The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-02
(By N. G. Saxton.l

IN teDruary L prepare several boxes
in which to SOW seed for early tomato,
filling them with moderately rich,
sandy soil after placing a layer of
broken brick in the bottom for drain
age; then, the boxes are set away in
a warm PLACE for two weeks and by
that time the soil is thoroughly warm
ed thu ough. After the seeds are plant
ed the boxes are set in the south
window of a warm room and the soil
is Kept moist and free from rubbish
which might cause the soil TO become
mOldy.
When the plants are a few inches
tall they are transplanted to induce
Stocky growth. and as soon as the
weather permits the more hardy ones
are transferred to the cold frames.
When planting time comes | have a
nice lot of vigorous plants ready to be
set out, and any surplus / may have
IS sold or given to the neiShborS.
AS soon as the land is in condition
to be worked it is plowed deeply and
thoroughly narrowed. 1t must be made
fine and mellow to give the best re-
suits, and We keep the harrow going
until the soil is in the best possible
condition. Most of the manure is
hauled out in the fail, from thirty to
fifty two-horse wagonloads being ap-
piled 10 an acre. besides a heavy dress
ing of ashes for several, kinds of veg
etables.
Usually my first vegetables ready for
the table are young onions from sets
planted in the fall and. covered with
coarse. stable litter When the beds
are uncovered in March the onions
make rapid growth and are ready for
use III about three weeks. They, with
the radishes, beets and lettuce grown
under sash, bring a great many dol
lars weeks ahead Of any other green
garden truck and are out of the way
in, n tNfc ont no CrO
crop s.
The first seed to Ee planted in the
open ground is peas which stand con-
siderable cold without injury. Begin
ming about the goth Of March | plant
every two weeks until July, and SO
have peas all summer, though the
later ones do not always 10 SO Well
a the early crop. They must be plant
ed deep and the ground should be
rich and we'll drained. If the plants
snow signs Of mlldew spray them scv-
eral times. Il plant in double rows
with four-foot supports between. Inc
very loW-erOWing varieties have never
yielded satisfactorily for me, some
times scarcely paying the cost OF seed
and planting, so ] have quit planting
them. apreferring a larger sort that
does not bear quite so early but gives
q good yield.
Reets. radishes and lettuce must be |
grown, extra early to obtain prohtabie |
prices, unless CISE can Dc SO1u ~ iSS-
ular customers. After my earliest
planting are disposed of | raise quite
enough to supply our table and the
chickens, planting beans in Their place. |
Mohawk and Speckled Valentine are
my favorite snap beans, but some OF
my customers prefer the yelloW-pod-
dad varieties. so / grow Long yellow
Six Weeks for them. / plant as soon
as danger from frost is past in rows
two and a half feet apart. Sometimes
I get tn en- in the Ground before 1t is
thoroughly warmed and the beans rot.
but to have them extra early 1t Is |
necessary to take some risks, ana
think it is worth the trouble. when
/ get 81 30 to 50 90 a buShel for them |
The 10th Of July is about as early
as I can get tomatoes on the market |
but eXen then they bring high prices
for two weeks. until the main crop |
begins to come in. Plants must be |
started in the house. tranSplanted sew
eral times to make them vigorous and
stocky and when setting them out
the roots should be disturbed as little
as possible. A clay loam IS the heSr
soil. and it should be well enrlched
with manure and ashes. Put shovel |
full of Well-rotted manure in each NIL. |