Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1875 — Baking of Garden Beds. [ARTICLE]

Baking of Garden Beds.

"When any obstacle or difliculty is overcome, however small, in which the public are concerned, I deem it a duty, we owe each other to make it known; hence lam induced to give my experience and practice for the benefit of those wffio, like me, have to cultivate a heavy, clammy soil for a garden. Such soil may be put in the best condition when the seeds are planted, but before they germinate sufficient to reach the light and air, so essential to their . existence, as is frequently the case, there comes a heavy dash of rain, followed with a hot sun, forming a hard crust impervious to the little, delicate plants too feeble to break through their imprisoning wall. I have had to pick open the rows with an iron tooth-rake, or reduce the surface to a fine, loose state again, and plant over. The plan I now adopt entirely obviates such a discouraging difliculty. After putting the ground in the best of condition by deep culture, breaking down lumps and working in a good supply of wellrotted manure (none other should be used in a family garden), I rake the surface smooth, over which I spread a compost, prepared for that purpose, about half au Inch thick; lightly draw the rake once or Twice over the covered surface, which mixes the soil and compost. When I prepare large beds I spade a strip three or four feet wide.the entire length or breadth, prepare it for the top dressing, and spread it on, and so on, until finished, by which unsightly footmarks are avoided, if for appearance sake only. llemember I have reference to a com-mon-size family garden. When the seeds are planted I have a board fifteen inches wide (my usual space between the rows), as long as the width or length of the beds on which I stand. The edge of the hoard being my guide, with a pointed stick I make a little trench the required depth, drop in the seed, and with the back of the rake fill up the little trenches, and at the same time lightly press upon the covered seeds to firm the loose covering, that it will not dry out readily; then turn the board twice, plant at each edge, and so on until finisheo, when the entire bed presents a smooth appearance. I have wandered beyond my first intention in giving a more minute detail of my mode of successfully starting my plants on a heavy, baked soil; however, it may relieve some novice in gardening of vexation, disappointment and trouble. There are at least two important objects gained by my plan. The rain may flood my garden, the sun may send its hottest rays, but the germinating seeds, if not washed away, will still have a moist, comfortable and luxurious bed in the line earth and open texture of the manure, which of itself will not adhere and hake, besides adding an additional supply of plant food within their limited reach. As to my compost for a top dressing to my garden beds, I endeavor at odd spells to prepare enough to mix in the soil when spading, which it not only lightens but deepens. In May or early June, when grass roots are full of juice, with a plow or mattock skin off old, sour grass sods two to three inches deep along the sides of roads and fence corners; with them make a bed six inches high in some convenient place. The size of (he heap I make for my garden is about five by ten feet; on the sods I spread evenly a two-liorse wagon load of stable manure, on which another layer of sods and again another load of manure. The heap is built, up nearly straight;. the top made dishing; then cover three to four inches the entire heap with sand; finally cover it with boards. Chamber slops, soap-suds on wash days and dishwater are emptied in a cask, and at convenient times transferred to the top of the heap. In August the heap is carefully forked over, working the outside edges in the center, and made up in shape as before, continuing to add the liquids. In September overhaul again, mixing the ingredients thoroughly, and forming the top in a conical shape, that the winter rains may be carried off. When used in spring, with perhaps a little extra working, you have a strong fertilizer for any purpose, and" a specific top dressing for small seeds in a heavy baking soil.— Cor. N. T. Tribune. « .. • »■ ~ —lt is a pleasant thing at this season to note the fragile, madonna-faced belle slip quietly into a ladies’ restaurant and call for strawberries and cream in an interlude of shopping, and especially interesting to observe the waiter become goggle-eyed as that frail beauty passes between her cherry lips fruit enough to gorge two mighty stevedores.