Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-02
Farm and Household.
HINTS ON GARDEN CULTURE.

early supply, SOW In spring. as Sool
as the ground becomes fit to work
in drills about one foot apart, and
two inches deep. For main crop
SOW the first week in May, and FOL
winter use SOW in June. These
dates are for the latitude OF New
York. For The South SOW earlier
for the North, later. When the
plants have attained three or fouI
leaves, thin out so that they may
stand five or six inches apart
Keep free from weeds by hand
wedding or hoeing.
The onion thrlves best in a rath-
er deep, rich, loamy soil, and, un,
like most vegetables, succeeds well
when cultivated on the same
ground for successive years. The
best culture requires that the
ground should be deeply trenched
or plOughed and manured the pre-
vious autumn, and laid up in ridges
during the winter to pulverize. As
eaily in the spring as the ground
is in working order, commence
operations by dwelling the ground
with rake, and tread 1t firmly
SOW thinly in drills about a quarter
of an inch deep and one foot apart
cover with fine soil, and press
down with the back Of a spade, OF
a light roller, or with the foot along
each row. When the young plants
are strong enough, thin gradually
so that they stand three or -four
inches apart. Keep the surface Of
the ground open and free from
weeds by frequent hOeing, taking
care not to stir the soil too deeply,
or 10 collect it about the growing
balbS.
Peas Gene earliest to maturity
in hight, rich soil. For general
crop, a deep loam,or soil strongly
inclining to clay is best. For early
crops, decomposed leaves, or leal
mould should be used, or If the
soil is very poor, stronger manure
may be used. For general crops
a good dressing should be applied,
and for the dwarf growing kinds
the soil can hardly be too rich.
When grown as a market crop,
peas arc never stak0d, and are
sown in single rows, two or three
inches deep, and from two to three
feet apart, according to variety OF
the strength of the soil. When
grown IN small quantities for prl-
vate use, they are generally sown
in double rows, six OF eight inches
apart, and the tall varieties staked
M by brush. Fer an early crop,
SOW in February, March or April
according to latitude, as soon as
the ground can be worked, and
makerepeated sOwings every two
weeks for succession. After the
first of June, sowing should be
discontinued until the middle OF
August, when a good crop may
sometimes be scared by sowing
an extra early sort for fall use.
Endive is one of the best salads
for fall and winter use. Sow for an
early supply about the middle OF
April. As is used mostly IN the
fall months, the main sowings are
made in June and July, from which
plantations are formed at one foot
apart each way, in August and
September. 1t requires no special
soil or manure, and after planting,
is kept clear of weeds until the
plant has attained its full size,
when the process Of blanchlng
begins. This is effected by gather
ing ap tine leaves, and tying them
by their tips in conical form, with
bass mating. This excludes the
light AND air from the inner leaves,
which in the course Of from three
to six weeks, according to the TEN
perature at the time, become
blanched. Another and simpler
method consists in covering up the
plants as they grow, with Stats Oh
boards, which serve the same pur
pose, by excluding the light, as the
tying up. 1t can also be grown by
sowing the seed and thinning Oul
to'one foot apart each way, as rec
commended for lettuce.
Cucumbers succeed best in warm
rich, sandy loan ground. They
should not be planted in the oper
air until there is prospect Of set
tied, warm weather. Plant in hills
about four feet apart each way. The
halls should be previously prepar
ed by mixing thoroughly with the
soil of each a shoyelful Of wellrOt
ted manure. When all danger from
insects is passed, thin out The
plants, leaving three or four Of thu
strongest to each bill. The fruii
should be gathered when large
enough, whether required for us'
or not, as, if left TO ripen on the
vines, it destroys their productive
ness.-HengersOA's Manual.
Stock Notes and Experience.
There is DO better hay for sheep