290 



NEW ENGLAND EARilER. 



JUiSK 



■with judicious treatment, of producing the 

 finest crops. When it came into my posses- 

 sion it looked lil^e some potato patches I have 

 seen, afcer the crop has been harvested in the 

 autumn, as it was strewed with potato vines 

 and the stalks of rank, dead weeds. It was 

 also thickly covered with stones of all sizes, 

 from those as large as two could lift, down to 

 those not larger than a hen's egg, and any 

 conceivable number of tufts of grass. 



As it was late in the season when I first 

 took possession of it, 1 did but little more the 

 first } ear than remove what stones I conven- 

 iently could with my wheelbarrow, and bury 

 the scattering vines and weeds, turn over with 

 spade or hoe the tufts of grass, and take the 

 best care I could of the various vegetables 

 that -were planted ; being careful not tp let 

 any weeds choke the growing crops or go to 

 seed. In the autumn I was well rewarded 

 for all my labor. 



The second year I had it ploughed in its 

 season, and as I had removed the previolis 

 autumn all the rubbish, there was nothing to 

 obstruct the plough but the remaining stones. 

 These I removed and kept tbe ground in as 

 neat and tidy a manner as hoe and spade and 

 rake would permit, and I was rewarded with 

 all the vegetables of various kinds that I 

 needed for the use of my family, — then con- 

 sisting of five persons, — for the year, and some 

 in the summer that I sent to my neighbors. 



The third year, instead of having it ploughed, 

 I spaded the whole with my own hands, re- 

 moved every stone I could find of the size of 

 a large bullet, raked in what manure I had, 

 and then planted it with the various kinds of 

 vegetables, in drills, using guano for a fer- 

 tilizer, with the exception of poll beans, which 

 I planted in hills, and this year I not only had 

 enough of all kinds of vegetables for my fam- 

 ily, but sold to my neighbors to tbe amount of 

 $15 or more. Besides this, the first year the 

 asparagus bed and currant bushes weie of no 

 use, as they were .so completely grown up to 

 grass and weeds that they did not produce 

 any fruit. I thoroughly cleaned and culti- 

 vated both, and the former jielded all that we 

 wanted lor our own table, and the latter were 

 loaded with large and beautiful berries, which 

 ■were a real luxury in their season. 



Thus you see, Mr. Editor, that a little land 

 ■well cared for, is not only capable of yielding 

 large returns, but will become a real source oi 

 pleasure and profit to every faithful steward 

 of the earth. And when the work is done, as 

 it always should be, with our own hands, it 

 not only helps to enlarge the measure of our 

 income, — making us more independent of our 

 circumstances, but adds greatly to the real 

 pleasures of life, by furnishing a suitable sup- 

 ply of good and wholesome food and increas- 

 ing the measure of our health. This lattei 

 blessing is one of no small consequence to all 

 classes, but it is of immense advantage to the 

 cler/yman. Health is not an unpurchased 



blessing, but one t^at may be had for its own 

 price. Pay the price and it is ours. 



S. Barker. 

 B'ernardston, Mass., March, 1869. 



OPINIONS 05' A MAHKEP GAKDENEK. 



We have received the following valuable 

 communication from C. Spr^tt, Market Gar- 

 dener of this city, the substance of which we 

 present as follows : — 



"Noticing the remarks on onion culture in a 

 recent cupy of thu Herald, for the benefit of 

 onion growers, I would state that the sooner 

 onions are planted, the better. The best 

 bed of onions 1 ever saw in this city, was plant- 

 ed the 28ih of March. Potato onions are the 

 best and surest crop, especially for small gar- 

 dens, as they are tit for the table the year 

 round, and are also excellent keepi-rs. 



J]arly peas and potatoes should be planted, 

 if possible, at the same time. Those who have 

 any doubt as to the expediency of doing as 

 recommended, should make the experiment. 



Allow me to say that all who hive not tried 

 sprouting potatoes wiK be agreeably surprised to 

 find the difference which will be ma'le by do- 

 ing so. They should be sprouted in thin layers 

 in boxes or crates, and should be exposed to 

 daylight, in order that the sprouts may be 

 green and tough. Sprinkling milk-warm water 

 on them three times a week, improves their 

 growth. They should t e started first in a dark 

 room, then placed in thin layers as recommen- 

 ded. When the sprouts are one inch long, then 

 they are ready to expose to daylight. At 

 planting time, carry them carefully into the 

 garden, in the boxes or crates in which they 

 have been sprouted. Just before they peep 

 through the earth they should be covered with 

 straw or long manure, — Utica Herald. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES, 



DISSOLVING BONES IN ASHES, 



I have a small quantity of old bones (say 1000 

 pounds) which 1 should like to convert into ujanurc 

 it I knew ot any way uf doing so cheiiply, or would 

 it be better for me to sell them at one and a half 

 cents per pound, and buy phosphate of liuie. Can 

 some of your subscribers answer ? 



A SUBSCRIBEH. 



New Btdford, Mass., April, 1869. 



Remakks. — While some of our subscribers are 

 preparing an answer to the foregoing queries from 

 their own experience, we copy from Dr. NiLliol's 

 little book on the Chemistry of the Farm and the 

 Sea the following directions for preparing bones by 

 the employment of wood ashes, lime and sal-soda. 



"Take one hundred pounds, beaten into as small 

 fragments as possible, pack them in a tight cask 

 or box with one hundred pounds of good wood 

 ashes. Mix with the ashes, before packing, 

 twenty-five pounds of slaked lime, and twelve 

 pounds sal-soda, powdered fine. It will require 

 about twenty gallons <jf water to saturate the mass, 



