The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-26
soME HINTS FOR GARDENERS.


Clark county, Ga, farmer, Mr. III. B.
Mitchell. in Practical Farmer.
No crop can thrive and do as well if
continuously occupying the same spot,
as if changed alb ut. While all crops
exhaust the soil, it is not in the same
degree. One plant will take up alarger
per cent. Of some element than another,
conse quently rotation plays an import
ant part in keeping up the soils fer
tIlity.
Then some crops are so favorable for
the propagation and growth of weeds,
that if continued long upon the same
ground the labor Of cultivation would
be greatly increased.
Again, insects which feed upon cer-
tain plants deposit their eggs in the
ground during the occupancy of it by
that species of plant, ready to injure,
if not destroy, the succeeding crop,
when by changing its locality they die
from lack of proper food.
Shallow rooted plants draw their
nutriment mainly from the surface,
while. deep rooted plants depend upon
lower strata, hence to derive the full
benefit of the entire soil, a change OF
crops is essential.
We also must have O succession Of
crops each year. As fast as one is re-
moved another should occupy it's place.
One fourth of an acre thoroughly
manured and cultivated, upon which
a constant succession is practiced,
yields more than an acre as ordinarily
managed.
Every garden should contain hot.
bed for starting early plants and cold
frames for hardening eff hotbed stock
preparatory for setting in the open
ground, as we'll as for wiutering the
more hardy kinds.
In each case these should front to-
wards the south. Among the principal
implements needed in the garden may
be mentioned the turning and subsoil
plows, harrows, roller, marker, seed
drill, cultivator, spading fork. horse
hoe, wheel hoe, rake, tTansplanter,
trowel, dibber, hand weeder, reel and
line, watering pot, sprayer, Wheelbar-
row, numerous plant protectors to keep
off frost in early spring, or the heated
rays Of the sun after transplRnting,
and lastly, water barrel on wheels,
in which water or liquid manure may
be conveniently conveyed to the gar
den.
After all the foregoing suggestions
have been carried out, good garden
is still anything but an assured fact;
one Of the most important steps yet re-
naming. This is the selection Of seed.
Unless sound, well matured seeds Of
goUd quality are planted, disappoint.
ment will be the result. The seed sup
ply should be procured of a scotsman,
VI no is backed by reputation for re-
liability. They should be planted as
their nature demands, neither too deep,
too shallow, nor in soil too cold, too
wet, or too dry, an exercise of judg-
ment being necessary to determine just
how and when. More seed should be
planted than required for stand, the
excess of plants being thinned out after
growth has well begun. Seedsmen
often get the blame, when the entire
fault rests with the planter.
Cultivation should be often enough
to kill the weeds and grass before they
get their heads above the surface. This
lessons work, preserves moisture and
increases the crop. The successful
gardener has constantly to wage war
against insects as well as weeds in his
efforts for supremacy.
These insects are ever on the increase,
partly from the continued growth of
the gardening industry, in many in
stances no means being taken for their
suppression, causing them to multiply;
but more particularly from the ex-
termination of the birds, so that the
gardener to succeed has to be diligent,
studious and watchful. If for market,
after his crops are made, his work does
not end here. He must now get his
produce in such shape as will please
the eye, as well as the palate of his
customers, success depending as much
upon appearance as anyone thing. He
must be attentive and prompt in his
efforts to please his patrons, treating
all with equal fairness and consids ra-
tion, whether the order be to the
amount of five cents, or as many dol
lars, making their interest his.
There is no portion of the farm when
rightly managed that viii pay so well
for time and work expended, or from
which more real pleasure can be de-
rived. than the much. Amused and still