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GROWING EARLY PLANTS
Proper selection of seeds with which
to plant' a garden .is stressed by the
United States Department of Agricul
ture. It 'should be Jhe aim of every
i'.onie gardener this year to grow a
better garden by making the most in
telligent use of the available space,
not only by employing better methods,
but by planting seeds of the highest
quality. The first cost of seeds is
comparatively small, but it is very im
portant that theseads planted should
be the very best obtainable.
Gardeners are atlvised to' secure the
catalogues of reliable seed firms and
' spend a ILttle time in going over and
checking up the seeds that will be
needed for1 planting.
Do not lie misled by the highly
colored and much-advertised novelties,,
but stick: to the standard-, well-known
and proed varieties, advise the spe
cialists. Good seeds should never be
wasted, so figure carefully-upon the
amount required and place your order
early before the best stocks are ex
hausted. Perhaps . the seeds can be
bought from local dealers. If not, or
ders should go to a seed house in some
neighboring city, so the seeds may be
received in aaip'e time. When they
are received, unpack and check them
to see that no part of the order has
been overlooked; then store the seeds
In a raouseproof, ventilated container,
such as a perforated tin box. They
should be kept in a moderate tempera
ture, and where they will not freeze
or be exposed to moisture.
Have Early Vegetables.
Half the pleasure and profit of a
garden is derived from having some
thing to use just as early in the spring
as possible.-- In many cities and towns
.the local greenhouse men grow "thou
sands of plants which are sold to
home gardeners at reasonable prices.
It often happens, however, ,that home
gardeners do not have the opportunity
to purchase well-grown plants, and
must start their own supply of early
plants in the house or in a hotbed If
they desire to have their crops mature
early. Among the garden crops that
may be started to advantage In this
manner are tomatoes, early- cabbage,
peppers, eggplant and lettuce; even
cucumbers, 'melons, beets, snap beans,
lima beans and sweet corn may be
started indoors by using flower pots,
paper bands, or berry boxes to hold
the soil.
Where the required number of plants
is too great for growing" in window
boxes, a hotbed or coldf rame may be
provided. The usual raettiod of con
structing a hotbed is first to dig a
TO HAVE AN INDOOR GARDEN
Make Your Basement Work for You
by Producing Vegetables Before
Outdoor Planting Time.
Nearly every cottage, as well as the
larger houses and the city bungalows,
are equipped with large basements.
Many of these basements have space
that Is not utUlzed and many of them
have excellent southern and' eastern
exposures whereby the sun has a
zhance to play through the windows a
large portion of the day. , '
Make the basement work for you. It
a an easy matter to have a miniature
greenhouse in most any basement
where there is sufficient heat to keep
the soil and plants from freezing. At
least, plants for setting out when the
lander of frost is past can easily
raised in the . basement, and small
vetables. such as radishes, onions
H'd lettuce can be raised and eaten
bJ' the owner long before It is time to
Plant such things outside. ..
if the window space in the base
,r)t is sufficient a long tray arrange
inei ,t such as used In greenhouses may
b'e.usVd"for the indoor garden. Such
a 11 iy wiU be sufficient to produce a
niHtitity of smcJl vegetables un-
! to plant outside and at the
the tomato, pepper, cab
tiier plants may be started,
i:isr.Iitnted to individual
. re intensive cultlvatlqn,
to transplant In the
e healthy plant. .
. . . mmmmmmmsmmsr
-" siltll
IN BACKYARD HOTBED
shallow 'pit 8 to 18 inches deep, ac
cording to locality, and pack it full
of fermenting stable manure. The
manure, before being placed in the pit,
should be turned over once or twice
In a pile in order to insure even heat
ing. It may then be packed into the
hotbed pit and tramped uniformly.
Standard hotbed sashes are 3Pfet
wide and 6 feet long, and the size of
the: bed should be made to suit the
number of sashes employed. A frame
work of boards 18 to 24 inches high
at the back and about 12 inches high
in front is placed over the manure
filled pit to support the sash. - r
Use for Thermometer,
About 3 or 4 baches of fine garden
loam is spread evenly over the raanm-e
and the bed allowed to stand four or
five days to warm up before any seed
Is sown; At first the temperature of
the bed' may run rather high, and It
is best to delay planting the seeds in
it until It begins to decline. This can
best be determined by planting a ther
mometer with the bulb about three
inches below the surface of the soil.
The temperature should fall below 85
degrees before seeds are planted.
