Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1875 — Early Plants. [ARTICLE]

Early Plants.

It happens in nearly all seasons that there is some disappointment about starting plants early, and it will very likely be the case in some locality at this reading that the ground is not yet reliable for all tender srads, such as tomatoes, green corn, squashes, and melons; perhaps not for cabbages and peas. Bo that a few suggestions m this line may yet be timely. It is desirable to so transplant as not io check growth. To this end we should not disturb the roots. There are several ways of doing this. A good way is. to scrape out turnips, fill with good soil, and plant with two or three seeds, setting them in a warm, light place, and keeping them moist. When the weather is suitable, place these out in the garden at the proper depth; the turnip will decay and the plant will thrive unchecked, if properly cared for. Do not use potatoes in place of turnips. Another method is to get squares of sod, say of six inches wide, from good, mellow soil, turn them bottom up, and put in such seeds as squash or melon or sweet corn, and treat them in the same way, not putting out till the weather is quite warm, and then protecting against bugs. For more delicate plants, flowers, etc., make little square paper boxes out of thin writing paper or thick newspaper, merely folding them at the corners, as you would the paper in covering a book, and tacking them with needle and thread; make them about three inches square and two deep. Fill with good soil, start the seeds and put out at the proper time box and all in place without disturbing the' roots. If you fear that the paper is too strong for the roots to penetrate, cut carefully on the bottom of the box in the shape of a cross and all will be well. Raise from one to three seeds in a place, according to the nature of the plant.— Science of Health.