The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1918-02-07
TIMELY GARDEN PREPARA.
TONS.
Extension Farm News.
By W. N. HUT, Horticulturist.

By W. N. HUT, Horticulturist.
Now is the time to get ready for the
garden season which viii soon lie upon
US. A few days Of sunshine or a
warm rain will put the snow to route
and the Land Ill soon be ready fer
lh9sa1dy garden crops. Many gardeners
do not realize how hardy some Of the
vegetable crops are and how soon
they can be planted in spring. Of
course the ground should not be work
ed while it is wet, but not an hour
should be lost in spring when the
ground is dry enough to pillow.
Hardy Vegetables.
Such hardy seeds as peas, beets,
onions and spinach will terminate and
grow even when the ground is cold.
The little plants will come en- all right
even after being frozen. They can
sun and so they should be planted as
early as possible in spring that most
of their growth will be made in cool
weather.
Early Irish Potatoes.
Early Irish potatoes can be planted
long before freezing weather is past.
The tubers will not be injured if the
ground crusts over after they are
| planted. If frost threatens after they
are up the tops can be covered with
dirt or a light furrow turned over
them. Every day gained in the ear
| ly part of the season will add mater
tally to the size of the crop.
Half-Hardy Vegetables.
Even the half-hardy vegetables like
lettuce, radishes, carrots and corn may
be planted much earlier than most peo-
pie think. Sometimes they will get
killed by late cold snaps; but, then
there is little loss except the seed
which does not cost much. If the crop
comes through all right, early vege-
tables will be had for home use, OF
they will bring high prices if sold.
Hot Beds and Cold Frames.
Long before the ground is ready
for operations in the open, gardening
can be done under glass or cottor
covers by using hot beds and col,
frames. A hot bed is easily made By
piling fresh horse manure, trampine
1t solid and placing on it q frame an,
sash. The amount of manure requir
ed will depend On the length Ct time
1T IS wanted TO keep the beds warm
About feet of well packed manure
will keep warm for a month The
manure should be piled a little wide7
than the width of the frames and il
, length as long as you have frames t,
cover it.
The frame is made from IL incl
boards in the rough. 1t should fac,
the south and the back be 6 inche
higher than the front. A 6-inch boart
: ripped cornerwise will fill in the ends
About inches Of earth should b.
placed in the frames on the manure
| Seeds of early and tender vegetable
/ may be sown in this earth in 2 or
S days, as soon as the first extrem,
: heat is off the manure. The row
should be run crosswise of the he
and from to inches apart. In sue
+ a frame, radishes and lettuce can b
7, raised and early plants of tomatoes
: peppers, etc., for later setting in tn
) open.
d AS soon as the plants begin to crow
: IN the row, they should be trans
plantedint o flats or into cold frame
setting the plants closer than 2 inch
l. es each way. A cold frame is tn
+ same as hot bed minus the manur,
n IN our usual southern winters, whic
: seem to have gotten somewhat mike
Il up with the northern sort this sea
y son, it is possible to raise lettuce an
|. radishes in cold frames during tn
!, winter months. By careful selectio
X OF plants number Of crops can b
raised in the frames before the ses