If glass-filled sashes are not avail
able for covering the hotbed,, heavy
.muslin may be-nsed Instead ; the glasa
however, makes the most desirabU
form of covering. Care must be taken
to g5ve the bed sufficient ventilation tc
prevent Overheating, as It Is liable to
hent up very rapidly when the sun
shines full upon the glass. Watering
should be done during the early part
of tie day and the bed given enough
air so that the plants will dry off be
fore night. . The bed should be closed
before evening, in order to "conserve
enorgh heat to carry :, it through the
niglft in'good condition. If the weath
er should turn severely cold, a cov
ering of straw, blankets or canvas
may be thrown over the bed topro
tect It.
i Coldf rame Construction.
A coldf rame Is constructed in exact
ly the same manner as a hotbed, with
the exception that no manure is placed
benrath it to supply heat.
Before the plants are set In the gar
den, either from the hotbed or the
coldframe, they should be gradually
hardened to outside conditions by giv
ing them more ventilation each day.
Finally, remove ,the sashes entirely oQ
bright days and replace them during
the nights. The aim should be to
produce strong, healthy plants that
will make a quick start when placed
In tnearden.
PRUNING WILL GET RESULTS
S " " ' . . ' ', '
Fruit Tree, Vines and Buthee, as
Well as Flowering Shrubbery,
Require Trimming.
Fruit trees, fruit vines andi bushes,
as well as flowering bushes, require
careful pruning to get the best result
fruit aftd flowers.
There is some difference of opinion
as" to whether the pruning should be
done in txe fall or in the early spring.
Despite the argument as to the time,
the pruning is absolutely necessary if
crops ar- to be the best possible un
der weaf her, soil ov other conditions
that ma j prevail In any particular lo
cality. In pr!blng fruit or flowering trees
and vines it Js wel for the one who
wields tile pruning knife to know Just
how i, to do the work. One not ac
quainted with the operation would
best post jap on the task before one
serious'y wounds the trees or vines.
It is not a difficult task, but one that
is as necessary each year as cultiva
tion-tor- crops cannot be expected un
less the proper attention is given.
"HOE" THES PLANTS IN FLATS
The small spikelike plants that" have
just come through the soil in the flats
in the basement "Tequire a little "hoe
ing" occasionally. Gentle loosening of
the ground not close enough to in
jure i the tender . roots will do the
plants good. ,
THE 1P0LK COUNTY IJEWS
IMPROVED DfOFORM INTERNATIONAL
Lesson
(By, REV. P. B. FITZ WATER, D. D..
Teacher of, English Bible lrt the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1922, Western Newapaper Union.
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 12
ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITS
WOMAN J
LESSON TEXT-II Kings 4:8-37.
fi-OT .Tl C.'M TTTYT1 ir--.l-. T a v
unto you. the hour Is conilne. and now ia.
when the dead shall hear the voice of the
Bon of God; and they that1 hear shall
live.John 6:25. ( .
REFERENCE - M ATERI AXr-J ohn il:
1-46. .
PRIMARY TOPIC Elisha Brings a
Boy to Life. , ;
JUNIOR TOPIC-How Elisha Brought
a Boy to Life. j
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Elisha Helping in a Home
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Ministry of Comfort and Help.
1. The Shunammite'8 Hospitality to
Elisha (vv. 8-11).
1. Its occasion (v. 8). A wealthy
woman of khunem, observing that
Elisha passed continually by her house
In his journeys, was moved with com
passion toward him. She determined
according to her ability j to supply his
needs. '"'' - i-
2. Its nature (vv. 1 8-11). "She
constrained him to eat bread" (vv. 8,
9). As a result of her earnest en
treaty, as often as he passed by her
house he turned in to eat bread. She
received a prophet in the i name of a
prophet. '
II. Elisha Endeavors to Repay Her
Kindness (vv. 12-17). , ;
1. He offers to ask a favor from the
king or head of the army (vi 13). This
offer Implies that Elisha had influence
at the royal court. The woman's re
ply shows her truly to be a great
woman. She did not desire to change
the calm and quiet of her home for a
place even in the royal court. Her
answer also shows that her motive
In extending generosity to the prophet
was entirely unselfish, purely because
he was God's prophet. ;
2. Elisha ' announces the giving of
a son to her (vv. 16, 17). Through
Inquiry of Gehazi it was discovered
that this woman was childless. So
the prophet made known to her that
in about a year from that time she
should experience the joy of a mother.
III. The Coming of Sorrow to the
Shunammite's Home (vv. 18-21).
The, child which brought joy to
her home was suddenly taken away.
Hqw many homes are like thi$ 1 Scarce
ly do we begin to enjoy life until
death enters and snatches away some
loved one. The cause of his death was
probably sunstroke, for the heat pt I
the sun at harvest time in this country
is very intense. When the boy com
plained of his head, the father sent
him home to his mother. ;j By noon
the child died and the mother, laid
him upon the bed of , the man of
God. Faith prompted her to do this.
