Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-04-19

lNSt VI FsS"aso - 49, -
Ticalfurist for April, and among other
things says the following
The suns warmth greatly assists
the preparation Of the. food material
collected BY the leaves. adapting It
for plant nourishment. We speak Of
warm growing weather" But while
the hot sun rapidly increases the pre-
Iraration Of plant food sitdries off the
zap faster from the leaves. and also
the moisture from surface soil. 50 that
the roots cannot get full supply. In
both these ways the sap-the life
blood Of the plants diminished.
aud for want Of this food distribution
or growth il lessened, and frequently
is stopped altogether. The leaves
curl. the plants droop. often dying
out after few hot days. This is es-
T'eciaIly the case on shallow soils. and
on prairie land which. by reason Of
Its dark color, absorbs more Of the
suns heat than those of the lighter
color. Owing 10 the loose texture Of
such soils, they bringup moisture from
below much less rapidly than fine,
compact loans and clays.
Is it not plain then, that If a soil is
plowed deep and made fine, so that
air will penetrate deeply, and the
plant roots be thus invited well be-
low the surface, out Of the snn reach
even in a drouth, which seldom dries
moe than two TO four inches deep,
the plants having such roots viii be
always supplied with the needed sap.
and the growth will proceed rapidly
even in the dryest days. Hence, as a
rule, deep Flowing and working Of the
soil are highly advantageous.
But not always The porous prai-
RE soils are usually in fair condition
a foot deep or mere; the air has cir
culated through them, destroying de-
leterous acids. poisonous salts. etc.
On heavier soils, 80 compact that the
air has never circulated below the
immediate surface, the subsoil, may
be actually filled with poisonous sub
stances. We know that earth brought
ul' IN digging wells and deep bitches
will seldom support vegetable life, for
a year or two at least. To run pillow
down into such soil three or four
inches below the previously stirred
surfuce, and turn up heavy layer Of
IT, may actually kill the FIRST crop
sown or planted.
The night way, with such soils,
is to go down an inch or two annual
iy, and bring np little new soil each
time. but not enough 10 materially
harm the growing crops. In this way
We lnay ia time secure healthfnl.
POROUS, @rated, deep plant he'd, that
viii furnish abundant moisture in the
hottest season, besi,.es providing new
supplies of inorganic food needed for
the best growth Of crops.
IF you want your trees 10 thrive,
cultivate well till they are from sew
en- to ten years old. Spread ashes,
manure or salts broadcast. Stop cul-
iivating in August, weeds or no weeds.
To Judge OF the condition Of AN apple
tree is like Judging OF sheep in a pas
ture. Look at the sheep aud not at
the pasture. If they are plump and
Fat the pasture is all right.
A correspondent OF the Iron Home
stead says that it is "a mistake to raise
cabbage plants in cold frame or hot
bed. lie plants the seed where he
wants the cabbage to grow, and when
the plant shows four leaves, thin out
all but the strongest plant in each
hill. He claims transt,lanting checks
the growth of the plant, and that by
the latter method larger and heavier
heads are produced.
When n potato is exposed to the
light in II cellar the ewes nearly all
start good healthy green spront, but
II IN a pile or in darkness. only the
strongest eyes grow long, white, worth
less sprouts. Hence, seed potatoes
should be spread thinly in the light.
The sprouts should not be broken off
when cutting the seed for planting.
The farmer who has a neat and we'll
kept garden is almost sure to have
neat and well kept farm. a comforta-
Die and we'll appointed home, tidy
outbuildings, and stock in good con
dition, and the housewife who takes
pride in her garden generally has a
home to take pride in.
Linseed meal mixed with the soft
food given to poultry will do more for
them than all the medicine in exis-
tence. A meal OF it once or twice a
week will keep them in good health,
brighten their coInbs and ward off dis
ease. Try it.
Milk is almost necessary at times
for poultry, as 1t contains all that is
needed to strengthen and invigorate.
1t will pay to feed milk to fowls in
stead Of selling, and especially when
eggs are high.
The garden should be MANFRED and
plowed IA Winter so as to give time
Tor the fresh manure TO be changed
into plant food and to kill the eggs of
Insects. 1t Is prime necessity TO a
good crop of garden vegetables.
Remember that in planting fruit
trees the ground should be hacked
hard around them, aud a mound of
earth drawn up TO them. Manure
should be scattered near old trees in
early Winter.
For the time and money expended