326 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



cold weather comes on, cover it about one inch in depth, and then 

 take the straw off as soon as anything can grow in the spring. For 

 families who like a dish of greens in early spring, this is much bet- 

 ter and easier to get than to hunt the fields over for dock, dande- 

 lion, etc. It makes a nice and pleasant dish, and may be had very 

 easily and in any desired quantity. 



Beds of beets, carrots and parsnips may be put in early, and if 

 there should be some frost after they come through the ground, it 

 will not injure them. Beets, carrots and rutabagas that are wanted 

 for winter use, are better both for keeping and for the table if they 

 are not sowed sooner than the 15th of June in our climate. Some 

 radishes should be sown early, and on a sandy soil. This is one of 

 the few, among our garden vegetables, that will do reasonably well 

 on land that is not very rich. The yield from the first sowing is apt 

 to be more or less infested with the white maggot. But do not be 

 discouraged. The second sowing which should be, say, two weeks 

 later, will have but few of them, and then if you will sow a little 

 bed at intervals of ten days apart, you will soon be free from the little 

 pests, and may have nice radishes until you are all tired of them. 

 The best that I have ever raised or seen, were grown in almost pure 

 plastering sand, with a little fine manure put on it. In hot weather 

 we have repeatedly had radishes (when sowed in this manner) upon 

 our table in three weeks from the time the seed was put in the 

 ground. 



For those who like oysters, a small bed of the vegetable oyster 

 is a necessity. They should be sown early and cultivated the same 

 as the parsnip. This about completes the list of what we term 

 hardy seeds, or those that may be sowed while the ground is still 

 cold and liable to be more or less frozen during the cool nights of 

 April. Generally, about the first of May, or soon after, you will 

 need a few nice cabbage plants for early cabbage; also some nice 

 lettuce plants, to set out, and have them head up as soon as we have 

 a few hot days. Here almost every farmer says, " I have no hot- 

 bed and have not the time to make and care for one." Well, if the 

 wife or some of the children will prepare a little rich earth in the 

 fall by putting it into boxes, say five inches deep, and set them in 

 the cellar or some other place where they can be had when wanted, 

 and about the middle of March plant some cabbage, lettuce, and 

 tomato seeds, keep them in a moderately warm room, and near a 