She did not make preparation for
burial, but. for restoration to life
(Heb. 11:35). 1 .
IV. The Mother Goes to Elisha
(vv. 22-28). j r-
When one is In trouble or sorrow
the best place to go is to the man ot
God who is able to give counsel and
comfort. Happy is the one who in the
days of prosperity and sunshine has
so related himself to God ; and His
prophets that he can have i help and
sympathy in tine of trouble.
1. She took hold of Ellsha's feet
(v. 27). This was the eastern way of
enforcing a petition. She passed by
Gehazi. She would not be content with
the servant -when the master could be
reached. . .: ,
2. She chided the prophet (v. 28).
"Did I desire a son?" This implies
that it would have been
have had a child than
him so soon.'
better not to
to have lost
V. The Child, Restored (vv. ,29-37).
1. Gehazi's fruitless errand (vv. 29
31). He hurried away and placed the
prophet's staff upon the; child's face,
but it did not revive. Perhaps, the
fault lay in Gehazi -his lack of faith.
The woman seemed to perceive hfs
lack; she would not trust him. She
would not go until Elisha was wilk
ing to go along. This fruitless erran
of Gehazi shows the worthlessness of
the forms of. religion when used by
those who have no faith in them.
2. Ellsha's efficient service (vv. 32
37). He went to the house where
the dead child was. (1) He prayed
(v. 33). He knew that no" one but God
could help, so he closed the door,
shutting all others 'out. ".Our service
to men should be preceded by prayer.
2) He stretched himself I upon the
child (v. 34). He brought his warm
botiy hito touch with the j cold body
of the child. God blesses and' saves
through the warm touch of j those who
are in touch with Him. After we pray
we should get into actual touch with
those dead in trespasses and sin. God's
method of saving the world Is through
the ministry of saved 'men and
women. - -
A Dally Prayer, r
Keep back thy servant also frompxe
sumptuous sins ; let thein not have do
minion over me ; then shall I be up
right, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression. Let the words of
my mouth, and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in thy sight, O
Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:13-14. -..
Wickedness As a Fire.
Wickedness, burnetii as a fire; It
shall devour the briers' and ; thorns.
Isaiah, 9:18.
POULTRY
FLOCKS
TURKEY EGGS FOR HATCHING
They Should Be Gathered Daily Where
., There Is Danger of Them v f
Being Destroyed. .
When there is danger that turkey
eggs may be chilled or destroyed they
should be gathered every day,- and a
nest egg left in ' each nest. Skunks,
opossums, rats, cows, and dogs are
the greatest destroyers of turkey eggs,
although occasionally minks, raccoons,
coyotes, wolves, foxes, cats, and certain
large snakes also eat eggs. When a
turkey hen has been disturbed by one
of these pests, she may change her
nest to some other place and abandon
'the' eggs. - " '
Eggs for. hatching should be kept at
d temperature of as near 50 degrees or
60 degrees F. as possible, and should
be turned over every day, say poultry,
specialists ln the Ujnited States Depart
ment of Agriculture. , They should be
jarred as little as possible while han
dling and should be incubated: while
fresh, never holding more than two
weeks if it can be avoided. It is an
excellent plan ' to j mark the date on
each egg as It Is gathered, in order to
be certain .that ho eggs are kept too
lpngbefore they ae incubated.
PICKING DUCK FOR BREEDING
Active, Healthy - Females of Medium
Size Are Recommended Use
Only MatUre Fowls. -
(Prepared by the United .-States Department
of Ajribulture.)
Ducks are usuajly mated in flocks
of about thirty females with five or six
males, as the drakes dd.not fight one
another. The 7 number of males , may
be reduced to one for every seven fe
males about7 the s first of March, and
again changed a I month later to one
male for eight to ten females.
Active, healthy i
emales of medium
size should be usedS for breeding; that
is,, weighing - about
eight pounds when
mature. Only mature birds should be
used as breeders.
Select duckg with
short necks, medlu;
m long bodies, flat
backs and of goodf depth to the keel
bones. Watery eyejs usually are a sign,
of weakness In ducks. The drake is
coarser and more 'masculine in appear
ance than the duck and has a distinct
curl in his tall featjiers. Ducks should
Ducks Should be Sold After They Are
Two Years Old.
be sold, usually,, after they are two
years old, although the best breeders
or layers may be Tjept oyer their third
year, say poultry f specialists in the
United States Department of Agricul
ture, j
In handling ducks, pick them up by
their necks, as their lf's are very eas
ily broken. Ducks lay their eggs
early in the morning, and should be
confined to the hduie or pen until 9 :30
or 10 o'clock in fje morning. If al
lowed to roam- early in the morning
they may lay in a ond or stream and
the" eggs may be le&t.
