Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-16

underdrains and overdrains.
Stable manure forms humus in the
soil and the more humus in the soil
the greater will be its warmth and
moisture, but the humus supplies plant
food and improves the physical condi-
ton, making the soil a 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. Moth
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
and vexation of spirit to have the
chickens and ducks forever destroying
the garden.
The garden should have two gates
one small one and one large one. The
small gate should be convenient to the
the barn for hauling manure and en-
tering with team and tools.
The average farm garden might well
be 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 its place, but the
place is the flower bed or corners and
the tool shed most of the time
Arrange the garden planting so that
all plants are set in rows like field
crops. Leave 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 fairly good sub
stitute. 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?
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 potted
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 "
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 man has made his
fortune by trying. Get the seed of a
hundred 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 lf-blanching varieties. The seed
for the very early crop is sown early
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
constantly 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
for use the second spring after seeding.
H. H. Sheppard, Allendale, III.