,,war ,,gardens ,illustration ,,war ,,gardens ,a ,pocket ,guide for ,home ,vegetable ,growers ,,by ,,montague ,,free ,head ,gardener ,brooklyn ,botanic ,garden ,illustration ,,harper ,,brothers ,,publishers ,,new ,,york ,,and ,,london ,war ,gardens 99 99 99 99 99 ,copyright1 #aiah1 by ,harper ,brothers ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america ,published ,may1 #aiah ,,contents ,chapter ,page ,preface vii ,i4 ,the ,value of ,back-yard and ,vacant-lot #a ,gardening ,,ii4 ,how to ,make a ,start--,community ,gardens #e ,,iii4 ,tools #aj ,,iv4 ,the ,site--,the ,soil and ,its ,preparation #ae ,v4 ,fertilizers #bf ,,vi4 ,the ,kinds of ,vegetables to ,grow #cb ,,vii4 ,planning the ,garden #cf ,,viii4 ,seeds1 ,seed-sowing1 and ,transplanting #dj ,,ix4 ,hoeing and ,thinning #dg ,x4 ,staking and ,tying #ea ,,xi4 ,insect ,enemies #ec ,,xii4 ,plant ,diseases #fd ,,xiii4 ,the ,culture of ,vegetables in ,detail #fi ,,xiv4 ,harvesting and ,storing #ajj ,appendix #aji ,,preface ,the purpose of this book is to state simply and clearly the ways and means necessary to obtain the largest returns from small plots of land4 ,the conditions are anything but ideal in the case of many plots that will be used as 8war gardens40 ,to tell how to overcome these adverse conditions1 either by adapting the crop to soil and situation1 or by modifying the soil to suit the crop1 is one of the primary objects of this book4 ,in the writer's varied experience with back-yard and vacant-lot gardens1 questions relating to soils and fertilizers1 insects and diseases1 when and what to plant1 etc41 are continually cropping up4 ,answers to these questions are given here without theorizing or going into needless details4 ,this is essentially a practical book1 designed to help those who desire to raise their own vegetables in a limited space4 ,m4 ,f4 ,,war ,,gardens ,i ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,back-,,yard ,,and ,,vacant-,,lot ,,gardening ,the ,national ,war ,garden ,commission has estimated that 8the people of this country in #aiag produced a crop valued at three hundred and fifty million dollars in gardens cultivated in back yards1 on vacant lots1 and on other land previously untilled40 ,this may seem a small amount when compared with the value of the crops raised by the farmers and market gardeners1 but it is not to be despised1 and it shows that something can be done to increase the food supply by home gardening4 ,the raising of vegetables at home not only increases food production1 but also stimulates the consumption of vegetables1 thus releasing staples1 such as wheat and meat1 for the use of our soldiers and the ,allies4 ,this result is attained partly because fresh vegetables are more appetizing than shop-worn products and partly because of the attitude of the raiser1 who says1 8,we have the stuff and may as well eat it40 ,the reduction in the cost of living is also a factor that must be considered4 ,when vegetables are bought their purchase price is quite a considerable item in the household budget4 ,of course if labor is figured in the cost of raising vegetables at home the financial returns are not likely to be large unless you take into consideration the fact that the necessity of paying dues for gymnasium1 tennis1 or golf is entirely eliminated4 ,plenty of fresh air and exercise can be obtained in gardening4 ,home gardening1 too1 should help the transportation problem to a certain extent4 ,most of the vegetables consumed in the large cities are transported a considerable distance1 and if those people who eat these much-traveled vegetables raise their own1 the transportation system will be relieved to that amount4 ,the raising and caring for plants is certain to broaden one's interest4 ,very few people who cultivate a vegetable-garden1 or any other kind of garden1 for that matter1 are likely to be satisfied until they know something of the physiology of plants1 how and why they grow1 and the principles underlying successful plant culture4 ,the insects1 both beneficial and otherwise1 that one becomes acquainted with in the garden also add their quota of interest4 ,the life histories of many of them are strange and marvelous1 and it is worth while1 both from the point of view of the welfare of the crops and from the educational standpoint1 to learn something of their habits4 ,but it is probably in the larger aspects of the situation that the home-garden movement will ultimately be of greatest value to the nation4 ,america is not a gardening nation judged from ,european standards1 but this agitation for the production of food by every one who has1 or can obtain1 a plot of ground is going to make us