The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
ASPARAGUS RAISED BY AN AMATEUR.

inside build wall Of bricks or Of concrete,
aad upon tbs place a wooden frame and
6over with three by six feet sashes.
Put fresh horse manure in the bottom,
tramping II firmly TO a depth Of sixteen
inches. Over this spread finely prepar d
sifted soil, eight inches deep.
Active fermentation Of the manure sets
IN, which furnishes heat from the bottom.
while the sun shining through the glass in
creases the temperature 70 a degree sum
cient TO gernlinate the seeds and 10 start the
plants into vigorous growth. After the
reeds are planted the soil needs TO be kept
moderately moist watering once a day at
arst and twice later wren hsp lsRts become
larger.
A cold frame is desirable into which TO
transplant, particularly the flowers, as this
gives them stronger roots VIXEN they are
moved out to the garden. The cold frame
b built like the hot bed with sash TO cover
the frame, which rests upon the ground, n
excavation being made or manure used
for II.
With these inexpensive arrangements the
B., luxury Of early vegetables and flowers may
g be enjoyed and the value OF the garden
q largely enhanced
Through the extension Of the hot bed
tomatoes may be grown in pots and set out
+. When In full blossom. Sweet corn may be
planted In strawberry baskets, removed TO
the garden and transplanted without dis
turbing the roots, and thus may be had for
use full month earlier than when planted
At the usual time. Melons may also be
started In the strawberry baskets in the
tane manner.
o.. The modern improved tools make garden
ing delightful work for by their use, with
a short time given 10 cultivation. each day
the garden may be kept free from wet ds
with none Of the back-aching work that
formerly attended its care. There are cult
vators with numerous combinations Of
ploughs hoes and rakes that make il diff
cult for weeds 10 get much Roadway.
The time TO kill n weed is before it IA born.
There are millions Of T. e seeds Of weeds In
the soil which terminate when it is turned
over, and every time these tools are used
they destroy great numbers Of these ger
minating seeds.
One Of these combination cultivators to
be used with horse may be purchased for
50 complete, while hand cultivator with
several combinations for small gardens may
b had at a cost Of $3.50. Other tools needed
arc a fork, costing 81 rs; hoe, so cents;
In iron rake, 80 cents; trowel 20 cents;
q dibble, 20 cents q line 100 feet long, 30
cents. With this small investment garden
Of from one-quarter 20 one-haH an acre
IN size may be kept in perfect order.
Where there is sufficient land to be de-
voted 10 tbs garden, q great advantage
would be gained ty laying II out 18th twice
as much land as Is dc for the sCG6oL's
supply, and goving the garden oors In
alienation with clover. While one-half
Of the land Is occupied with the Vegetal les,
the other half is sowh. carly in the spring,
10 red clover, az the tate Of fifteen 20, nds
Of seed TO the acre, which would make a
luxuriant growth TO be ploughed in late
In the autumn.
Upon this clover strip the garden would
be made the following spring, while the
other half, upon which the vegetables
were grown the previous year, would be
sown with clover, thus alternating each
year with clover and vegetables. The
clover enriches the soil, adds humus or
vegetable matter, which adds much In
holding moisture and making the vegetables
crisp and tender AVID more PI oductive.
The clover also prevents wetds from
getting in, and by making the garden on
the clover soil the lator Of keeIing them
down Is reduced fully 70 per cent, for they
seldom grow much the year following q
good crop Of clover.
Another advantage n this garden clover
system 9 that u nRkee unnecessary TIE
uss of stable manures which are a constant
source Of infection and distribution Of weed
seeds. A very eKcellsnt mechanical condit-
ion Of the soil Is pg oduced by the clover, its
roots are numerous, and they penetl ate the
soil deeply, draw up from the sub-son its
potash and phosphoric, acid, and in their
decomposition make the soil loose and
friable and leave It In condition that is
most congenial 70 other plants, the clover
providing, through its Toots, the nit ogen,
which is taken mainly nom The atmos-