The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-04

suns or winds the surface rapidly dries /,
and evaporation begins, the atmosphere |
robs our soils of its moisture, but through |
capillarity the displacement of moisture is |
Immediately supplied from the store be- |
low. Now, the point in the application OF |
fertilizers is that the portion held in solu-
ton Tin the water of the soil) is constantly
working out, chemically, for us in the soil,
both mineral and perhaps some organic
bodies which feed the plant.
In the preparation of our soils and the
planting of seeds require keen perceptions
and a thorough understanding OF the con-
ditions necessary for the termination of
the different varieties. What effect the
varying temperature of spring will pro-
duce, what degree of cold is required TO
kill the embryo in the soil with the differ
ent conditions of moisture will be found
valuable aid in affording the knowledge
that immediate replanting is necessary.
which will be saving of valuable time.
The seed bed should be in perfect cOndi-
ton, which meSns mellowed deep, all
manure thoroughly incorporated with the
soil, narrowed and thanked until all clods
are reduced fine. The soil should be
firmed though not packed as with a roller,
and should present level, smooth surface.
In the sowing of seeds more depends
upon the knowledge of the proper depth
than is generally accepted. There can be
no general rule laid down to follow, as
different seeds require to be pressed into
the soil without covering
Various soils require different depths as
to their predominating characters or OF
clay or sand, and again the season OF the
year or rather the conditions OF tempera-
ture they may have to contend with; de-
grees of cold or heat, moisture or drought,
h.l 1, 70. 10 ,r-rth fha
depth you should plant.
/ nave adopted the plan of sowing shall
low in the spring that L may have the ben
eft of the sun to increase the temperature
and deeper as the season advances to avoid
too high a temperature and secure the
proper moisture.
All seeds, so far as possible, should be
sown by drills, of which we have several
excellent makes, the advantages of regu-
iarity OF depth, even distribution and saw
ing OF seed, are matters OF great impor-
lance, 10 say nothing of the amount of
ground that can be sown in a day, which
is great saving of time.
In the setting of plants a knowledge of
how, where and when is indispensable,
whether deep. as with cabbage and cauli-
flower, or shallow as with lettuce and eel
cry; in hill, on the level or in furrow,
all contributes to or retracts from the re-
suits OF the crop.
When, must be at whatever time the
conditions of the weather and soil indi-
cate. With a proper temperature for inn
mediate growth plants will form new root
lets and start in twenty-four hours.
When under proper conditions, on the
other hand it may stand for a week, a fit
subject for the prey OF insects when the
| conditions are unfavorable. Cultivation
| should begin as soon as the young seed
| lings are well up, or, in the case OF plants
set, you may begin in a few days.
fAfter each rain, as soon as sufficiently
| dry. stir the soil and you will never be
troubled with weeds. Promptness in this
matter is often the difference between sue
cess and failure.
In preparing vegetables for market
much of our success depends upon our
| talent for the attractive arrangement OF
our produce, and the reputation we have
gained from previous packages sold.
Honesty is the best policy, is an old
proverb. But no where better examplified
than in the market-place. Dealers soon
| learn your mark, il they are unacquainted
with you. That mark to them is Il guar
antee of either honesty or dishon-
esty, and is branded as such
in short time. A reputation
! fall of many a shipper in fruits and vege-
tables. Clean new packages are cheapest
| in the end and increase the value and at
tractiveness of the product equal to the
| cost. a home market OF small nearby
tows and villages, / consider the most
| profitable market in the country to-day
| for the gardener. As there he does not
come in competition with the whole world
as in q market like New York or Philadel-
! phia, where fruits and vegetables abound
in and out of seasons the year round. Sc
| lect such as hundreds of from one TO ten
thousand inhabitants and content your
self to grow only what is in demand and
such quantities as are needed.
| Location for the garden should be con-
sidered also in the matter of economy and
profit, and comes next in importance TO its
adapatbility for the production OF the
various crops. In no branch of husbandry
is time and labor required to account more
for its output than in the garden. All OPP
erations are tedious, requiring delft action
| and dilligent application, dumped within
the day OF increasing the working force for
] the occasion. Whereas the competitor who
has long hauls lives farther from the city
! and is not surrounded by men and boys
and even women, who can be turned to
| advantage at such times for few hours,
must submit to the conditions OF things as
he finds them and sell for what he can get
Next to location is the acreage to be
cultivated, what crops are intended to be
grown, and if a speciality of any one crop
is TO he made, it should not be decided
upon hastily; many things are to be taken
into account, all OF which are important,
and will show for either profit or loss.
Soil, climate, facilities for marketing,
amount of capital to work with, the
the amount of labor at command and the
character of the labor TO be depended
upon, all are important factors in the sue
cessful accomplishment of our purposes.
A knowledge OF the wants, habits and
tendencies of the crops we cultivate and
the means of successfully combating and
exterminating its Fungoid and insect
enemies are more essential to success than
a superficial knowledge of many crops.
When the habits and wants of plant
have been made a special duty, and those
wants and conditions complied with by an
intelligent cultivator, success is about as
cure TO follow as "seed time and harvest"
1t has been demonstrated beyond a doubt
that the quantity of acres and multiplicity
of crops has nothing whatever to do with
assured success or profit in market garden
ing. But on the other hand, the man who
has confined himself to a line of special
crops, and those which by careful expert
ment he has found best adapted to his
particular soil sand market, and who has,
through diligent application to his bust