Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-07-09

Snaued during the months which In
tervene between the growing seasons
and which also lack free circulation
OF air. Wood ashes and slaked lime
are good for this and are also most
excellent fertilizer. a peck of ashes
well mixed with wagon load of soil
Is the gardeners rule, but for small
beds spade the ground deeply, and
after breaking up the Jumps and rak-
ing thoroughly scatter ashes or lime
evenly over the surface until It is as
white as after u light snowfall: then
rake 1t we'll. This should be done be-
tore planting time or as soon as the
ground can be worked. 1t is best to
have the blowing done in the fall.
Success In the vegetable garden de-
ponds largely upon thorough and fire.
quent tillage. The tillage should be-
gin as soon as the plants can be seen
and should be repeated at intervals of
about one week throughout the season.
Much labor will be saved by substitute
Ing wheel hoe for the hand hoe for
stirring the soil close about the plants
while they are small and by using q
horse for cultivating between the rows
wherever there is sufficient space. II
these methods are employed the most
irksome features Of vegetable garden.
ing-the wedding and tedious hand
tillage-will be eliminated.
AS soon as the heavy frosts are over
and the ground is tillable we may
plant onions. lettuce. spinach, radishes,
beets. parsnips, carrots, parsley and
peas. The normal season for planting
these crops is when the farmer is SOW
ing his oats.
The warm season crops are subject
to injury by frost and cannot safely
be planted until the weather is COM
paratively warm. The different crops
In this group, however, differ in re-
spect to the intensity of heat they re-
quire. Thus sweet corn and string
beans are usually planted early in
May; lima beans. tomatoes. cucum-
bers, melons and squashes are planted
from one to two weeks later, while
sweet potatoes and eggplants should
be kept in the hotbed until the last Of
May or the first week in June.
Lettuce can be grown successfully
on poor soil. but only through the ear
~ spring and the late fall, as the
ground becomes SO hot that 1t will
burn in the head, and then it is ruin
ed for market. On rich land there Is
always certain amount Of moisture
that remains In the soil. and then the
evening dews help to keep the ground
cool. Keep the land free from weeds.
Where garden peas and beans are
grown earliness and tenderness are
greatly desired as well as flavor.
These qualities will be found where
good supply Of nitrogen and phosphoric
plant food is available. A suitable
fertilizer for these crops is GOO pounds
per acre carrying per cent nitrogen,
8 per cent phosphoric acid and 10 per
cent potash.
Tomatoes. corn and potatoes enjoy a
medium long season Of growth; there
fore 1t is necessary that they have a
sufficient supply Of the correct food
elements to satisfy their requirements
throughout their growing season. The
market demands smoothly formed,
solid, well colored tomato and juicy
yet well filed corn.
Potato growers Of the famous AroOs-
took district of Maine practice a three
year rotation Of corn. clover and po-
tatoes. By this means it is evident
that the organic matter Of the soil Is
When the potatoes are
planted 1t is the custom to apply az
high as 1900 to 1900 pounds per acre
Of fertilizer analyzing 4 per cent nj
trogen. 6 per cent phosphoric acid and
10 per cent potash.