SEEK VACCINE
FOR CHICKENS
Field and Laboratory Tests Are Being
Conducted at trje Kansas Agri
' ,i cultural jCoilege.
Experiments Involving many field
and laboratory tests are being con
ducted at the Kansas State Agricultur
al college to determine the efficacy of
a vaccine for fowljs to prevent chol
era, typhoid and roup. It has been de
termined that cholera and roup are
caused by the , same organism. In
field tests a vaccine produced at the
college by Prof. Fi R. Bandette has
given some very satisfactory results
and this is now being tested out in the
laboratory. If .these tests are suc
cessful more field ork will be done
by college experts. No vaccine is be
ing given out at this time because the
chemists are not id a position yet to
guarantee it, j
PRODUCING EGGS IN WINTER
Palatable Mash Can Be Made From
Mixture of Brari Meat Scraps,
Oats and Meal. '
A palatable mashwhich should pro
duce winter eggs , in a well-bred flock
of fowls kept in light, roomy and
sanitary quarters, can be made as fol
lows : One hundred pounds of bran,
100 pounds of gluten meal. 10Q pounds
of meat scrap, 150 founds of crushed
oats and 150 pounds! of cornmeal. Two
ounces of this mash, with one and one
half ounces of cracked corn, and one
half ounce. of jvhole oats should be
fed to each hen dally.
1 V
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BETWEEN-SEASONS BLOLJSE;
APRQNS AND APRON-DRESSES
-A LREADY the blouse makers are
preparing their lines for spring
and attempting to feel the pulse
of the dear public to find out what
it wants. But slt Is not easy to decide
In this between-seasohs time ; for
those rwho buy blouses pin their faith
to conservative styles and show little
disposition to run after strange gods.
They have bought flue, hand-made lin
gerie blouses in sheer cottons, that
are always good style. They have tak,
en a chance on plain shirtwaist types
of crepe de chine, pongee, or cotton
goods, that are also never out of
PAISLEY PATTERN
the running, and they have picked up.
here and .there, new ideas in great
variety, but the choice has not been
uniform enough to' determine which
way .the wind of fashion" will blow
when, spring cotoes.
The guess of one experienced manu
facturer is as good as another, and
when there is a consensus of opinion
among several of them, it is reasonably
sure that they are right. They are
banking on the demand for white and
light colors for spring, on silk crepes,
on long line, blouses, on slashes, by
means of which in high color blouses
& soft contrasting- color "is introduced.
' $f '
; 1 1 1 j
S"M" ' ' C' t"0
ass ", s ? ' ' ' -, ' v t
NEW APRON DRESSES
Ribbons and applique trimmings are
to be featured and the trend is still
toward simplicity of design.
The blouse shown here "takes ad
vantage of this favored simplicity and
L utilizes a paisley pattern in crepe de
chine for a plain but very smart model
'This is . something ; for the between
seasons period that will prove worth
while. It is . delightfully adaptable,
worn either with a suit or a handsome,
plain separate skirt.
Dry , goods houses everywhere, in
their advertisements, are singing the
praises of their new displays of
cleverly designed wash dresses and
aprons for spring. We gather from
this chorus that the style note Is of
great importance' In them, the mate-
PAGE. SEVEN
rials familiar and dependable, and
that these materials are combined
'with much ingenuity, in captivating
utility dresses and aprons, it takes
ah expert to tell which is which, and
when the expert fails to see any differ
ence between a dress and an apron be
calls it an ' "apron-dress," which is
simply a dress that can be worn over
another dress, or not.
For these pretty new wash dresses
designers have taken the- standard
ginghams and percales, sateens and
printed cottons and Worked them up
Into simple and smart garments. Every
IN CREPE DE CHINE
one knows the fabrics," their dependa
bility goes without saying, so that" em
phasis is"placed; not on them, but on:
styles, and we have witb us work-a-day
dresses that have an individual
charm a prettiness tliat means much .
to their capable wearers. American
women do not object to making them
selves useful, but "they are determined'
to make themselves attractive at the
same time. -
Two of the new apron-dresses are
shown below, one sof them in a plain
material in a cheerful color, A vestee
in white ,is set in with a piping. As
in all house dresses, the sleeves are
ujut of
short 1 enough to . be , out of the way.
and are completed by a small cuff
adorned with a little stltchery." Large
patch pockets are useful and help to
embellish the tfress. and .the wld
girdle of the chambray slips" through
slides at the sides.
That perennial favorite, the checked
gigham, blooms at the right of the pic
ture, tIn a graceful model having n
Sjliare-necked bodice that fastens with
three buttons to the loft side and a
ide girdle that buttons at the back.
CDmooMT tr ireTM Hnrsrvu unkw:
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