one4 ,those people who have once cultivated the ground and raised plants will have had their interest stimulated1 and when the food shortage is over their activities will find an outlet in the production of flowers1 which cannot but result in more beautiful cities and happier citizens4 ,a healthier population will result from the exercise in the open air and we shall become a less nervous and restless people through our association with the vital soil and living1 growing plants4 ,,ii ,,how ,,to ,,make ,a ,,start--,,community ,,gardens ,in casting about for ways and means of starting a food-garden1 by all means investigate the advisability of joining up with1 or inaugurating1 a community garden4 ,there are tremendous possibilities in connection with co-operative efforts in developing vacant lots and making them productive1 not in the sense of the real-estate man1 but as food-producing plots1 designed to reduce the cost of living1 and1 incidentally1 in many cases1 to clean up and make presentable what was formerly a neighborhood eyesore4 ,there are many advantages to be gained by a neighborhood group combining together for gardening operations4 ,usually it is not difficult in most cities to find large plots of vacant land with owners who are only too glad to have them cultivated4 ,by co-operative effort it is possible to hire a team and plow and have such plots plowed at a trifling expense1 whereas by individual effort it is seldom possible to obtain sufficient land to warrant the expense of hiring a team for plowing1 even though the plot were large enough for the team to turn around on4 ,a community garden organization can buy garden tools1 such as wheelbarrows1 wheel-hoes1 a sprayer1 and other comparatively costly tools1 which greatly facilitate the work of caring for the plot1 but which it would be impossible or unwise for an individual to buy if he wished to come anywhere near making a profit on his garden4 ,seeds and fertilizers can be bought to much greater advantage1 and more cheaply when obtained in bulk1 with the added advantage that of such seeds as tomato1 egg-plant1 peppers and celery1 one packet is usually enough for the whole organization1 whereas by individual effort it would be necessary for each gardener to buy his own packet of seed1 resulting in considerable waste4 ,waste is not to be condoned at any time1 especially now when seeds of some vegetables are scarce4 ,i have in mind a community organization a description of which will serve to illustrate what can be done by organized effort of this kind4 ,a piece of land about three acres in extent was available for cultivation in this case4 ,it was fairly good land1 but had served to some extent as a dumping-ground for cellar excavations1 and had a considerable amount of rubbish of one kind and another deposited upon it4 ,the principal of an adjacent school decided that this land ought not to remain idle1 so he obtained permission from the owner to use it1 and then1 with some other energetic people of the community1 got together and started to do things4 ,the ground was first plowed and harrowed free of charge by the city park department and the largest of the stones removed4 ,it was then decided that the plot should be fenced1 in order to keep out cats1 dogs1 small boys1 and other undesirables1 and to insure that those who raised the crops should receive the benefit4 ,material1 consisting of two-by-four-inch posts eight feet long1 chicken netting five feet wide1 and a strand of barbed wire to go around the top1 was bought for this purpose at a cost of about #aab4 ,the fence was erected by volunteers in their spare time1 and six padlocked gates provided1 to which each plot-holder had a key4 ,water-pipe was laid all over the area so that the crops could be cared for in time of drought4 ,the expense incurred for the purchase of pipe and installation1 together with that of seeds1 fertilizers1 and the larger garden implements1 was borne by the association4 ,the area was divided into fifty plots each #ajj #bc feet4 ,each plot-holder was asked to keep an account of his expenses1 and also of the yields obtained4 ,the results are interesting4 ,the average cost of each plot1 including expenses incurred for fencing1 seeds1 fertilizer1 etc41 was a little over #aa2 the value of the crops obtained was around #cd2 giving an average profit of between #bb and #bc4 ,when one considers the smallness of these plots1 it must be admitted that the results were worth while1 and the whole adventure is very encouraging to those who contemplate a similar enterprise4 ,of course no allowance was made for the cost of labor involved in preparing and caring for these