The National tribune., 1899-05-11
may be used in 70 to 1920 days, varying

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Caulifiower-This vegetable deserves
more general cultivation in the farm gar.
den. 1t can be raised with about the
same soil, planting, and care as cabbage
but the supply of moisture must be main
tanned more carefully. Tho plants do no,
stand very hot weather. When the plants
begin TO head the loose leaves should bs
bent over to whiten the center.
| Cucumbers.-A warm, light sandy soil
well supplied with humus is recon-
mended. while a hard, cold clay and any
poor soil are unsuitable. Hills n foot
deep and four TO five feet wide should be
prepared by thoroughly pulveriziug the
ground and mixing into it a liberal supply
of stable manure and fertilizer. The only
thing to be guarded against in fertilizing
| is the production OF an excess OF vine,
with corresponding lack of fruit. This
condition calls for pinching of the termi-
nal buds. The hills should be eight to Il
feet apart. Seed should be planted germ
end down an inch and half deep late in
| April. Weeds must be kept down care
fully while the plants are young. When
the vines cover the ground it is difficult to
do anything with tho weeds, because
every movement is likely to injure the
cucumbers. Many successful growers use
trellises or frames. 1t is best to start the
cucumbers in the hotbed or in the house
early in March. Sow on upturned pieces
of sod six inches square and cover with
an inch of light rich soil. Transfer to the
open ground early in May. Successional
sowing should begin about the middle of
May One to two ounces of seed will
plant 100 hills. Ready for use in so TO Is
days.
Gzound Cherry.-This plant, also known
as Strawberry or Winter cherry, grows
wild in the cornfelds Of the Mississippi
Valley. Its fruit is used for preserves for
the table. A good soil we'll worked i'm
proves the quantity and quality OF its
production. 1t may be planted early in
drills three feet apart, with IL to Is inches
between the plants in the drill. 1t is
recommended as very productive and as
keeping through the Winter in the husk.
Lettuce.-This plant is the most gen.
orally used in this country for salads. A
warm, mellow soil is required, with plenty
of water and thorough wedding. Sow as
soon as danger OF severe frost is past.
The seeds are very small and may be
mixed with sand for sowing. They
should be covered very lightly. In tho
Southern States it is usual to sow the
seed broadcast and cover by drawing the
fingers lightly through the soil, or to rake
in with light branch of tree. The
ordinary rake will cover too deeply. One
kind, the cabbage lettuces, form heads
naturally; the other, the Cos lettuces, do
not head, but may be blanched by tying
UP the leaves. Lettuce may be used in
three to four weeks from planting. One
quarter of an ounce of seed will sow 100
feet of drill.
Martynia-A rich, warm soil is needed.
Plant when frost is gone for the year in
hills three feet apart each way. The
seed is slow to come up. One good plant
to the hill is enough The seed pods will
be ready for picking in so TO 80 days, and
are put up in the same way as cucumbers.
Halt an ounce of seed will plant 100 hills.
Melons.-Both muskmelons tcanta-
loupes) and watermelons need a warm,
rich soil; but care must be observed not to
grow the vines at the expense OF fruit by
improper use Off ferti!izing materials.
Melons grow readily in fertile sandy
loan. The manage nient is about the
same as for the cucumber, but more light,
heat, and air are needed and not so much
moisture. The vines, may be pinched
back If they tend TO run excessively.
MuSkmelOnS need tive ounces OF seed to
the 100 hills; watermelon, four ounces.
MuSkmelonS ripe1 in about 100 days from
sowing the seed, watermelons in lzO to l4o
days.
Okra.-A deep, rich soil we'll prepared is
20 be desired for oilra, but it makes
thrifty growth and Will do well with very
little care after it has good start, unless
the season is very wet and COOL. The
seed does not come up with much GER
tainty, and two or three paintings may be
cured fresh from a dealer every year, but
With intelligent handling it may be saved
from the pod. Ora should be planted as
soon as frost is g11e, in drills two and
one half TO three fecg apart and covered
an inch deep. Thin to II or is inches as
soon as the plants begin 10 grow well.
The pods are cut three to five days after
the flower falls, and are usually boiled
alone or in soup with other vegetables.
One and half ounces OF seed will plan;
100 hills. Use Of the pods may begin in
90 to 100 days from planting.
Onions.-A rich, deep, ffiable loan is
the best soil. Sow early in shallow drills
one TO three feet apart, and cover with
half an inch of eli-pulverized soil. Thin
to four inches in the row. Keep down the
weeds industriOusly. This will usually
require working every 10 days. Instead of
sowing seed, the sets may be put out four
TO six inches apart in rows q foot apart.
The ground does not then need 10 be so
finely pulverized before planting. II the
sets are put out in October they will fur
nish slender white stems for the table
about two weeks from the beginning Of
growth in the Spring. Onions we'll
ripened keep well through the Winter in q
dry, cool place. One-third ounce OF seed
or one quart of sets go to 100 feet OF row.
Ready for use in 100 to 11o days; ripe in
160 days. according TO variety.
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