The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-16
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN.
What Horticulturists Should Do
in the Month Of May.
THE VALUE OF ALFALFA.
Chinsss ssd American Cspeaisiag Tools
-Prsass Meet De Carefully
Handled This Year.


Fruit blossoms having been held back
until the season when warm weather
may be expected to continue. gives PROM
Use OF more abundant crops. With care
trees and shruboezy can yet be planted,
but the ground must be thoroughly rul-
verified previously. 70 . considerable depth,
otherwise the roots will dry out. Keep
the ground well stirred and clean, where
the crops require II. Is during this month
much advantage will be gained by being
well up with the work.
The strawberry beds should now hare
been we'll cultivated and be free from
weeds II mulch of either straw, grass
or fern can be applied. the ground will be
kept from baking. the weeds will be kept
down more easily and when the fruit is
ripe il will be kept from the ground. Saw
dust may also b. used as mulch. After
the blossoms have set the ground should
not be stirred until fruit - ripe. but rum
ners Kept of. See that the raspberries and
blackberries are staked. or tied Up by wires
and give constant shallow cultivation.
turning the ground toward the plants
rather than taking it away. Plants which
bear their fruit above the ground should
have the earth turned toward them, while
root crops. such as potatoes. beets and
onions. should frat have soil thoroughly
pu!ver:zed before planting: then given
level cultivation. Cusrants and goose
berries should also be given shallow cult
walton, especially in the earlier part of the
month.
The white beans may be planted during
the latter part of the month in rows three
feet apart and six inches apart In the drill.
Drop two or three beans in hill, cover
about TWO inches deep. Ashes and ground
bone or acid phosphate mixed are good
fertilizers for beans. The lima beans should
be planted about four feet apart, and six
beans in each hill, and in the center place
pole about eight feet high.
Cucumbers, squash, melons and pump
kins should be planted during the latter
part of the month, or soon as danger Of
frost is over. The latter should be in
hills from ten to fifteen feet apart. while
the other varieties may be from four to
six or eight feet apart. The ground should
be well puIverized and made very rich in
mixed with soil where seeds are planted
will increase the yield. Drop six or seven
seeds in each hill, afterwards thin out TO
two or three plantSto the hill.
The tomato, one Of the most popular of
all garden vegetables, should be fully ex-
posed to the sun III tho western part OF the
state. Plants already started should be
set out about four feet each way as soon
as the weather becomes warm. In the
eastern part Of the state for late crops the
seed may be sOwn i'll open ground in
shallow drills rs soon as danger OF fros.s
are over. The ground for the tomato need
not be specially rich. but should be made
as fine and mellow a. the most thorough
working with the pillow or spade. hoe and
rake can secure.
When setting out plants if tablespoon.
full o: superphosphase is worked into the
soil it will be very beneficial. Set the
plant with the ball Of moist earth undis-
turbed into the hole 30 deep that the
surface Of the soil will be fully up to the
first leaves Of the plant, pull the soil to,
and press 1t firmly around the roots Of the
plant with the hands, and the work is
done