The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-03-28

varieties are preferred. Sheep thrive upon
it, provided they are also given small
allowance Of grain.
1t is stated by some farmers a the far
mers' meetings that the ordinary horse
rake can he used for scratching over the
pastures previous, to seeding, and also that
it is better than harrow for the first
working OF corn, it being Il custom with
some to harrow the young corn with a
smoothing harrow.
The rule in sowing clover seed is to SOW
when the ground is covered with seed. Try
narrowing the ground and brushing the
seed in for an experiment on a small plot,
and SOW the seed with hand broadcast
seed sower. 1t has been found an excellent
method by some who have tried it,
Among some of the varieties Of pea
which have peeA tested and found eXcels
lent may be mentioned Stratagem, Cham
pion, Alaska, American Wonder and
Heroine. Theie are also many other eX
cellent varieties, some noted for earliness
and others for quality.
Sow the lawn grass now. If the lawn
contains bare places, scratch it over with II
sharp rake aid SOW the seed. DO not be
afraid of using too much seed
I he varieties of Strawberries offered by
by seedmen are valued as much for ship
ping qualities as for size and flavor. For
family use there are several kinds that ale
productive and of good quality but not
well adapted TO" transportation to market.
your object is in making the strawberry
bed
For waste spaces the grape vine is always
convenient. Along the wire fences of
poultry yards, aud the arboIs, a vine here
and there will prove both ornamental and
useful. There is no fruit that can be
grown with such little space as the grape
if a crop for market is not required. Make
it point to set out grape vine wherever
one will grow, and as it will grow on
almost any location but little 'oss can
result.
A large crop on n small plot costs less
proportionately than a small crop on a
large plot and also gives profit when the
larger plot may be cultivated at loss.
The way to secure early melons, squashes
and sweet corn is to plant the seed on a
piece of thick sod, in cold frame, and
transplant sod and plants in the open
ground as soon as the season permits. In
this manner the roots will not be disturbed
and the plants will not be checked in
growth. 1t is very difficult to transplant
melons successfully with the sods, as they
ldom thrive if their roots are disturbed.
Have the ground ready and well measured
before transplanting so as to permit of no
delay.
A cold frame is more scrviceaLle than a
hotbed, because it can be constructed more
easily and at less cost, giving greater space
ion early plants. A simple box, filled with
rich earth and manure, is sufficient and at
night it may be covered with boards or an
old carpet. The hotbed is used during cold
weather, the plants being transferred to
the cold frame later, when the weather is
milder. The cold frame serves admirably
for keeping the early plants until they can
bn t-np tod To al,
The castor bean plant is one of the the
most beautiful and ornamental that can be
grown. Raise them in boxes or in the
hotbed and plant them in the open air
after danger OF frost is over. They require
very lich soil and there is no danger of
giving too much manure. With good care
they will grow as high as six feet during
the summer.
For a small patch of onions use the sets,
and get them in the ground as soon as it
can be done. Have the plot well MANFRED
Pruning cannot now he delayed as the
season is becoming too warm. All such
work snOuld ne done at once, as week or
10 days more may be too late, and the
warm weather will influence the rise of
sap.
If one has had no experience in trim
ming orchards there is at least one safe rule
which any person can follow, and that is
to cut out all dead wood.
The roots Of rhubarb may now be taken
up and divided leaving one or two eyes
with roots attached Set them in row,
one foot apart, and transplant them next
| season to permanent locations.
Hundreds of varieties of strawberry
plarts are now offered by seedsmen, and
some of them are superior to those of last