plots2 but to offset this one should remember that the soil was not especially good1 the workers not experienced1 and then one must take into account the large initial expense of fencing the land1 buying tools1 etc4 ,this year the expenses will be considerably less and the yields ought to be greatly increased because of the improvement of the soil through the cultivation of the preceding year4 ,other advantages of community gardens that may be mentioned are these3 there is not so much danger of a plot-holder becoming tired of gardening and quitting before he has harvested his crop2 community gardening fosters a spirit of healthy competition1 and each gardener tries to have his plot looking a little neater1 and to produce larger and better crops1 than his neighbor4 ,furthermore1 in a body of men and women associated in this way there is almost always some one who has had a garden before and to whom the novices may turn for advice4 ,while community gardening is undoubtedly the most economical1 and1 in many ways1 the most pleasurable method for the home gardener to produce his crops1 one should not be deterred from the attempt to grow vegetables merely because there is no opportunity to link up with an organization4 ,the man with a back yard can grow some vegetables1 provided that his soil is fairly good and his plot is open to the sunshine4 ,even the apartment-dweller need not despair1 because in most cities it is possible to obtain the use of a plot of vacant ground1 through either the municipality or some organization formed for the purpose of dealing with such situations4 ,,iii ,,tools ,it is unnecessary to spend much money on tools for use in a small garden4 ,the writer did very well in his home garden with nothing but an ordinary round-pointed shovel for digging purposes1 a rake to pulverize the soil and make drills for seed-sowing1 a scuffle-hoe for cultivating1 and a garden line made from two sticks and a piece of twine4 ,of course there are many tools on the market that greatly facilitate cultivation and make gardening work easier1 but their purchase is inadvisable unless the size of the garden and the permanency of its cultivation warrant it4 ,nothing will be said as to the various types of horse-drawn or motor-driven implements4 ,this book is written for those who have to do their gardening with hand tools or those who are limited to the hiring of just what horse-drawn tools happen to be available4 ,for the preparation of the soil1 probably the best implement is the spading-fork4 ,it is easier to work with than a spade and in most cases is equally efficient4 ,the spading-fork can be used for digging and1 at a pinch1 can be made to serve the purpose of fining the surface soil for seed-sowing4 ,a spade is a handy tool to have1 however1 especially when any work is to be done in the way of making beds or forming walks4 ,for seed-sowing the absolute essentials are very few4 ,a yard-stick or foot-rule for measuring the distance between the rows is useful4 ,an even better way of accomplishing this is to divide a hoe or rake handle1 whichever is used in seed-sowing1 into feet and quarter-feet1 preferably cutting in the marks with a knife4 ,if one is limited to buying just one tool for making the drills the rake should be chosen1 as it can also be used for fining the soil and for cultivating between the rows4 ,a garden line can easily be improvised from two sticks1 sharpened at one end1 and a suitable length of strong twine4 ,when the soil is fairly loose and easily worked1 a scuffle-hoe is a very satisfactory tool for cultivating the surface4 ,on the other hand1 if the ground is hard and stony the ordinary draw-hoe should be chosen4 ,a small hand weeder1 which can be obtained at a cost of from ten to fifty cents1 is very useful for loosening the surface of the ground close to the rows of young seedlings4 ,look over the illustrations of these tools in a seedsman's catalogue and pick out the one most suited to your needs4 ,with a little ingenuity1 tools suitable for stirring up the surface soil can be fashioned at home from old hoop iron or stout wire fastened on wooden handles4 ,after a season's work in the garden you will discover just what you need in this line1 and will probably be able to make a tool that will give far greater satisfaction than anything you might buy4 ,a garden hose of sufficient length so that water can be applied all over the garden is an advantage1 but not absolutely necessary4 ,a good rubber hose costs1 nowadays1 about ten dollars for a length of fifty feet1 and a few expenditures of this nature sadly eat into the profits of the garden4 ,as an accessory to the hose a sprinkler throwing