is too
valuable to be allowed to be destroyed for
the sake of the little trouble and expense
involved in its preservation.
AGcod Pant for Shady Places.
We cannot say how common this flower
is, for sc nave never seen or heard Of it
except within the past two years; though
we have since learned that it was form
erly to be found in many of the old gar
dens in this section. 1t is commonly called
the English Day Nettle,' and is the
best plant for shady places that VIC have
yet tried or know of. 1t grows quito thick
to the height OF from eight to twelve
inches, and gradually spreads, but no
more than is needed to keep up the sup
ply for any additional parting. 1t is a
perennial, perfectly hardy, and bears
small purple flower in form very like the
sweet Pea, six making their appearance on
every joint, tho joints being from an inch
to an inch and s.-half apart. We refer to
this plant simply as being particularly
adapted to shady spots, as we have reason
to think that it will grow where scarcely
any other plant or flower will.
Cutting Grass.
There is a great deal said in agricul-
tural journals as to the proper time to cut
grass. We hardly think that any practi-
cal farmer needs information about this,
the Oldest crop perhaps ever raised upon
the farm, and one that 10 farmer ever
thinks Of doing without. 1t is 4 thing
that presents itself directly to the iudg-
ment and experience of every one. The
farmer is perfectly familiar with the
difference ia quality and in price of hay
cut at the proper tsmc-that is just when
it is abont done growing--and later
period when the blossoms arc dead and
the stalk is beginning to lose it's fresh, d.,
gleeE appearance. No owner of horses,
or those having charge of horses, who
know anything about hay-and they al!
ought to be familiar with this important
and expensive article of ioOd-can readily
Judge of its quality from its color and size
or stiffness OF the stalk.
We are speaking OF timothy, which is
almost wholly used for driving horses at
least, though a mixture of onc-fourth or
One-eighth Of clover is preferred by many.
Clover should of course be cut earlier
say when the heads are in full bloom
and cured as rapidly as possible, and as
moderately as it will answer to store away
without fear of moulding. 1t is then
wo.li, a full third more than if allowed to
stand until the blossoms arc dead, when
it loses 4 portion Of its sweetness and
becomes brittle, tho heads breaking off
and III 4 great measure lost.
Tho CeIery-Crop.
This has become so popular crop that
every person who has garden desires to
have enough for family use once or twice
week throughout the winter and por-
tion of the spring. The time will soon be
here when at least tho ground should he
selected and in measure prepared. We
have frequently set ont the first rows in
the last week of June ; but for the general
crop 4 later date is preferred, say up to
the middle Of July. 1t is seldom that very
late planted celery comes to much III
fact, when We have set out any-and il
was never much-!at date later than that
usually adopted by experienced growers,
we have never had Il yield wolt!, growing
AT the best the stalks Were short and stub
by and tough.
All celery growers arc aware that tie
ground cannot be too strong for this plant
1t has very small root and can gather
only 4 short supply Of fertilzing sub
stances hence the soil should be rs ricl,
Us possible in order that there shall Ee
within reach of the roots needed amount
OF nutriment.
Oar method has uniformly been to SET
the plants in single rows. as by it We have
always obtained the largest stalks, and
nave found them TO blanci, better and to
be tenderer and sweeter. Perhaps more
in quantity can be obtained from planting
two, three and four rows together, but
our experience has been, SO far as the sup
ply for domestic Use is concerned, that
the single row is to be preferred.
Many persons set their plants very
IL
they would cabbage or tomato, and
depend upon banking-up the rows. This
requires wide space between the rows to
supply the necessary soil, while any
advantages it may possess We never could
discover. Oar plan is to dig trench six
Or eight inches in depth, and twelve to
fourteen wide, then loosen the bottom
thoroughly from six to eight inches more
and mix completely this soil with an
abundaucc of short, weil.rOtten barn
yard manure. The plants should be
watered early in the morning and in the
evening, and shielded from the sun from
niue or ten TO five o'clock, until they arc
firmly established and wcll-startcd to
grow. La {; few weeks they should have
applied, once or twice q week, to
liberal ;iose OF strong manure. water. AS
the plants grow the soil should be gradu
ally drawn up to them and any surplus
or weak leaves should he removed. As
they increase in growth the amount of soil
should be also Increased, always being
very careful that the "leader' of the
plant is kept clear Of any obstruction.
This is particularly important when the
plant has pretty much its entire growth,
and the 'walling" or banking-up process
begins.
Cool weather is no drawback to celery.
In fact in October the plant grows moro
vigorously than at any other time. Let it
be remembered that with moist, rich
soil and careful attention, the celery crop