Milford chronicle., 1906-01-19
FHE GROWING OF VEGETABLES.
BY B. F. b. woODkEL.

developed TO a'laFger extent In the past
twenty i've years than any other speclhi
i food for mans sustensnce; and, it il
we'll Snd wise that the demand has
brought this condition to exist. My
own experience is, that we have only
started up the ladder fofsuccessful and
profitable results in the quality and
quantity Of vegetable production.
Only half, or less Of my life, has seen
the few square rods, fenced in at the
kitchen door, give way for the acre field
aud farm, until the whole covers mil.
lions Of acres Of fertile soil on this Pen
insula alone. From the table Of the
poorest to that Of the richest in this
vegetable producing country there must
be one or many varieties Of vegetables
upon it to satisfy the appetite. Well,
this is enough TO introduce myself to
you as one who has lived part of his
life in the truck patch, and little Of
my experience, 1 trust, will satisfy you
that have started up the Vegetable
Ladder"
First.-I cannot believe otherwise
than that the Creator never made a
piece Of earth better adapted for the
production of as many kinds Of vegeta-
bles, to their highest quality, as on this
Peninsula.
1 commenced with the first canneTy
in Delaware for the growing Of the to-
matO. This crop is more prOfitably
grown, on good clay subsoiI, or low
lands bordering on our bays and rivers.
The seed should be selected by every
grower. Sow the first seed about the
middle of April, in we'll prepared soil,
where the tomato or plant has not been
grown for five years ut least. Spray
plants in the bed three times with Boz
deaux mixture. This will help the first
blossoms 10 resist the blight II they do
not drop, you are pretty sure Of crop
Second.-A sod field Of scarlet clover
especially covered in the winter with
ten loads of manure per acre, plOwed
under in April and kept well narrowed
should be used. Mark out rows feet
with plOw. SOW down these rows 600
pounds per acre a phosphate composed
Of 4 Ler cent. ammonia. 8 per cent.
phosphOric acid, 10 per cent. potash
use 800 pounds of this mixture per acre
or 500 pounds of dissolved bone, 500
pounds fish scrap or tankage, 800 pounds
South Carolina rock and murate potash
400 pounds Then cover and mark rows
crosswise with light marker feet then
shallow cultivation and a plenty Of 1t
when the vines are not wet with dew or
rain, up to the time they begin to ripen.
Early tomatoes require hot beds and
cold frames to grow the plants to a
strong stalky condition. with blossoms
set before transplanting to field. Light,
high, warm sOil, with not so much
vegetable matter is the best mark rows
8 feet each way and drop a half Of
small shovel.full of well cOmpOsted
manure in hill. Set your plants with
as much dirt as it will hold to il in this
manure and cultivate we'll. A little
nitrate Of soda around the plant after it
starts t. grow is helpful pull off the
poor, knotty or specked tomatoes as
they ripen, and drop between the rows.
No farmer ever lost a dollar by grow
ing tomatoes on his land, if he never
basket. Never wait for a
season Of rain, but set your plants when
ground is dry, sun is hot, and nights
warm ; by pouring little water around
each plant, small fibre roots will start
from plant the first night they are set
when ground is warm.
WHITE POTATOES
For early white potatoes sod land is
.he best, and it should be plowed in
he fall. Use 1000 pounds Of phosphate
1er acre in furrow mixed with the soil,
before dropping potato 15 inches apart
n row. The phosphate should contain
} per cent. ammonia, Z per cent. phos
lhoric acid, 10 per cent. potash or 1000
pounds fish scrap, 800 pounds rock, 400
pounds murate potash.
Cultivate shallow and often until po-
atoes are as large as hen eggs; but not
10 close to tubers, the last two harrow
ngs the tooth next to the vine should
,e made so as to hill up little; do
lot believe in ridging up with small
low the last working. A little nitrate
+ soda around the plant when about
nches high, will make a stronger vine
o resist the insects and blight use it
so pounds per acre.
On this Peninsula would use moth
ng but second crop seed, and they
hould be cut 10 days before planting
nd spread out in q warm room or :
baskets W ould do to keep them in. ,
Soak potatoes on day Of planting in q |
olntion Of eOrrOsiVe sublimate, J ounce