a fine spray1 that can be left running for several hours1 is very useful and desirable1 especially if there is no meter attached to your water supply6 ,when combating insects and diseases in a small garden1 a sprayer of the atomizer type holding about a quart of insecticide and costing between one and two dollars is very valuable4 ,in a garden of considerable extent1 or in a community garden1 insecticides and fungicides can be economically and efficiently applied by means of a compressed-air spray-pump holding three or four gallons and costing between six and eight dollars4 ,if a large potato-patch is cultivated1 a powder-distributing bellows1 costing about one dollar1 is useful for distributing ,paris green in powder form4 ,a powder-distributer for use in a small garden can be improvised by making a small cheese-cloth bag in which the powder is placed and distributed by shaking the bag over the plants4 ,wheel-hoes varying in price from five to fifteen dollars--the price depending on the size and number of attachments--are available for expediting the work in large gardens4 ,some of these implements have attachments so that they may be used for marking the rows1 sowing seeds in drills or hills1 for raking1 cultivating1 and shallow plowing4 ,these1 however1 are for use on large areas by professional gardeners1 or to delight the connoisseur of tools4 ,to sum up--the tools that it is advisable for a beginner1 with a garden of moderate size1 to buy are3 a spading-fork1 an iron rake1 a six-inch hoe 7of either the scuffle or the ordinary variety71 a one-quart atomizer for applying spray fluids1 and a watering-can4 ,the cost of these should not exceed three or four dollars4 ,start out with a few essential tools and add others if you find that you absolutely need them4 ,,iv ,,the ,,site--,,the ,,soil ,,and ,,its ,,preparation ,practically all of the vegetable crops require sunshine1 and plenty of it1 in order to attain their full development4 ,therefore1 in selecting the location of your vegetable-garden 7if it is possible to have any choice7 choose one open to sunshine and not hemmed in by tall buildings which shut out the air4 ,a location near big trees should be avoided1 for the trees not only shade the crops1 but their wide-spreading roots also rob the ground of food and moisture which the vegetables need4 ,the ideal location for a vegetable-garden is one open to the south and sheltered from the north and west winds1 but always with this provision--the soil must be of a suitable nature4 ,this brings us to a consideration of one of the most important factors in successful vegetable culture--that of the soil4 ,soils vary a great deal in their physical characters and also in their chemical composition4 ,sandy soils quickly dry out and warm up in the spring1 and in consequence it is possible to prepare them for planting and produce crops much earlier than is the case with heavier soils4 ,for this reason sandy soils are usually preferred by market gardeners1 whose object is to get their crops on the market as soon as possible4 ,one great objection to sandy soils is the rapidity with which they lose their moisture by drainage and evaporation4 ,they are frequently not naturally fertile and it is necessary to apply large quantities of manure to make them profitable4 ,they are also subject to loss of fertility by leaching4 ,the way in which these disadvantages can be corrected will be told later4 ,at the other end of the scale1 almost exactly opposite in every particular1 are those soils in which clay predominates4 ,soils of this type are cold1 they dry out very slowly1 and as a result it is late before they can be fitted for planting4 ,in dry seasons1 because of their water-holding capacity1 they are greatly to be preferred1 and plants growing on them are less liable to suffer from drought4 ,clay soils1 because of their stickiness1 are very difficult to work1 and although they may be well supplied with plant food1 it is sometimes unavailable because of the sticky1 tenacious character of the clay which does not provide a good medium in which the roots may ramify in search of food4 ,peat soils and muck lands are made up largely of decayed organic matter4 ,they are usually deficient in minerals1 but by correct management can be made to produce good crops of certain kinds of vegetables4 ,enormous quantities of celery and onions are successfully grown on muck soils4 ,the kind of soil most desired by the gardener is the happy medium that is called loam4 ,this consists of a mixture of clay and sand in nearly equal proportions1 combined with a considerable quantity of decayed organic matter4 ,such soils are fertile1 