The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-17
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE. ,s.yss.r
IT Is time to begin preparations for the
hot beds, for not only are the frames and
sashes to be made ready and pnt IN place
but the manure should be carefully pre-
pared. The object Of hot bed is to pro.
tect the seeds and plants from exposure
from cold. and also TO retain sufficient heat
Tor their termination and growth. 4. If hot
beds could be SO arranged as to permit of
the use OF q regulator attachment, where
by uniform temp eraturc might be main
tanned at the will OF the gardener the
plan would save much valuable time and
loss' Inc manure Tor hot beds should be
as fresh as possible, for it is used for pur-
poses OF heating more than for the nutri.
ton afforded, and any previous fcrmenta
ton or decomposition IS the loss of heat
that may be needed. 1t should also be
free from coarse material, IN order that
the contents Of the hot bed may be in as
fine condition az the objects demand, and
1t should be kept under cover and apart
from that which is to be hauled to the
fields until needed for use. After the
frame ls made and put in position place
the manure ID, pressing 1t down firmly un.
I'll 1t Is high enough 10 permit sufficient
space between 1t and the sash for growth
OF the particular plant required. The up
per part OF the manLrc--about two inches
| or lt--should consist of wcll-rotted mater
| lal, thoroughly mixed into fine condition,
with twice ITS bulk OF dry earth. Then
sprinkle half an inch of pure, dry, rich
earth over this and sow the seed, covering
! lightly. Ii sweet potatoes are planted put
a layer OF one inch Of sand between the
seed and the manure, filling the spaces
and covering with an inch more OF sand.
The seed potatoes should be placed in the
| beds whole, and it Is best that they should
not touch each other.
1t rcqnires careful attention on tho part
OF the grower to get the plants in a proper
condition for transplanting, for keeping
up the heat to proper temperature 1s not
all. The plants should be watered sys.
tematlcally and also ventilated at certain
times. 1t by the gradual exposure of the
plants to the influences Of the outer atmos.
pnere they can be made accustomed to a
lower temperature they will be harder
and better enabled to endure transplanting,
II they grow up very thlckly in the bed
inc surplus plants should be transplanted
10 another frame, and by taking advantage
OF the warmer days during the cold season
but very little from change of location.
BUY SMALL TREKs. The average Amer
lcan ls IN great hurry to realize on his
investments. If he orders a few seeds in
January, he is anxious to lave them sent
Immediately, and if he forwards SIX cents
lor copy OF some paper which contains a
story OF which he has read or heard he docs
tOrptlt ho ol,
1T 'by return mail" Patience, which
takes the form of quiet waiting, is a virtue
OF which he seems to be totally ignorant.
He cannot wait tho progress of events, but
must constantly hurry and fret in order TO
make nature move little fastc, than her
wonted pace.
ms tendency crops out very plainly
when he purchases trees. BE finds them
described in the catalogue as SECOND
Glass;" medium" first class" and tex
ira. These difference in these classes IS
principally. ii not wholly; IN the size and
height OF the trees. The larger the tree
the higher the prlce; but the farmer "don't
care anything about that" lie wants
GOOD trees or none, and gives order for
those OF extra size. and which are four or
I'VE years old. In doing this lie thinks
he ls acting wisely, but tie nurseryman
kEows and the farmer will lind before ltug
mat, with equal care, the small tree VII
grow faster and cit O fruit ,rcc) cor1C
into bearing condition sooner than The
large one.
In half dozen years the tree that was
small when planted will be larger and fin
cr than the other The reason for this 1s
obvious. The larger the tree the larger
the roots which it has, and the larger the
roots the less flbrcs there vii! be unon
them, A tree that has plenty of fibrous
roots VIII grow readily if proper care is
used IN transplanting; but no amount of
skill can coax tree To live and flourish
which Is destitute Of these little fibres.
The roots OF large trees are ALWAYS more
or less mutllated IN the process OF taking
p, While the small trees sustain little in
jury from this source. Dealers in treee
assert that experienced men buy small
thrifty trees, while those who are lust
starting are anxious fer the largest 10 be
had. Those who are 10 set trees the COM
ing season will do well to learn from the
experience Of those who, at considerable
loss TO themselves, have demonstrated that
small trees are the ones to buy.
COLONEL Il. ID. CURTIS writes that the
White Belgian carrots yield twice as much
as the Long Orange, and he regards them
as equally nutritlt us. TINS is doubtful, as
III numerous experiments larger roots of
me same variety contain proportIonately
less sugar and nutriment than small ones.
The White Belgian carrot is not saable in
the market, while the Lone Orange will
nearly every year sell for more than its
tccdlng value, CXCcDt TO he usad 40 on