The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-28

til S0Il composing tHe Sdldc plf'C0
should have been deeply turned and sub /
gsoilcd sixty days ago, but the majority |
sof farmers nearly always wait until the |
Iast minute before doing any work on
sthe garden. and even then the land is
7onIy broken and prepared to meet inn
mediate demands for such seed as are to
b. planted There is no piece of land on
dhc farm which gives a larger profit on
.5thc area planted and cultivated than the
small piece of ground usually devoted to
Nthe growth of vegetables for the family.
sN Except in the neighborhood of the sea
and gulf coast there cannot be planted
during the present month many vege-
tabIc seed. but if the weather is open and
s4pIcasaut the garden area can be gotten
ainto good condition for considerable
planting in February. Stable manure
x should now be broadcasted heavily over
# the soil and then The land broken deep
s# ly and narrowed over several times to
az secure perfect filth condition l have
~ never vet heard Of an instance where too
% much barnyard manure was spread on
81 the garden or where the vegetables had
81 been overworked. We should therefore
81 fcrtiIize as heavily as possible, prepare
a the land thoroughly and then stir the soil
u around the growing vegetables as often
n and as rapidly as possible
ID \ COMMON HOT BED.
81 In those sections where it is yet too
# early to expose the tender plants in the
s. open soil. we can obviatc the difficulty
Il by building d cheap hot bed in which the
@ seeds Of different plants may be germi-
Nj mated now and tranSplanted out in the
garden when the condition of the wealth
cr permits. | have for many years used
an Inexpensive hot bed with good results
for growing early lettuce raddish salad,
cahbaees etc The best place to locate
common hot bed or cold frame, is in
the rear of an outbuilding facing the
south. Get either southeastern or
d southern exposure with protection from
the cold western and northern winds. Lay
off place six feet wide by 1S to 20 feet
q long and fork the ground up deeply.
Then spade off about four inches of the
TOP soil and spread on about three inches
of we'll rotted stable manure pressing the
8 same down firmly by stamping. Next
throw on the soil which was first re-
II moved and build a cheap plank wall
III around tile whole having the northern or
u western side two feet higher than the
front. Allow to stand for two days be
fore planting the seed. Glass can be
used 10 cover the frame but | have had
s. cNc"Ilont success with a plain Osnabure
shcct. so arranged that 1t could be turned
N back pleasant days or drawn over the
I'D .r>me during freezing nights. To a per
8 son Who has never planted a variety OF
# quick growing early vegetables on q
# small patch of soil prepared in this way
81 it viii be astonishing to know what an
# adjunct to the table it will give in .
q very short period of time.
In such bed cabtages. tomatoes. pep
per and olher vegetables OF like character
can he early germinated and successfully
trgn5rlantcd to much better advantage
thau thc common plan of using little
i boxes 10 be carried in and out of the
house at every change of the weather
during our tickle season for the next two
months. There is but little work needed
10 "aFe good hot bed OF the kind named
and there is 50 much more satisfaction
|n making a proper effort to have tho
NNrhon garden ii success. than in de-
"naing upon the usual shiftless and in
FL '.."tcnt methods pursued by so man,
y #h Who follow the noble profession O.
s. farming. Any man who has the proper
q regard for his wife and wants to aid hel
. 'H Ih" management of her housekcep.
ing 'H1ieS VIII always prepare and fur
a.5h Il good garden.
i NECESSARY ADJUNCT
tH"t" is nothing mysterious about tn,
".-"f Oh som" people to have a luxuri
o"7 garden during nearly every month il
me year. while others only have a few
'dIh5 o. collards in the fall. The MAJ
'.lh Il iFst cass garden is apt t,
pave IN abundance of home raised corr
'aI meat on hand also. II is simply tn,
adherence between thrift and success OF
'hD enc sid" and carclnssness and indif
ference On the other. At this time whel
provisions of all kinds are so high i,
I'"'. the garden becomes q necessity
"H"ih"r Ii tc y pleasure or not, yc
'h''' Is 10 part Of the farm which shouI,
XIV" more Gcnuinc pleasure to the owner
ana 70 all members of his family than ;
garden filled with Iuxurjant CROWN,
vegetables all nicely worked and in invit
iHH 'orJI'ion. There is no vcgetab bic Su
i'i'oF 70 asparagus ana vet there are bu
i asparagus beds 10 be found on tn
"'''a&" farm. splendid dinner can b
.''f'o with small piece of bacon an
I,bIaf% Of vegetables. Man was origi
"di# vegetarian and the hardest work
'' "'n would require but little Of tn
NF''''IFe breads and meats usually foun
~" "u' tables through the spring an
.'''i"'' II the Kitchen garden receive
,u' care and attcntion it ought to have
we need a revival of interest along thi
'h" "I our agricultural work frs
'"'-S Saracn this year on every farm i
."' South would mean the saving Of mil
''"n9 "i dollars which will othcrwis
"'" I'M" the pockets of Western mca
1'' sf'ia dealers The size of the kitcl