Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-05-20

Garden Notes for May.

w. d. Philbrick, . gardener, contributes
the following instructive communication
TO the New England Farmer:
This is usually the busiest month of the
year. for it is of the utmost importance to get
planting done in season. There is also a
good deal OF marketing to be done. the
spinach and dandelions are in season, and
the lettuce, radishes, horseradish and pars-
nips must all be cleaned up before warm
weather. 1t is very desirable to sow such
seeds as dandelions and parsley very
early; they are slow to start, and in very
dry weather will not start at all, but il
sown very early will seldom fail. April
has been so wet and cloudy that little
planting was done until the last week,
and May will be crowded with more than
its due share OF work in consequence.
In planting roots for table use, select, if
possible. a deep. sandy loan. free from
stones heavy or clayey soil will grow
larger roots. but size is of far less conse-
quence than quality and smoothness. The
smooth carrots and parsnips grown at
Arlington. are the product of fine, sandy
loan heavily MANFRED and deeply plough
ed. It Is a common mistake to hurry the
preparation of the land for roots, giving
1t only one ploughing. 1t is very impor-
tant to have the land fine as well as deep
and mel ow, and this can only be done by
repeated ploughing, using the harrow.
roller and rake, to break the Jumps and
smooth the surface, between the plough
ngs 1t is also important TO plough the
land fine, taking very narrow slice. and
crowding the plough down to the beam.
These directions are especially important,
If desired to grow a good crop of parsnips
or horseradish, or carrots, roots that strike
deeply. and grow smooth and straight I'M
Ill they encounter some obstruction, when
they branch out in worthless rootlets.
Good seed also. has a good deal to do
with growing smooth roots.
To grow good melons or Lima beans, |
the best way is to start them under glass. !
about the first of May, planting four seeds |
in hill. and % hills under each 3x6 sash.
No artificial heat is needed. About two
to three weeks will bring the beans up
large enough to transplant, but the melons |
require fully four weeks. They may be
set out after the 18th of May. in rich and
mellow land, using for transplanting the
same device of tin ring and spade used
for transplanting cucumbers. which |
have often described. Tthey can also be
grown in flowerpots, but the pots are
more troublesome where many are re-
quired. Water them well before trans
planting. and transplant in warm day
cold rain at transplanting will kill them.
Tomatoes can be planted out of doors
rs soon as danger from frost is over. say
10Th or 25th. If protection can be given |
them by covering on frosty nights. with |
ca,,atb;nn aaSilxy rapnnuaH IiEa half |
brrrel tub, they may be set out by May
10, and will produce earlier fruit.
To have a good succession OF sweet corn. |
plant it on the same day, about the 10th
of May. early Minnesota, Crosby's and
Stowell's evergreen, and week later. |
another planting of Crosby's and Stowell's.
They will give continuous supply tor a
month or more, almost until frost destroys
them.
Squashes planted early are more subject
to destruction by insects than later ones.
May % to June 10 is the time to plant
them. The general complaint of squash
borers in the root about the time squashes
begin to run. is due generally to the raw
ages of the larva of the striped yellow
bug. If this bug be carefully picked off
every day. or poisoned with Paris green, |
there will be little trouble from this source.
The large black bug, however, can not
be poisoned. but must be destroyed by
trapping. by means of bit of shingle |
placed close to the hill of squashes. under !
which the bugs will crawl at night for
shelter; by going over them every morn
ing. while the dew is on them. they may
be easily killed. Neglect of this rather
tedious attention, makes many people
wonder why they can't raise crop OF
squashes. Cauliflower, cabbage and
Brussels sprouts seed should be sown about
May 20, for transplanting for fall crops
for winter cabbage, seed should not be
sown until June l. or il the plants are to
stand without transplanting. it will answer
well to SOW seed as late as June 10 to Is. !