198 CALENDAR FOR MAY. 



• 

 spection of our village markets will often show garden products Of 

 superior values. 



It is rare that replanting gives good results, and, therefore, great 

 care should be exercised in our first garden work. Where seeds 

 germinate quickly, and all the conditions are favorable, replanting 

 will sometimes do very well, but, as a rule, where a complete failure 

 is made it is profitable to follow with some other crop that does not 

 require so early planting. A fair crop of sweet corn, potatoes, 

 squashes, etc., may be grown where other seeds have failed. A re- 

 plowing is not necessary unless the soil has been impacted by 

 heavy rains, but a good seed bed should be made with the cultivator 

 or harrow; this will also destroy the weeds that would otherwise in- 

 fect the early planted ground. • 



We hope that noxious insects- and fungous diseases have been 

 given a set back as well as some of our shrubbery. The intense 

 cold has no doubt destroyed many of the insects, but where they go 

 into the ground in the fall to change their form they are probably 

 alive and will appear again in their season. The curculio and the 

 currant worm may be seen and destroyed about the last of this 

 month. The most effectual remedy for curculio is jarring the trees 

 over a sheet and crushing the insects. For currant worms, a table- 

 spoonful of Paris green to four or six gallons of water is the best 

 application if given when they first appear. Melon, squash and 

 cucumber vines must also be carefully guarded from the striped 

 bug. Air slaked lime used every day has proved very satisfactory. 

 The bugs are not troublesome after the plants are a week or ten days 

 old. 



We have always been advised to "take time by the forelock" in 

 gardening, but the first of May this year finds our forelock in his 

 hands, and we hardly know which way to pull first. 



A History of Forest Fires. — Among other evidence of the grow- 

 ing interest the general governraent is taking in the forests of the 

 country, is the work now being prosecuted of writing up a history 

 of the forest fires, to be not only descriptive but statistical. Mr. 

 Otto Luebkert is now canvassing the subject in this state and will 

 push his researches as far back as reliable facts can be secured. 

 The result of this investigation will be interesting and a valuable 

 stimulant toward forest preservation. — Secy. 



Quality Test for Potatoes. — We must learn to grade potatoes 

 according to quality. There is just as much difference between a 

 mealy and a soggy potato as there is between tenderloin and rump 

 steak. The difficulty is to sort out the good ones. Here is the 

 potato test: Wash them and then put them in atub of water. They 

 will all sink. Add salt and the poorer, lighter ones will rise. Add 

 more salt and others will rise. Those which finally remain at the 

 bottom you can warrant every time to be prime bakers. Not over 

 10 to 20 per cent of potatoes will stand the test. For. these, your cus- 

 tomers will gladly pay extra prices. H. B. C. 



