94 TH^ S^^Jy ANNUAlv OF THE 



ROOTS FOR STOCK FOOD. 



It is astonishing that our planters have paid so little attention to the growing of winter 

 food for their stock. It is true, during the entire winter, more or less food for stock may 

 be found out of doors: but if we consider that nothing is gained by pasturing stock during 

 winter, we must come to the conclusion that it would pay to stable and feed it. 



Let us look upon this thing in the right way; we would gain first in this manner in 

 the spring, whatever stock we would want to dispose of, would be in a splendid condition, 

 would bring a good price, and would not be half starved, as has always been the case; we 

 would also gain in another way ; the very article which is so often needed, we mean stable 

 manure, is lost to us if our stock is allowed to wander at large in search of food. Cows and 

 horses also will often travel a considerable distance in search of shelter and food, which 

 they generally find in cane breaks, or the woods near by. How many heads are annually 

 lost either by neglect or starvation, or killed by railroads and otherwise. 



All this could be avoided if we feed and stable our stock during the winter. A few 

 acres of land planted in Mangel Wurzels or Sugar Beets would give us in connection with 

 hay grown on our farms sufficient stock food for the entire winter. 



If sown in September in drills, thinned out to a proper stand, those pulled out maybe 

 transplanted, and if cultivated like Blood Beets, both will grow to a large size; the lower 

 leaves may be taken off from time to time, and are an excellent green food for stock. 



When severe cold weather sets in. and there should be danger of the beets freezing, 

 which by the way happens very seldom, they may be taken up and brought under shelter. 



Besides Mangel and Sugar Beets, Long Orange and other long variet es of Carrots are 

 excellent for stock. 



:o: 



FLOWER SEEDS 



So much has been written already on the cultivation of Flowers, and man}' a book 

 published on that subject, that, were it not necessary for the guidance of the inexperi- 

 enced, we would hardly say much. But as it often falls to the seedsman's lot to be unnec- 

 essarily accused of selling seeds which fail to grow or varieties which do not come up to 

 expectations, it is therefore necessary to give a few hints on the sowing and subsequent 

 culture of Flowers. 



Flower seeds are not like Vegetable seeds, they are finer and more delicate, require a 

 great deal of attention and care, and above all a fine pulverized soil. 



In order to be successful with Flower seeds the proper situation of the seed-bed has 

 first to be taken into consideration; an eastern exposure would certainly be the most suita- 

 ble for that purpose. The soil should be well pulverized and light enough so as not to 

 bake after a rain. The finer and more delicate seeds should be sown in shallow boxes or 

 seed pans, which may be placed on a low shelf having an eastern exposure. Flower seeds 

 if sown by inexperienced hands are generally covered too deep^ and any failure to come up 

 must be attributed to this. The rule is, to cover fine seeds not more than twice their thick- 

 ness. 



Another cause of frequent failures is irregular watering; sometimes the seed-beds or 

 boxes are over-watered, while at other times again they are allowed to become too dry. 

 Nothing is more disastrous than when seeds are in the act of germinating, and are suffer- 

 ing for moisture, the little radicles when forming are easily destroyed bv the rays of the 

 sun, and as a matter of course the seeds cannot come up. We would therefore advise to 

 keep the seed-beds equally moist, not too wet, until the young plants are up and large 

 enough to be transplanted. 



Now a few words yet on the time of sowing. 



Flower seeds are oftener sown out of time than at the proper season, simply because 

 most ever3^body thinks of sowing when the same [plants are in full bloom, and we can 

 safely assert that more Pansy seed is called for in January and February than in Septem- 

 ber and October, and more Hyacinth and Narcissus bulbs in February than at the proper 

 planting season. The seeds sown out of time will produce poor plants, and that if they 

 bloom at all the flowers will be imperfect and small is needless to sa}'. 



By setting out the )^oung seedlings consideration should be taken of the height and 

 combination of colors in order to make a pretty effect. Our list of Flower seeds is not a 



Try the Frotseher Company's Superb Sweet Peae. 



