M> IN D FA LLS . 



373 



agement has reduced even these inferior soils to the 

 lowest limit of fertility. The climate, also, is unfavor- 

 able for certain crops. It is too warm for most varieties 

 of the apple, while early frosts, together with the rot 

 and yellows, render the peach crop uncertain. Rasp- 

 berries do fairly well, while blackberries are so natural 

 to the region that they grow wild everywhere, and are 

 never cultivated. Huckleberries, also, are still gath- 

 ered in considerable quantities in the neighboring 

 woodlands. 



The business of market gardening is mainly in the 

 hands of small growers, many of them negroes, who 

 sell most of their produce upon the market, from their 

 own wagons, direct to the consumers. The system of 

 markets and market days is favorable to this method of 

 selling produce. Little produce is ever shipped away 

 from the city, and, as a consequence, prices, which are 

 usually high, sometimes drop very low when there is an 

 over production. There is an opportunity around 

 Washington for the introduction of more thorough 

 methods of cultivation, and for an increased production 

 of certain kinds of vegetables, and especially of small 

 fruits. — A. A. Crozier. 



Two Michigan Poems. 



You'll find it in all the professions— 



In pulpit, in court, and in shop 

 As well as in strawberry boxes — 



The best always get to the top. 



It is the duty of a man, 



Who Jives ainonghis fellows, 

 To do the very best he can 



To drive away the yellows. 



Mulching. — In the garden there are a number of veg- 

 etables or plants that do much better if assured of a 

 moist soil. Watermelon, muskmelon, citron, tomatoes, 

 etc., thrive much better in a soil that retains moisture. 

 Where there is a good mixture of sand in the soil, this 

 condition is readily obtained, but many gardens have not 

 this advantage, and in order to obtain this condition and 

 retain it, a mulch must be put around the stem of the 

 growing plants on the ground. 



Every farmer who has raised potatoes under straw 

 knows that the soil will be moist during a long drouth, and 

 a crop of late potatoes can often be made profitable when 

 covered with straw, when otherwise the crop would have 

 been a failure To obtain the best results from mulch- 

 ing, it should be applied while the soil is moist or before 

 the dry weather sets in. 



Three years ago I tested bagasse on some vines I had 

 in my garden, and the result was very satisfactory. That 

 year we had a very long and severe drouth, more so than 

 had occurred for several years. The vines that I had 

 mulched with bagasse grew right along and made a good 

 crop, while the rest all died, unable to withstand the dry 

 weather. Since then I have had occasion to try it sev- 

 eral times around newly set trees, vines and plants, and 

 my experience is, that it is the best material you can se- 



cure for this purpose. For strawberries it is much bet- 

 the than straw, if sufficient quantity can be secured. 



Next to this straw serves the purpose, but if new and 

 long it will dry out quicker than bagasse. That to which 

 stock has had access and trampled down, so as to break 

 up short and caused to partially decay, is the best for 

 this purpose. It should be applied wet, if possible, as 

 it will stay in place much better. If placed around 

 watermelon vines or tomatoes after they have received 

 two or three cultivations, and before dry weather sets 

 in, it will not only prove of great benefit to growing 

 plants, but also render further cultivation unnecessary. 

 As I said before, the work must be done in time, not 

 later than the latter part of May, and a liberal quantity 

 should be given. If you have a sufficient quantity, cov- 

 ering the surface all over around the plants and between 

 the vines is the best plan, but if this can not be done, 

 then a liberal supply placed on the ground around the 

 stems will answer. 



Leaves are the third best mulching material : they 

 should be applied when wet, so that they will remain in 

 place ; this is the worst objection to leaves, that they 

 will dry out and are then easily blown away. I find it 

 profitable to save all the bagasse possible, as I consider 

 it well worth the labor, for after it has served the pur- 

 pose of a mulch, it can be worked into the soil to a good 

 advantage. — N. J. Shepherd, Mo. 



The Cucumber. — The cucumber is a vegetable that 

 can be grown to great perfection by any person, and as 

 its fruit is so much better when gathered fresh from the 

 vine, it is very desirable that all should produce their 

 own supply. 



Cucumbers succeed best when given a sheltered situa- 

 tion and a rich loamy soil, and, as they are very tender, 

 the planting should be delayed until the weather be- 

 comes warm and settled, which in this vicinity is about 

 the middle of May. 



The ground should be plowed as deeply as possible 

 and then harrowed thoroughly so as to level it off nicely, 

 when it can be marked into rows five feet apart each 

 way. At each intersection put a shovelful of well de- 

 cayed stable manure and mix it thoroughly and deeply 

 with the soil, at the same time forming a slight hill in 

 which the seeds are to be placed. From eight to ten 

 seeds should be placed about an inch apart in the hil' 

 and covered with fine soil to the depth of an inch. Press 

 the soil firmly over them with the back of the hoe. As 

 soon as the plants are well up, they will be very liable 

 to be attacked by many insect pests, so, to guard against 

 this, it is advisable to dust the plants frequently with 

 lime, soot, or sifted ashes, but care should be taken not 

 to use too much ; for if these materials be used too freely 

 the vines will be severely injured thereby. When they 

 are past all danger of injury, remove all but four of the 

 most promising and give a thorough hoeing ; at the same 

 time draw up a little fresh earth around the plants. 



Keep the growing plants well cultivated and free from 

 weeds, but carefully avoid mutilating or disturbing them. 



