Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-03-31
agricultural department.
TOMATO CULTURE AND
SUNFLOWERS.

dug in the early springtime as
many fiat turnips as were needed,
and having filed the cavity with earth,
planted two or three tomato seeds in
it, selecting the best plant, when they
were two or three inches high, to re-
main, and pulling up the others; and
when it was time to set in the garden,
placed the turnip, with its contents
undi turbed, in hole deep enough to
cover it two Oh three inches. Setting
out in this way, there is no cutting
away of roots, aud need of little wa
ter, as the plant has not been in the
least disturbed, especially if accus-
toned to the air out of doors for a
week or two before being set in the
garden. l have started tomatoes so
early that the plants were in blossom
several days before being set out,
not being at all retarded or checked
in growth thereby. Cucumbers, mel
ons, etc., started in the same way
have had in bloom when set out, with
the same result. After being put in
the ground the turnip soon decays,
furnishing a little food for the plant.
If the turnips are to be kept long be-
fore setting out, it will be we'll to put
them in boxes filling the interstices
with moss, sand or earth, kept moist.
AS too long exposure to the hot air
of warm room Will cause them to
wilt, the earth must be kept moist,
whether the turnip is in or out of the
box. Instead of going to the trouble
of procuring, sharpening and setting
stakes, and pulling and taking care
of them at the end of the season. [
started sunfower seeds in the same
way as described. To prevent too
much shade cut off the leaves of the
sunfiower as far above the tomato
plant as is necessary to give it all
the air and sunlight desirable. The
Russian sunfower, because of its
very tall growth, is the best for this
purpose. The sunfower makes the
best and most profitable of stakes, be-
cause it is SO easily obtained-no
loosening in the ground OF breaking
of stakes when loaded with fruit ;
and the seeds of the flower, which is
better than corn for poultry,
abundantly pay for all the time and
labor in caring for them. The leaves
of the sunfower will be greedily eat
en- by COWS or pigs, and are said to
be much better than green corn fod-
der. The Russian sunfower also
makes an excellent bean pole, though
it is not necessary to start them so
early as for tomatoes, as growth of
a foot and a half by the first of June
(bean planting time) is all that is
needed. Country Gentleman.
MILK FEvER.-The frequent losses
sustained by farmers by their own
COWS dying from milk fever ought to
cause the exercise of great care al
the time their COWS are coming into
profit. Especially should this be the
case when the animal is in high con.
} dition, and liable to a large flow Of
milk. If the COW previous to calvins
is amply loose in the bowels, anC
care being exercised to see that sh,
is properly fed, before and afte
, calving, there will be little danger OF
+ milk fever. Soon after calving gu
, plan is to give warm mess of scald
ed bran, or bran and oats, and i
there are any signs of constipation
n we give 20 drops of mac vomica t
: promote the secretions, repeating tn
9 dose twice day. We also let tn
It cow have copious supply of water
n and if there are any signs of chill
S we have her we'll rubbed and blank
e eted. We have pursued this mod
l. of treatment for several years, an
e always with success. On one occs
IS sion, when we thought there was dar
ger, we gave in addition to the M
. vomeicd half pound of salts.