easy to work1 retentive of moisture1 but sufficiently porous so that the moisture is not retained in excess4 ,air can penetrate such soils1 a prime necessity for healthy root growth1 and also necessary for the existence of bacteria which do so much in making inert plant foods soluble and available for the use of plants4 ,the extreme types of soil previously mentioned can be greatly improved by judicious treatment4 ,it will be remembered that one of the great drawbacks to sandy soils was the readiness with which they lose their moisture4 ,the proper treatment for this type is to add organic matter4 ,this decays and forms humus1 which binds the coarse particles together to a certain extent and increases the absorbtive and retentive properties of the soil4 ,this organic matter is best applied in the form of decayed1 or partially decayed1 barn-yard or stable manure4 ,if manure is not available a good substitute can be found in leaves4 ,these may be gathered in the fall and piled in a heap to decay4 ,very little decomposition will take place during the winter months in the ,northern states1 and for this reason leaves that have been piled in heaps for twelve months or more are to be preferred4 ,decay may be hastened by forking over the leaves two or three times during the summer4 ,although decayed leaves are better than fresh ones for mixing in with the soil1 fresh leaves are better than none at all4 ,the owners of city gardens frequently neglect an opportunity of adding humus to their soil when they allow the leaves of street trees to be burned or carted away4 ,the city street-cleaning department is usually only too glad to be relieved of this duty4 ,when it is impossible to add humus to the soil through the medium of organic manures1 as is often the case in city back yards1 recourse may be had to one of the many brands of prepared humus obtainable from seedsmen4 ,liming is also considered to be good for sandy soils1 as the lime exercises a binding influence on the coarse particles4 ,of course when clay is available it is good to add it1 and mix thoroughly with the sand1 but it is seldom that clay is present in near enough proximity to make this practice a paying proposition4 ,compacting sandy soils1 by means of a roller on large areas1 or by means of the feet in the case of small plots1 is good horticultural practice4 ,clay soils1 like the preceding1 are greatly improved by the addition of organic matter4 ,it should be applied in the fall1 in the form of strawy stable manure1 and buried deeply4 ,leaves also are a valuable addition4 ,liming is good1 as this causes the flocculation of the clay particles and renders the soil more open and permeable by air and water4 ,the addition of sand1 sifted coal ashes1 or wood ashes serves the same purpose4 ,clay soils are benefited by being plowed or spaded in the fall and left rough over the winter4 ,this allows the frost to penetrate more readily1 resulting in the breaking up and disintegration of the clods4 ,another advantage of fall plowing in the case of land of this type is that by so doing it dries out more rapidly in the spring and it is possible to get your crops planted earlier4 ,muck and swamp soils are frequently waterlogged1 and before they will support a crop it is necessary to underdrain them2 but as this is an operation that is scarcely practicable for those for whom this book is written1 it will not be dealt with here4 ,as there is always a lack of basic salts in this type of soil1 liming is practised1 usually to good advantage4 ,those who contemplate taking over a piece of land for the purpose of growing vegetables should1 if the land has not previously produced a crop1 obtain the opinion of a competent gardener as to its possibilities from a gardening standpoint4 ,such men are usually available in every community1 and as a rule are glad to help4 ,if expert opinion is not available1 the novice can form an approximate idea of its value by making careful observations in the following manner4 ,take notice of the vegetation growing on the plot4 ,if it is luxuriant and consists mostly of grasses it will probably be all right for growing vegetables4 ,dig holes here and there with a spade or trowel and examine the soil4 ,if you find1 an inch or two below the surface1 nothing but tin cans and broken bottles it is not a safe gardening proposition4 ,neither should you go ahead if you find only a thin layer of topsoil1 two or three inches1 above the subsoil4 ,it is usually easy to tell the difference between what is known as topsoil and subsoil4 ,the topsoil is darker in color1 due to the presence of humus1 and of a finer texture4 ,this topsoil should be at least