The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-05
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS of INTEREST TO AGRI-
CULTURIsT AND HOUSEWIFE.


Fertilizers for Watermelons.
The closing days of January developed
a cold wave to show that the real win
ter month was not to be of uninterrupt-
ed ethereal mildness. On the morning of
the Goth the mercury fell TO IA degrees the
| lowest temperature of the winter thus far
at Milledgeville. Up 70 the 18th the
weather had been abnormally mild for
January, and. as stated in these notes last
week those field and garden crops that
had been gotten under way previously were
in tender and growing condition.
What damage this cold wave effects can
not be determined for some days, perhaps
weeks. yet As these notes are being
written the weather is moderating very
rapidly under the influence of south
wind and a sudden clouding of the sky
AT a. m. the temperature was IA degrees
BY l O'Clock p. m, seven hours later, the
temperature had risen to A degrees. If
rain follows instead Of warm sunshine the
damage to the growing crops may not
amount to much. 1t is earnestly to be
desired that no great damage will be done
10 The growing grain crops, OF which, In
many localities, there is a much larger
area than usual
AS before stated, great progress mas Deen
made in the garden crops. and they were
very promising before this cold wave, 1t
Is to- be hoped that they will also escape
any serious injury.
1t is always discouraging, more or less
to have to replant either field or garden
crops Should there be any need for do
ing so, however IL had better be done with
all The good grace" possible.
What February will bring to the soil
tiller is known of no man, though there
are some who win a cheap notoriety by
predicting the weather a month or two
in advance. That some of these guesses
hit once in a while is not TO be wondered
at. That many persons of fine intelligence
apparently should attach any importance
to the predictions of these weather proph-
cts is something to be wondered at, how
ever.
Ii may be that our winter weather has
been reserved for February, as ii was
last year. 1t is quite possible, and it is
quite possible also that 1t will prove a
month of normal weather; that the worst
of winter is over. We can only pursue
the even tenor of our way and we work
and hope for the best.
Some Thoughts on Cabbage Growing
There are still many gardeners who do
not succeed in growing fine, solid ca b.
bage heads. Wherever there is failure
there is some reason for 1t, and it should
be sought for. There Is no reason for
ldllule IL rev requirements are met
The first essential is good seeds of a good
variety. There are many good varieties
and there are honest seedsmen that can
supply good fresh seed The second es-
seutial is a good soil that is capable of
making a good, hard head when properly
cultivated Plants should be raised In cold
frames instead of In hot beds" the seeds
being sown in the frames four to six
weeks in advance of the time when the
plants will be needed to be set out in the
open ground.
In the milder regions of the lower South
cabbages are now growing to maturity
from plants set out In the fall. Again
In other localities, plants are now being
set out that were raised from seeds sown
four 10 six weeks ago. In another section
of the country the first sowing of seeds
are now being made for crop to mature
IN May and July. Later other paintings
will be made for the crop to mature in the
fab
What we call the late crop, the one that
natures in the fall and early winter, Is
the most profitable crop.
Nearly every one can grow a spring or
summer crop but there are few who sue
coed in making the late crop.
The insects are very destructive to this
crop and heat and drought are also to be
contended with. 1t requires considerable
care and persistence to meet every re-
quirement of this crop.
a
synonyms and one variety is to be had un-
der scores of different names The thing
is to buy seeds of at least two good
kinds an early kind and a late kind for
the first planting in January or February
especially where il is intended to supply
local market These set out at the
same time will maintain succession Of
cabbages for several weeks.
FottleFs Brunswick and the Danish
Ball Head known also as Holland" are
two excellent varieties and rarely fail 20
make fine heads If a good strain of seed is
procured from some reliable scotsman
Another good kind is the "Surehead" and
another the "All Seasons" For fall set
ting the American Drumhead Savoy is
superior variety. For the late crop. set
out in April or May a good strain of the
old Flat Dutch is still as good as any
Cabbage seeds cannot be grown in the
South, and one must know how to buy
seeds properly 10 be successful in making
a money crop of cabbage. So much de-
ponds upon the seeds, in fact. it is half
the battle If not experienced in growing
the crop one must seek advice of the
proper kind in undertaking the making of
Il crop. Very few practice it, but il Is
a great gain to transplant The young plants
once before setting out in the open ground.
BY this means all imperfect plants will be
I rejected and only those set out that are
likely TO make a hard head
OF the medium or late varieties not
more than 4,S0 plants should be set to the
acre. This gives each plant nine square
feet (9x3) and rich land, well cultivated
cabbage Half this is a very fair crop.
il sold we'll.
There are few crops that afford more
pleasure TO the grower.
The Beauty of n Garden-The Main