The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-22
Manuring the Garden.

Some garden spots are so very rich TO
start with, and have such an accumulation
of vegetable matterIrom year to year, they
are enabled to stand cropping continuously
for number Of years and render abundant
crops wherever the cultivation is good. The
larger number of gardens, however. are not
or this character, but need an application of
manure every year; some every two years.
1t depends so much on how the garden is
cultivated whether it will be necessary to
manure every year or every two or every
three years. II cultivated like some are,
raising only one crop of the different vege-
tables and then allowing the plats to grow
up in weeds, which are allowed to shade the
land thoroughly during the hottest part of
the year and are plowed under Just before
beginning garden operations the next year,
very little manure will be required. The
shade afforded the soil and the humus
restored TO it through the decaying weeds,
affords considerable of the manurial ele-
ments 60 the soil. Soil thus treated will be
found to be abundantly supplied with nitro
gen. needing, IL it needs anything. an occa-
sional application Of phosphate and perhaps
potash.
But when gardens are kept continually
cultivated In vegetable crops from the be-
ginning to the end OF the year, the exhaus-
ton OF the manurial elements becomes more
rapid, and it becomes more necessary to re-
store promptly what is taken away. The
clean culture keeps the soil exposed much
of the time to the burning rays Of the sun,
which has the effect of bringing up the
humus In the soil, and as a consequence
wasting the ammonia that 1t contains. This
waste, together with what is taken by the
crops, amounts to a great deal more than ia
restored TO the soil by the little vegetable
matter that 1t may acquire from the plants
grown on it.
Every year new gardens are established
on very poor soil wherever new settlements
are made, and it will be several years before
such soil can be brought up to condition
that will enable it to produce very profit
able crops. Unless heavy top dressing of
stable manure with liberal application of
ground bone are made to the land at once
only very small crops can be expected for
several years from such soil. Most gardens,
whether home or market, need one good,
annual msnuring, and the best time to make
OF the year, Immediately after
harvesting the crops that mature
them. The stable manure should be hauled
out and spread evenly on the land Broad
casting is much the best plan, but as a small
quantity OF such manure may be made to
go farther In making the crops Of that year
by applying 1t in burrows, many prefer to
apply ~ Al S4ob Ahbo ia bu6 lhLt OF
early in the winter, Is the best time TO apply
1t In the burrows or broadcast. whenever
the manure is OF bulky nature like stable
or lot manure. There is no better time to
apply ground bone 60 the garden than late
in the fall II spread broadcast then lightly
narrowed In Tor plowed I'M it will get just
in the right condition to be utilized by the
early spring crops. Where the bone is very
fine as in bonedusE. 10 is more speedily used
by the crops than many suppose. 1t deoom-
poses very promptly when the soil becomes
warm and it can be applied at the same
time with planting. When the bone is
course it is bstter to apply it to
the land two or three months before
planting the crop. II lightly
covered with soil, 80 that 1t Is not washed
away by heavy rains, there need be no fear
OF its valuable elements ammonia and phos-
phate) being wasted. 1t will all be there
for the use Of the crops In the spring and
summer.
Highly soluble or Immediately available
manure like sulphate of amonnia, nitrate Of
snda, dried blood or even cotton seed, meal
should not be applied in advance of
planting. An application of these sub
stances can be made at planting time, or
even sometimes after the crops are
well started. Fail planted crops such as
onions, pease, spinach and cabbage are
oftentimes top-dressed to great advantage
WIN bhcbo QuAChlJ dCbluR A6TblllocEb 6IODR
10 February, just before active spring
growth begins. Good gardeners can tell by
the appearance of their tall planted crops
in February whether they are needing more
food than the soil supplies, and what IS
needed can be readily supplied by quickly
soluble materials, like nitrate OF soda and
the like.
On light sandy soils, especially manur-
log the plant instead of manuring the soil
in advance Is a feature of advanced garden
ing. But when orsantic manures, like
stable manure, coarsely ground bone and
the like is used, it becomes necessary to ap-
ply in advance Of planting, so that decom-
position will fit the manure for immediate
use by the plants. All quickly maturing
plants like Irish potatoes, beets, turnips,
cabbages, etc., must have ali manure made
readily available for use from the momeAt
they terminate. L Is different somewhat
with the perennials, like the fruits and some
few vegetable plants that are either peren-
NAL or biennial, or that occupy the soil
from early spring to late autumn. All
plants, however, are benefited by having
their food ready for use as soon as they are
ready to take it. Maximums crops can
only be made when this is the case. Sup
piled with this and with the necessary water
and cultivation, large crops are bound to
result, barring any effects Of blight or in
sects.
Suppression of Weeds.