The Farm and Garden. 



Vol. IV. 



MARCH, 1885 



No. VII. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO 

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CHILD BROS. A CO.. PubUsherm 

 No. 735 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, Penn 



FARMER'S HOME GARDEN. 



Hi/ Joseph. 



When spring creeps up on the mountain slopes, , 

 "When the warmer sunbeams change the snowy- ' 

 white of the landscape, fir.st to uncertain tints, , 

 then to bright and glossy verdure, when the ' 

 Oriole returns to his hanging nest in the maple ; 

 top. and Robin Redbreasts calling from the tree j 

 in front of the window a-mornings, tells us that I 

 it is time to rise, the good farmer's wife is think- 

 ing about her garden, and pulls out drawers and 1 

 opens boxes and bags, to examine her stock of 

 seeds on hand. 



It is well that she should take an interest in 

 tliese things, while the men are busy with their 

 farm work. She is the bx>rn and natural boss of \ 

 the gardening department of the farm, and gen- 

 erally fills that office with tact and credit to 

 herself. I can only say to the many mechanic's 

 wives in villages and small cities, who go about 

 or ^t in the everlasting rocking-chair, and spend 

 their life in idleness and gossip, *'Go to thy 

 aunt (the farmer's wife), thou sluggard, consider 

 her ways, and he wi.se!" 



The planting and weeding required by the few 

 square rods which constitute a village garden, 

 do not afl'ord in tliu least, too much exercise for 

 a. meclianiifs wife, delicate as she may be. There 

 is health and wealtli and pleasure in the garden, 

 none in gossip. The farmer's garden is or should 

 he large; and his wife, who has charge of the 

 dairy and a large household, cannot be expected 

 to do more than the "overseeing" of the truck- 

 patch. Let the boys do the hoeing, weeding and 

 transplanting. 



Farmers in general are not as "flush" with 

 money as they were some time ago. We must 

 ** squeeze through " and economize tlie best we 



can. We will not despise to save the penny, for 

 such is a penny earned. Seedsmen have not 

 reduced their catalogue prices siifRciently to 

 maintain the " eternal fitness of things." Almost 

 all kinds of farm produce are so much cheaper 

 now ; wliy not garden seeds? 



The question is:— Will you throw your old 

 stock of seeds away and buy new? Not by any 

 means. You have some sijuash, pumpkin, cu- 

 cumber, melon, tomato and j>epper seeds, per- 

 haps some peas and beans, left over from last 

 season's supply. Seeds of that class are just as 

 good the second season, often the third and 

 fourth, as new seeds, and maybe better, produc- 

 ing more fruit and less vine than fresh seeds. 



Cabbage, turnips, celery, beet, carrot, radish, in 

 short seeds of all vegetables, in which we prefer 

 thrifty foliage or which are grown for their stalks, 

 must be considered "prime,'^ when strictly fresh. 

 Yet, I cannot conscientiously advise you to 

 throw such seeds away, unless they are too old to 

 germinate quickly. They will do well enough 

 when two or three years old. A simple test will 

 show their germinating power. 



Parsnip seed should nn-erhe used after the first 

 season, and onion seed only when seed is scarce. ' 

 Then I would recommend to mix it with new 

 seed. . 



It is time to start egg, tomato and pepper plants. 1 

 If but a (fw are wanted, a box set in a sunny 

 window may do for a place in which to sow them ; j 

 otherwise, a hot-bed (or greenhouse) is needed. 

 In some localities, the small gardener can depend i 

 on a near-by grower for good plants, but in the ' 

 majority of cases, these purchased plants are ' 

 neither well-grown nor of the best varieties. It is 

 hardly advisable to throw away the certainty of 

 having just such plants as you want, by growing 

 them yourself, for all the plants that may be ' 

 otlered you in the grocery, however cheap thev 1 

 ^^^- + j 



The Mural yeiv Yorker, in a recent issue, says \ 

 that there is no perceptililc difference lietween ] 

 Paragon, Perfection, Favorite,' Mayflower and , 



Cardinal tomatoes. I have given expression to a 

 similar observation in tliese columns more than 

 once. With the present varieties we have reached 

 a status so near perfection, that there is little 

 chance for improvement left. Wq should not 

 expect better kinds very soon. If you have one 

 of tile named sorts, you cannot hope to better 

 yourself by buying another. 

 + 

 Suppose your garden was plowed last fall, as it 

 ouglit to be, eh? Well then put on a coat of 

 well-rotted manure (unless manured last fall) and 

 replow, then top-dress with hen manure, barn- 

 yard scrapings, ashes, bone-dust or phosphate, 

 and harrow thoroughly. You cannot make your 

 garden too rich, nor prepare it too well. Hut if 

 you follow the above suggestions your garden 

 win be in flrst-rate condition for heavy cropping. 

 Let the good wonum insist upon iiaving the men 

 do it Just so. . 



Lettuce needs ricli, cool, and moist soil, and 

 had best be sown early in a sheltered location, 

 and then transplanted like cabbage, giving It 

 room enough to form large heads. Early Silesia 

 or Simpson is good for earl.v use. 



If you have not sown cabbage for very early 

 use before this time, it must be done at once. 

 A cold frame or hot-bed is the right place for 

 growing tlie plants. For main crop the seed can 

 be sown in a row or two right in the garden, to 

 be transplanted from there. Like turnips and 

 radish, it needs close watching; plaster, air- 

 slacked lime, road dust, wood or coal ashes 

 sifted over the young plants when wet with dew, 

 or tlie application of a weak carbolic acid solu- 

 tion, or coal-oil emulsion will keep off the flea 

 beetle, but the remedy nmst be applied repeat- 

 edly and thorouglily. Early Jersey Wakefield, 

 Henderson's Early Summer. Winnigstadt, and 

 Flat Dutch, or Fottlcr's Brunswick are fine varie- 

 ties, and come to maturity in the order named. 

 Only experienced growers should try their skill 

 with the Marblehead Mammotli. 



