Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-04-06
THE HOME AND FARM,

mohufo Oiose W II bUem as tne small
roots are favther away.
Pruning is always necessary to re-
store the balance after the partial loss
OF 'he roots in removing.
For roofing the best cutting of a
plant is a shoot of new growth, made
just before it grows woody.
If your trees are to be shipped some
distance, arrange to have them packed
In boxes rather than bales.
The rhubarb and asparagus plants
will be the better for a good covering
OF coarse manure at this time.
Ashes, salt and lime are recon- mend
ed as being very beneficial to trees,
and a sure cure for the aphis.
When plants are wanted the runners
should be encouraged, but when fruit
Is desired, keep them cut off.
Give trees plenty of room if you
would have them vigorous and thrifty,
and bear large, we'll matured fruit.
MAKING HoTBEDs.
1t is not AN easy task to be always
successful in making hotbeds. especi
ally If they are to be made early in the
season. l prefer for this purpose ma
nure from highly fed horses, and it
should be kept under shelter and not
allowed to freeze. 1t should also be
fresh and moderately moist.
In making hotbeds early in the sea-
son plenty of manure should be used,
say a layer at least "a inches deep.
Mix it thoroughly with about one
fourth of its bulk of litter, such as for
estleaves or straw. 1t should be mod
erately and evenly packed, and tramp
ed all over the bed, so that it will be
level and heat evenly all through.
Leave the bed well covered and pro-
tected for a few days to see if it heats
properly.
In the meantime select in the woods
a rich, loamy spot of ground and burn
on 1t, to kill the weed seeds, a good siz.
ed brush heap. Mix this soil and ashes
and spread it six inches deep in an
even layer over the bed. This soil
should De loose anu ioamy, and full OF
decaying vegetable matter, 30 that il
will not bake or become solid. 1t will
also heat more quickly, and not be Sc
apt to get too hot. 1t is much less la.
Dor to burn the soil and kill the seeds
than to pull the weeds afterward, and
treated in this way the bed will always
be clean. This is especially advisable
If the bed is to be sown with onion
seed and the seedlings to be trans.
planted.
l sowed quite a large bed with onion
seed last season. About half was drill.
ed in, and the remainder sowed broad.
cast, or evenly, all owe the bed, and
lightly covered with loose soil. l find
that by sowing the seed broadcast ]
can grow many more plants on the
same space, and they will be as good
or better than If sown in rows. They
are usually straighter, more stocky and
better rooted. One can SOW almost
just the right amount of seed and MOI
have it too thick, as lying on the sur
face it is plainly visible. I can see nc
advantage in sowing any kind of seeG
In drills If the soil has been freed from
weed seeds in the manner described
If the seed, however, is to be sowL OF
soil foul with weed seeds, by all means
SOW 1t in drills, 30 the soil can bt
stirred.
Glass is the best cover for a hotbed
but if it be thought too expensive the
next best and cheapest cover is very
thin muslin; heavy muslin shades the
bed too much. Of course the bed will
need further protection from frost anG
heavy rains.
Hotbeds dry out quickly, especially
ii the covering is raised or taken off
The soil should be kept quite moist
and when it becomes dry should re
ceive a thorough watering. Not les
than a half gallon of water, applied il
fine spray, should be used to ever,
square foot Of surface. 1t is a goot
plan to bank the frame on the outsid,
with earth and keep the soil packed
solid against it OF the inside. This viii
make the bed snug and tight, and pre-
vent the soil from drying out too rap
idly. The cover should be taken OF
for several days before seedlings ar
transplanted, in order to harden them
e. s. Mead, in American Gardening
DWARF FRUIT TREES.
As a rule those looking toward a pei
manent orchard do not care to plan
dwarf trees, whether pear or apple, be
cause such trees are less permanen
than standards. Some are led to plan
them by the taking name dwarf, whicI
leads them to think there is less room
required for them. There is 10 on
way, but not in another. Dwarfs ar
low branched and occupy all tn
ground that their limbs overspread
while the standard, being trimme
up several feet, permits the use of tn
soil under 1t. The chief gain in dwarf
is in the getting Of the fruit early. Il
the case Of the apple for instance ther
Ia / ann0intmant IL frnit il looLad 20