eight inches deep to get good results4 ,soils which contain too many large stones should be avoided1 also those which consist of only a thin layer overlying a rock ledge4 ,most vegetables succeed best in a soil that is slightly alkaline1 and land intended for garden use should be tested with litmus paper to discover if acid is present in excess4 ,take a piece of blue litmus paper and press it upon a handful of moist soil4 ,if it turns red it indicates the presence of acid and the advisability of liming4 ,lime is a valuable element in the soil1 as it assists in making plant foods soluble4 ,it is best applied in the fall1 spreading it over the surface and digging or plowing it in4 ,it can also be applied in the spring1 but in no case should it be put on so that it comes in direct contact with manure4 ,lime applied with manure causes ammonia to be liberated too rapidly in the form of gas1 which escapes into the air1 and thus much of the fertility of the manure is lost4 ,when it is necessary to apply lime in the spring1 the manure should first be dug or plowed under1 and the lime then spread on the surface1 and raked or harrowed in4 ,use about #bj pounds of air-slaked lime or #cj to #dj pounds of ground limestone to #djj square feet4 ,thorough preparation of the soil is essential if best results are to be obtained4 ,this means that the soil must be broken up and pulverized as deeply as possible4 ,there are several reasons for this4 ,breaking up the soil to a good depth increases the water-holding capacity of the soil--a very important point because of the fact that plants have to take all of the food substances that they obtain from the soil in solution4 ,it provides a greater bulk of soil in which the plant roots may ramify in search of food4 ,the less fertile the soil the greater is the necessity for breaking it deeply to increase the area from which the roots may draw nourishment4 ,deep tillage encourages the roots to penetrate downward1 and plants whose roots go down deeply in the soil are less likely to suffer during dry spells4 ,it is well to remember1 however1 that although it is desirable to have the soil broken up deeply it is not a good practice to bring too much of the subsoil up to the surface in digging or plowing4 ,in farming operations a greater depth of soil is obtained by using what is known as a subsoil plow4 ,this implement frequently is used after the field has been plowed in the usual way and penetrates below the topsoil and breaks up the subsoil1 but without disturbing their relative positions4 ,in gardens the same result is obtained by what is called bastard trenching1 of which more will be said later4 ,in preparing a piece of ground that has not previously been cultivated the first thing to do is to remove all large stones and rubbish that may be on the surface4 ,if it is a large area1 the work of breaking it will1 of course1 be done with a plow4 ,supposing the land is covered with a growth of sod1 it is a good plan to go over it several times with a disk harrow before plowing4 ,this will cut up the sods1 cause them to decay more rapidly when they are turned under1 and insure the soil being pulverized throughout its whole depth4 ,after plowing1 harrowing is necessary to break the lumps and to compact the soil somewhat4 ,the fining process can then be completed by hand1 using a rake for the purpose4 ,small areas can be prepared for planting by digging with a spade or spading-fork4 ,a trench should first be dug a foot or eighteen inches wide and a foot deep1 provided that the topsoil extends that far4 ,the soil from this trench should be placed on one side so as to be available for filling in the last trench when digging is finished4 ,having opened the first trench1 proceed with the digging1 turning each spadeful of soil bottom up in the trench4 ,the soil can be turned over with greater ease and more efficiently by always maintaining a trench when digging4 ,it is the only way by which sods1 manure1 and weeds may be properly buried so that they may decay and form plant food4 ,bastard trenching is carried out in the same way as digging except that the trench is made at least two feet wide and the subsoil thus exposed is broken up with a spading-fork before the topsoil from the next trench is turned over upon it4 ,when digging1 the soil should be broken up as finely as possible with the spade or fork1 so as to leave no lumps1 and all large stones should be thrown out4 ,digging or plowing should never be attempted when the ground is frozen or when it is so wet that the soil sticks to the tools used4 ,after the soil has been turned over and broken up the rake should come into operation and the