The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Growing Spinach.

One Of the most profitable crops that can
be raised by those having access to the larg-
er cities has been found to be spinach. IL
is rapid grower and several crops can some
times be grown in a single season. The
Rhode Island Station has published bull
letin giving particulars of how to grow this
crop, as well as other general information re-
garding the plant. Among other things it
states that within eight weeks from the SOW
ing of the seed it produces 500 to LOCO
bushels per acre. which often sells for as
much per bushel as potatoes, though the
| average is less. But the expense of growing
| 1T is also less, and it occupies the land at a
season-very early or very late-when scarce
ly any other crop could be grown. Another
advantage OF spinach Is that it requires no
period of preparatory growth, but the very
earliest growth of the plant is edible
Wild spinach is spindling, with thin,
tough, narrow leaves; but centuries of skill
ful culture by the gardener have produced
q species with broad, thick, brittle succu-
lent leaves which furnish one of the most
palatable and wholesome dishes of the mod
ern dinner table. Many attempts to grow
spinach fail because it is not given q soil
rich enough. 1t has been pampered till it re-
quires soil as rich as ID can be made. On
poor soil or one even moderately rich, it be-
comes spindling and tough-reverts to its
natural or wild state.
Spinach should be so thinned that while
the leaves nearly or quite cover the ground
there shall be no crowding or overlapping
By proper thinning the season Of cutting may
be prolonged for several weeks if desired.
Bees at the Vermont Station.
Experiments in Bookkeeping at the Yer
mt fnfi foil ad To
difference in the relative value of different
sized frames in wintering or building up in
the Spring. Stimulative Spring feeding
proved Injurious Bees will make use of
scrap wax in comb construction during the
honey flow. The Langdon non-swarmer
proved for the second time failure. The
periodical removal of all drones and drone
broods failed to prevent swarming. No
difference could be detected by experts in
the quality of honey produced under other
wise similar conditions upon different comb
foundations.
Farm Notes.
When the lambs come, which should BE-
this month and next, every eve which pro-
duced twins. and provided plenty of Dourish-
ment, should be retained, unless too old,
and the eve lambs retained will be more pro-
ductive in future if from such dams. The
prolifcacy of q fioek may be considerably
increased by thus selecting the breeding
ewes.
A garden is not intended for the growing
of vegetables only. 1t should be carefully
laid out, with clean walkways, ali the small
fruits being made specialties. 1t is not adj
visable to grow trees in the garden, bus
flowers may be used to ornament the borders
along the walkways. There are many vege-
tables in the seed catalogs that are unknown
to some farmers, but which should be grown
in order to provide greater variety, among
them being okra, broccoli. cauiilower, en-
dive, kohl-rabi, and satisfy, to which may be
added pot herbs. Even celery and egg-plants
are not found in many gardens.
Do not expect stock to secure a supply Of
water from snow, as the experiment will re-
suit in loss. As water is cheap, and also es-
sential at this season, it should not only be
supplied but also be given in lukewarm
condition.
Hedges are useful or detrimental accord
ing to the way they are kept. A well-trim-
med hedge is ornamental and becomes better
every year. but if neglected, and allowed to
grow without attention, it is very unsightly.
The first year is the most important in manag-
ing hedge, and in three years it should be
in a condition to demand but little trimming.
An Usage orange hedge is better than fence
when once established, and can be so man.
aged the first three years as to be impen-
etrable to small animals.