The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-07
FARM MANAGEMENT.,
Rel1shes that Can Be Cultivated In Gardens
-Suggestions on Planting Potatoes.
Rome-G Grown Condiments.

Relishes that Can Be Cultivated In Gardens
-Suggestions on Planting Potatoes.
home Grown Condiments.
The table fare OF farmers might be
greatly improved with very small a.
pense and little trouble by raising vari-
Gus condiments in the garden, says
The Chicago Times. These vegetable
relishes sharpen the appetite AMI di-
gestlon, and impart desirable flavor
to many articles of food of the taste of
which we are likely to tire after con-
tinued use. OF the value of celery
reference has often been made. Its
consumption has rapidly increased in
cities during the past few years, but it
is not generally raised by farmers on
account of the labor required in culti-
vating' and blanching it. There are
many plants very desirable as relishes
that farmers neglect to cultivate,
though they are very easily raised.
Among these, the common radish. No
garden product is more easily raised,
or IS served with less trouble, while
none is so generally relished. The best
radishes are produced by planting the
seed in soil that contains considerable
sand, and which has been made rich
by the application of well-rotted ma
nure: Tho quicker they are grown the
more crisp and tender they will be.
Very good radishes may be raised by
dropping the seed few inches apart
in the rows where the seed of other
vegetables or flowers are sown. Rad
ish seed terminates in very few days,
and the young plants mark the rows of
plants that are slow in making their
appearance. They thus enable the
gardener to work the soil between the
rows and to keep it free from grass
and weeds. Radishes will be of a size
to pull before the other plants will be
of any considerable size. Their pro-
duction will be without cost of land
or labor. A few radish seed should be
planted every week from the time the
first leaves the ground till the middle
of summer. BY adopting this course
a constant supply can be secured.
Any that are not wanted for the table
should be pulled up before they come
of very large size, as their presence in
the garden is not desirable. 1t Is Or
dinarily cheaper to buy radish seed
than to raise it.
The earliest homegrown relish that
can be obtained is horseradish. In
eating, on saltpork, ham, bacon, or.
any kind of cold meat, 1t is the best
relish that can be obtained. The
horseradish that is generally found in
tarm-houses is of very poor quality.
1t is raised in soil in one corner of the
garden or field, where it is allowed to
grow for years without cultivation.
The roots become old, tough and vel
low. They have not the pungency of
some roots that have been quickly
grown in good soil. To have good
article some roots should be planted
in good soil and cultivated during the
summer to produce roots for use next
season. In digging up roots for use
this spring the small roots that are
commonly cut off from the iiaiii 0i1e
should BIZ saved for planting. Those
of the size of pipe-stems answer very
we'll for the purpose. These small
cuts or rootlets can be cut in pieces
from four to six inches in length and
set out in rows that will admit of STIR
ring the soil between them. The sets
should stand at least six inches apart
in the rows. A long, pointed stick is
convenient for making the holes for
holding the sets, which should be in
serted so that the tops are two or three
inches below the surface of the ground.
They will throw up branches and
leaves in d short time, when the plants
should be tended like other vegetables.
The plant makes it's main growth in
the fall, but the size of the roots will
depend on the care given to them dur
ing the summer. Just; before the
ground freezes in the fall aa sufficient
number of the roots can De dug and
stored for use before thesfrost leaves
the soil in the spring. They can be
kept covered with earth in the cellar
or IN the pits that are used for other
vegetables. Roots served in this man
ner will be quite tender, white, and
very pungent. They are vastly sttpe:
rior to old roots which grow in sod.
The common garden-cress, or pep
per-grass, makes an excellent salad
for use during the early part of the
summer. The seed terminates in
few days, and the leaves are sutficint-
ly large to use before there arc any
other garden vegetables: As the plants
soon produce seed-sta'ks, some should
be sown every week till about the
lst of June. A few plants can be al
lowed to produce seed for sowing next
season: Water cress is far siiperior
to garden.cfess. and its cultivation is
recommended to all persons who have
springs or running STREAMS bn their
farn1s: Seed can be obtained of a!l
extensive dealers, and bed of it once
esta blished will remain productive an
indefinite time. The seed should be
sown on the margin of the stream,
from which the grass has been remov-
ed. The plants require constant
moisture, and the water shold be very
cold. The plants are very productive
of leaves, which can be plucked every
week during the growing season.
Water-cress is a relish which is de-
sirable during the entire year. 1t forms
beautiful table ornament, and is as
useful for this purpose as parsley.
The leaves are more tender and less
pungent than those OF garder- -cress.
Water: cress is now in good demand
il, all cities, and many who have good
beds of it derive considerable income
from them. When gathered for mar
ket it Is tied up in punches of a size
that can be clasped in the hand, and
put in cheap baskets or crates. Water
cress is not only a desirable relish to
use with meat, but with plain bread
and butter. 1t requires no addition
but salt. Considering the ease with
which it can be grown, the perma.
nency of the plantation, its con tihued
productiveness throughout the year,
and its manv points of excellency, it
seems strange that it does not receive
more attention.
livery kitchen garden should con-
tain variety of sweet herbs. The
list should comprise sago, sweet mar
joram, summer savoy, and thyme.
They are all desirable for seasoning
pork, which is the meat chiefly used
by farmers. All thee plants are
raised from seed which can be obtained
from any dealer. The seed shou Id be
sOwn in rows from twelve to fifteen