Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-07-13
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING EVERY
DAY MATTERS ON THE FARM.

OD0GRNN tt0iN0 S0iN0-ioNbNNt ~ 49,
DAY MATTERS ON THE FARM.
Bs&H ------ 3se5.lt+
In the Marketing Garden-Harvesting On
ions-Care OF Late Cabbages-PIanting
Of Winters Crops-How to Secure
Profitable Turnip Crop.
July is the busiest month Of the year
in the market garden. Not only are the
green crops at their height, but all crops
are beginning to mature, and the land
from which the first crops have been
taken is to be cleared and winter crops
are to be planted.
If the winter onions are ready to har-
vest, as they may be by the end OF the
month, and which may be known by the
tops dying and falling over, pull them by
hand when the ground is perfectly dry,
throwing two or three rows together into
one. Leave them exposed to the sun at
least three days, stirring frequently that
all may become well dried, before put
ting under cover. Sort out such as are
too small for market, and store separate
ly to use for sets for the first planting next
spring Store the onions in a dry, airy
place, and not in piles of any great bulk
Yellow Danvers and Red Wethersfield
may be safely kept until spring, but I'M
less storage conditions are exceptionally
favorable the white onion should be dis
posed of by November
One of the important crops to watch
and cultivate carefully through the heat
and droughts of midsummer is the late
cabbage. To make good heads cabbages
must be kept steadily growing. Keep
the entire surface of the soil about them
loose and fine and run the cultivator
deep in the center of the rows. If not
thoroughly worked during dry spell
they may commence to head up before
having completed their growth. Heavy
rains will then start them up again, and
an almost worthless crop of split heads
will be the result. If the tendency to
split is noticeable, go over the piece and
start the roots partially loose from the
SOIL This will check the rapidity of the
new growth and give the plant time to
adjust itself to the altered circumstances
An Important item of the work for
July will be to prepare the ground for
eaAANh w oOM oCCds 1DClO diC WV
classes of farmers who usually fail to
find any profit in this crop. The first
comprises those who think that turnips
don't amount to much anyhow, and
won't repay the expense of much labor
incurred in putting in. The second class
consists of those who think that turnips
will grow anyway. The soil is barely
scratched with pillow, narrowed as lit
tie as possible, and the seed sown there
on TO shift for existence as best it may.
II moderate crop results, the grower is
satisfied; il the crop fails to come, he
lays it to poor seed. Owing to the sea-
son atsvhich turnips are planted, a season
when we may expect drought instead of
showers, and when the heat of the sun
is so great that it dries up both soil and
seed instead of warming it into life, the
greatest care should be exercised in the
initial preparations.
The practical market gardener, who
knows that good turnip crop means
daily addition to his sales, steadily from
September until April, selects ground
from which some hoed crop, such as po-
tatoes or early cabbage, has been re-
moved, as such ground is apt to be mel
lower and cleaner than any other. He
plows this deep, and harrows until it can
be no finer; on this surface the seed is
sown at once, without waiting for rain
or the indication of rain. The fresh
turned earth is better factor for start
ing termination than rain would be,
unless it were just such a soft, gentle
rain as we would always have if we
could, but which, in fact, comes so sell
dom The seed should be covered in
with good brush harrow, that will
leave some of the fine soil over it as well
as under.
In the early fall months some of the
vegetables that sold well early in the sea-
son prove attractive. Lettuce should be
sown this month, and the crisp, green
leaves will prove palatable when cool
days come again. Peas also should be
sown, to keep the supply up until the
beginning of winter. Use the early sorts
now, and sprout them slightly by mixing
with fine, moist soil a few days before
planting. Little trouble will then be ex-
perienced in getting them started, and in
growing good crop, il the requisite con-
ditions of well prepared ground have
been complied with, says American
Agriculturist, from which the foregoing
was taken.