Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-09-17

absorb water. After the first blooming,
cut back the roses well, using the scls-
sors. New growth soon starts, bearing
a multitude of blossoms later.
These points as to his method are given
by farmer who knows how to raise 400
bushels of potatoes to the acre; Rich,
light soil; pillow deep early in spring;
plant fifteen inches apart; cover four
inches deep or more; keep down tho
weeds, but do not work the ground after
potatoes begin to bloom. The main Sc
cret, he says, is in selecting the seed. He
always cuts of the blossom end. One
eye will yield more potatoes than two.
These points as to his method are given
by farmer who knows how to raise
400 bushel of potatoes to the acre Rich,
light soil; pillow deep early in spring;
plant fifteen inches apart; cover four
inches deep or more, keep down the
weeds, but do not work the ground after
the potatoes begin to bloom. The main
secret, he says, is in selecting the seed.
He always cuts off the blossom end.
One eye will yield more potatoes than
| two.
There is great advantage in having a
hay cutter in the barn. By its use straw
and other coarse fodder can be so mixed
with meal that stock will eat all readily,
and thus the capacity of the farm to keep
and make manure may be largely in
creased. The stubs OF coarse tornstalks
will not be eaten unless steamed, but it
is worth while to cut them up, if only
for the advantage of having fine manure
to be evenly spread during the winter
and spring.
Professor L. B. Arnold wisely remarks
that the nutrient p operties in the gra n
of corn are passed through the cob.
Wien gathered in an immature state the
cob is loaded with nutritious matter on
its way to the kernels of the grain, just
as the straw or other grain in its green
state is loaded with nutriment destined
for the grain, but its passage is arrested,
and it remains in the straw when the lat
ter is cut green The cobs of soft corn
may therefore be classed with other green
heritage near the time the seed is filing.
One of the best and easiest ways to
protect plants from the drouth is to keep
the top of the soil well pulverized by fire.
quent stirring; but care should be taken
not to stir the soil deep; one inch is deep
enough, and if kept well pulverized that
depth it acts as mulch, and is one OF the
best materials for that purpose, better
than hay or even leaves. Thus mulched,
the plants, as arule, will grow better in
dry weather than if the ground be
waterel in the usual way; in fact, a
slight watering produces a crust on the
surface of the soil which prevents the
pants from getting moisture in sufficient
quantities to keep them vigorous.
For all plants such as dahlias, glad
ioluses, loses, hcrbaceous plants, and
any which may be growing straggl ng
and out of shape, use stakes, in height
rroportionate to the growth and size of
the plants. Dahlias should have strong
stakes acd plenty of water during this
dry, hot weather. A good mulching OF
any neat looking material greatly assists
in keeping moist the roots CT such plants
as dahlias and g'adioIuses. With YER
benas keep all the decayed flower spikes
cut off; do not allow them to produce
seed, as it takes the strength of the
plants to mature seed, and consequently
the plants weaken and produce only
small flowers and few of them.
Those of our readers who may have
more or less celery in their gardens
which is imperfec'ly blanched or moi
blanched at all, may easily blanche il
per Getty after it is taken up. Lift the
plants from the ground, leaving a little
soil adhering to the roots. Take com
mon -four barrels, put about two inches
of sand in the bottom and on this place
your celery in an upright position. Pack
the barrel full, of course putting only
one layer in barrel. Sprinkle the sane
before you put the celery in. Then pu
the barrel in cool cellar, cover it with
boards loosely, so that the light is KEEP
out, and in six weeks your celery will b
bleached to the tips. Examine it ono,
in while, and if it seems to be too dr.,
and showing signs of whiting, sprinkle i
with water. Care must be taken not tt
wet it too much, as it i apt to produce
rust.