Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1911 — Hints For the Farmer. [ARTICLE]

Hints For the Farmer.

In the north it is hardly safe to plant cucumbers until the middle or last of May. The crop may be planted even as late as the latter part,of June. Nitrogen Is by far the most Important element in producing a crop of cabbage. It should be quickly available. Top dressing with nitrate of soda is becoming more and more common. Try it on the early crop. Spring is the ideal time for germanating all seeds. The ground is in mellow and fine tilth after the winter freezing and full of moisture. This applies especially to fine seeds and delicate plants like the alfalfa. A spring tooth harrow should seldom if ever be used after plowing sod land unless stones are troublesome. The results are much better when a good disk or spading harrow is used alternately with a drag or a float. By spraying alone many of the old apple orchards which have never borne a crop can be made very profitable. These should be sprayed when the blossoms show a little pink and again as soon as the fruit has set. with a third spraying about two weeks later. There is no reason why anybody should have trouble in growing strawberries. With any ordinary, good garden soil placed where both the air and water drainage are good the strawberry will thrive, provided it gets only ordinary cultural care at the important times of its life.