Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-09

OH an the surface water possible Use
underdrains and overdrains.
Stable manure forms humus in the
soil and the more humus in the sol
the greater will be it's warmth an6
moisture, but the humus supplies plant
food and improves the physical condi-
ton, making the soil good one for
all kinds of plant growth.
Don't work the garden and truck
patch while the ground is wet in the
haste of starting an early crop, Nom
is gained, but much is lost, in working
wet soils.
If the garden fence is defective either
mend the old or build a new one. Fix
1t so that poultry and other animal
cannot disturb. 1t is waste of time
ana vexation of spirit to have the
chickens and ducks forever destroying
the garden
Inc garden should have two gates
one small one and one large one. The
small gate should be convenient to the
mousse and the large one convenient to
the barn for hauling manure and en-
terlng with team and TOOLS
Inc average farm garden might well
pc larger. 1t ought to be ample enough
so that almost all of it could be cult
waited with horse and team One
can tend more garden with horse
aNd cultivator in an hour than he can
with hoe in two days-and do it bet
ter The hoe has it's place but the
place is the flower bed or corners and
the tool shed most of the time.
Arrange the garden planting SO that
fc =
crops. Leave a good, wide turning
row at each end of the garden, so that
no plants will be tramped down in
turning the horse. These turning rows
may be seeded to grass and serve as
clean, convenient walks They may
be trimmed with the lawn mower and
even look beautiful
Several weeks may be gained by
starting many of the flower and veg
etable seeds in boxes in the house, hot
bed or other protected quarters. Glass
is the best protection for plants. but
When glass is not procurable thin
white cloth makes a fairly good sub
stltute. Market gardeners grow nearly
all OF their lettuce and some other
vegetables under thin cloth. 1t admits
both light and air. Why not try some
this spring?
The best way to secure very early
plants is to start them in the seed box
or hotbed, then transplant to two-inch
flower pots as soon as the seedlings
are large enough.
If necessary they may be grown sew
eral weeks in the small pots There
is no check in the growth of a ported
plant at the time of transplanting and
the work may be done at any time
morning or evening, wet or, dry wealth
er. The ball of earth holds the feed
ing roots together and prevents them
from becoming broken
Two-inch flower pots cost only u
cent each, or SIS per 1000. They will
last practically forever, and will pay
for themselves the first good things
that we have not seen and tasted. Try
them and see. There is nothing like
trying. Many a man has made his
fortune by trying. Get the seed Of
new things and begin.
Sow celery seed and have your own
celery this coming fall and winter
Anybody can grow it. Try some Of
the self-blanching varieties. The seed
in March and that for the later crop
in April and May. Give the seedlings
partial shade and keep the ground
moist and free of weeds. Some place
a long board on either side of the row
of small plants to keep the soil moist
and free of weeds. Keep the seed
moist until they germi-
nate.
Asparagus may be grown from seed.
The seed may be sown at any time
during spring and summer, yet it ought
to be done fairly early. as it takes
them about six weeks to come up.
Plant in straight rows and keep the
young plants free of weeds. The
young plants may be reset to perma-
nent beds or rows in the fall or fol-
lowing spring, where they will be ready
Tor use the second spring after seeding.
H. H. Sheppard, Allendale, Ill.