Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-02-28

to the open air comes, when they are
planted, pot and all, which gives them
an early start.
MANY farmers are not aware that the
mechanical condition of good seed
bed should be regulated more by the
kind OF crop to be grown than by the
character of the soil. Thus, barley re-
qulres solid bottom and q fine surface.
Wheat and oats will not thrive IN a very
loose sub-soil, though fine top is of
less consequence, TO wheat at least.
Root crops, on the other hand, require q
seed bed which is neither firm nor loose,
but fine and deep. Grasses and clovers
flourish best on firm, hard soil, with
fac surface"
For the champion crop of asparagus
IN New Jersey, the first gave 1.67O
punches per acre, 1881; another. 1910
punches per acre, 1917; next, a light
blowing sand, 1,470 punches, 1886. A
ton of salt per acre was used: q piece
left without salt, then half q ton nsed
then none, then one-fourth of ton, and
no difference could be seen save in color.
probably due to the larger quantity at
tracing more moisture. Plants should
be set two and half feet by five feet,
and ixinches below the surface. There
is but little difference in varieties as to
profit.
IF the wood has not been already cut
and drawn home, no time should be lost
in doing SO, for it should be sawed and
| split before the month closes, that it may
get the advantage of the March windsto
dry it; If left in four feet lengths over
| summer 1T Is not near as valuable as if
cut IN short lengths, and split fire
| enough Tor domestic use before spring
opens, and housed before the middle of
May. AS 1t is very poor economy to burn
green wood, every farmer should adopt
the plan of cutting his wood the year be-
| fore it Is wanted for use. To require a
wife to cook with green wood, puts her
good nature to test that no kind and
| thoughtful husband will ever do.
The Gardeners Monthly gives in sub
stance the following good practical di-
rect1ons for pruning ornamental shrubs
on the approach of spring: Indiscrimi-
nate cutting back will not answer the
| desired purpose. Distinction must be
made between slow and vigorous grow
ers, and between those which bear flow
ers on old wood and those which flower
on new growth. Such as grow too strong
to fewer well should be lightly pruned,
and in the same Individual the weakest
should be cut III more severely than the
stronger ones. Lilacs and the Phila-
| delphus bear flowers on the wood of last
year, and to prune them much now de-
stroys the towering, while the altheas
and others which flower on the young
wood cannot be too severely cut In.
SHEEP will stand more exposure than
horses, pigs, or even cattle, but they
suffer greatly on account of it. They
are injured more by wet than any AMI
mails kept on farm. Their feet are
liable to permanent injury'if they are
compelled to stand long on damp ground,
or to feed In pastures that are wet. They
should have dry, sheltered place to eat
their food in when they are out of the
pasture, and dry bed to sleep on. Pro-
lection is necessary against the cold
during severe weather, though sheep
will stand great deal of cold if they are
kept dry and well provided with proper
food. Protection is also required against
the heat during very hot weather.
Shade is as grateful and beneficial to
sheep as to other kinds of stock
Chicago Times.