Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-18

winters work in these houses is both
pleasant and profitable. The temperature
AZ near as possible between 40 and 20
degrees. Radishes and lettuce are grown
we'll together The former are matured
at the right time and. of course. sent to
market, giving room for the lettuce to
expand and fill in the space that the
radishes occupied. Lettuce is twice as
long making its growth as the radish. In
these large houses there is continual
planting of seed and gathering OF crops
all through the winter months. 1t would
be profitable and agreeable investment
for every Maine farmer to take day or
more and look about amongst those en-
gagged in the business, thereby obtaining
perhaps more perfect idea of the way
things in this line are accomplished.
Spinach is not put under glass, and is a
crop started when other early crops are
ont of the wav. The seed is sowed about
the first oil September. The tops beng con-
iinually thinned out. are well footed. and
in condition to be covered in for winter.
ready at the first approach of spring to
be gradually uncovered and crop
secured at an early period of the season.
" "
two or three weeks earlier. that it NAV
become fully grown at the end OF the
season. when it is taken up and put into
pits somei hing after the fashion of celery
pits, packed closely and well covered to
avoid extreme freezing. care being taken
to keep it as cool a. possii /, 1t is then
taken out, washed and mark, ted as wanted
through the winter. Among the indis-
pensables is salt hay or seaweed used very
ex ensively for covering or mulching pur-
poses. 1t is not an uncommon sight to
see large stacks in convenient proximity
to where spinach is being grown, always
ready as shield and protection against
the cold winter weather.
THE EARLY CROPS.
On land intended tor celery are onions,
cabbages and early beets. planted the
usual width. with every sixth row left tor
celery. il the seed is sown too early it
will run up to seed. Onions are planted
by the first of April if possible, beets
also as early. 1t is best To plant cabbages
in hot beds bv the first of March, sowing
the seed broadcast When up about two
inches set over again in hot beds, the
keep IN beds until the ground is in con-
dition to set them out. The glass is taken
off as the weather will permit, not much
business being done except when started
under glass.
The popular and profitable production
ia celery. crop whose reputation is I'M
limited, particularly such as is grown in
the vicinity of Boston. Our dealers at
Quincy Market are continually in receipt
OF orders from New York and other large
cities for this product, now held in xhigh
repute for its health giving properties,
always in demand and always selling at
good living price, the range at retail
being from Is to 80 cents pei bunch.
Great pans is always taken to produce
such as shall be we'll bleached and of g BOD
quality. 1t is started in seed beds
and then transplanted in the field.
With the soil thoroughly fert
lized it makes an easy and good
growth, and as the season advances. with
the other early crops out OF the way, the
process of banking up on either side is
commenced; by the time frost fairly sets
in, the plants are at the least, from II to
20 inches in height. This process of bank
ing and also for protection from the
frost until it has reached its full growth.
The cold weather storage celery pits are
prepared, simple description of which
would not come amiss. Mark out strip
of land twelve feet wide and as long as
required to house the crop; throw out the
dirt and plank up three feet
high on each side. In the centre of these
pits must be posts at intervals of twelve
feet, and five feet high; to these must be
nailed the centre plank, for support to
the cross boards ami you hereby havea roof
five feet high in the centre and three feet
high on each side. giving plenty of room
to pack easily when the celery is housed.
These cross boards are not nailed, but as
the crop is put in, tie boards are placed
over. One quite essential part in the max
ing of these pits is to keep them neither
too hot or cold A Temperature of 40
degrees is what is desired. Without ven
tilation, celery would soon heat in its
compact state, and become worthless To
guard against such trouble. ventilators
six inches square are placed at intervals
OF len feet, projecting from the centre,
the ends of course planked in. As The
tibp - Plth'h III. luS IpOl Is tONtItl over
with sea weed or salt hay, to keep out the
frost: then you have good protection
from the cold. and the ventlators keep the
celery from over heating. The crop is
housed before cold weather sets in, dug
from the ground with the roots on, and
packed closely side by side within the pit
where it undergoes process of ripening
and bleaching out. and when in a proper
condition, as The market requires. is trans
fered to the work house, or more proper
ly called cleaning and washing house,
which is as essential to the market gar
dener as any part of his premises. There
it is trimmed, washed and packed. Oae
man trims each bunch. 1t is then passed
over to another whose part it is to wash.
and for that purpose he has large tank
or trough OF running water, and with
hand-brush proceeds to clean out the dirt
and any part not desired to remain, such as
uncomelv stocks, etc. If the punches are
not of sufficient size additions are nailed
on What is prepared to-day is sent to
market tomorrow.
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