Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
THINGS TO REMEMBER
FARMERS DUTIES DURING THE
MONTH OF APRIL.

Put the garden In the best possible condi-
tion for planting soon as It can be
worked Remember that 1t ought to be
narrowed as many times as is necessary
to break up the Jumps and pulverlze the
soil, thus forming dust mulch which will
do much to retain the moisture in the
ground
Several vegetables may be started out
Of doors this month. even In the north
ern states. They include peas. both early
smooth and early wrinkled cress, dande-
lion. mustard, parsnips, radishes, satisfy
vegetable oyster), spinach for summer, car
rots. kohlrabi and potatoes.
To prevent scab seed potatoes sus-
pend them for one and one-half hours in
a coarse sack or basket in a solution made
by dissolving two ounces of corrosive sub
Innate In two gallons OF hot water, with
enough cold water added after 1.-THE mixture
Is cooled to make fifteen gallons. After
removing the seed potatoes spread them
out to dry.
The hotbed may be used to start bush
Lima beans, Brussels sprouts, celery. Gu
cumbers, elephants, lettuce, muskmelons,
parsley. peppers radishes, tomatoes, cauli-
flower and beets.
Sow out~of-deers seeds of sweet peas,
mignonette, corn-fower candytuft and
alyssum.
Start scarlt SALIVA. zinnia, marigold, cal
endula. cosmos. salpfglossis and phlox In
the house
Dig around the rhubarb plants. and spade
In liberal quantity of well-rotted manure
Give the raspberrfes, currants and goose
berries thorough cultivation as early as
possible.
Fork over the asparagus bed and dress
lightly with salt II it was not fortified
last season spade in a liberal amount of
manure; 1t Is too early to apply nitrate
of soda.
If spraying is to be done begin 1t now.
If you want to try your hand at graft
ing now Is the time. Try an experiment by
twigs which you trim from the new trees
you are setting out this spring
1t Is well to get the nursery stock which
arrives this month into the ground as soon
as possible II the weather is not IA
vorable. heel 1t in by placing the roots
in a trench and burytng them.
Examine the bees and see II they are well
supplied with stores; II not feed item.
Hatch out this month or ef,rly N Nav
the chickens which are to make next sea-
sons layers. 1t is best. If pc ssible, to set
several hens at the same tins. SO that the
chicks may be raised In bro oder or given
to fewer hens than otherwise would be re-
quired.
The House and Grounds.
The house that endures is the house that
is annually looked over and cared for This
statement means that We may expect at
any time, not only decay of shir giles and
clapboards, but the decay of timbers and
the crumbling of foundations These may
be caused by leak. or by the work of ants
or rats. or be brought about by dry rot.
Bear In mind that rot Is fungous disease
and spreads In seasoned wood inst al
It does In green wood or in fruit.
1t Is cheaper to keep a lookout for these
diseases and anticipate costly repairs.
have found every spring that red squirrels
have succeeded in boring holes through my
roofs or sideboards at some point. These
little rodents must be shut out from our
lists Of pets. It Is not pleasant decision
that they must be shot. but THAR post1fer-
Gus habits about our houses In winter AMI
among the birds nests and young birda Z +
summer make It necessary to debar them
from our grounds Suburban Lie.