surface fined so as to fit it for seed-sowing4 ,v ,,fertilizers ,the most important elements that it is necessary to apply to the soil in the form of fertilizer are nitrogen1 phosphorus1 and potash4 ,nitrogen greatly stimulates the production of leaves1 and an excess of it applied to crops grown for their fruit or roots is undesirable4 ,it is contained in all the animal manures1 associated with other fertilizing elements1 and in a practically pure state in nitrate of soda4 ,phosphorus is a valuable and necessary fertilizer which has a great influence on the production of fruits and seeds4 ,it is found in greater or less quantities in animal manures1 and in bone meal4 ,phosphatic rock that has been treated with acid is another important source of phosphorus4 ,potash4 ,the rle of potash in the soil is similar to that of phosphoric acid4 ,it is considered to be a valuable fertilizer for all crops that are grown for their roots4 ,it occurs in animal manures and in wood ashes4 ,muriate of potash and kainite contain potash in a more concentrated form1 but are difficult to obtain at present4 ,all of these three elements must be present in the soil for the production of healthy crops4 ,it is generally conceded that the best all-round fertilizer for plants is decayed barn-yard or stable manure4 ,it not only adds fertility to the soil1 but by its decay it helps to make the mineral particles soluble and thus available as plant foods4 ,as already indicated1 it also improves the physical condition of the soil1 making sandy soils more retentive of moisture1 and rendering clay soils more porous4 ,when applied in the spring it should be decayed or partly decayed1 as in this condition it is immediately available for the use of the crop4 ,if it is put on the ground in the fall1 fresh manure may be used and plowed under4 ,by the time that the planting season arrives it will be sufficiently decayed4 ,if there is no objection on the score of appearances1 stable manure1 either fresh or decayed1 may be applied in the form of a thin mulch 7a layer on the surface of the ground7 at any time when the plants are growing4 ,the fertility is gradually washed down into the soil by rain1 and a loose covering of this kind is of additional advantage in that it helps to prevent the loss of water from the soil by evaporation4 ,this mulch must not be worked into the soil so that it comes in contact with the plant roots1 but should be left on the surface until it is dug under the following fall or spring4 ,discretion must be exercised in its use4 ,root crops1 that are already growing luxuriantly1 such as beets or carrots1 or crops that are grown for their fruit1 such as beans and tomatoes1 would probably be harmed by a surface dressing of this kind4 ,barn-yard manure is rich in nitrogen1 which is a great stimulant of leaf growth4 ,if it is applied too freely to the crops just mentioned it is likely to result in an excessive crop of leaves at the expense of roots or fruit4 ,a dressing of stable manure two or three inches thick all over the plot or at the rate of from three to five hundred pounds to a plot twenty by twenty feet is about the right quantity to use when the ground is dug or plowed4 ,sheep manure is perhaps the next in importance of the organic manures and is more concentrated than barn-yard or stable manure4 ,it can be applied at the rate of forty pounds to four hundred square feet4 ,it is better to spread it over the surface immediately after the ground has been broken up1 and thoroughly mix it with the surface soil by means of a rake or harrow4 ,hen manure is still more concentrated and should be used in the same way1 or as a top-dressing after the crops have started their growth4 ,twenty pounds to four hundred square feet is a suitable amount to apply4 ,to facilitate its distribution it should be mixed with dry earth and kept in a dry place for a few weeks before it is desired to apply it4 ,of the so-called chemical fertilizers1 those that are sold by seedsmen as 8complete0 fertilizers are the best for the amateur to buy4 ,these at the present time are usually made up in the proportion of #e per cent4 nitrogen1 #h per cent4 phosphorus1 and #a per cent4 potash4 ,use twelve pounds to four hundred square feet4 ,all of the preceding are 8complete0 fertilizers containing nitrogen1 phosphorus1 and potash in varying proportions4 ,if they are used in combination the quantities must be reduced4 ,bone meal is a fertilizer which contains phosphorus and nitrogen4 ,in some of its forms it is rather slow acting and sometimes does not become fully available for the use of the crop until the year succeeding its application4 ,use twelve pounds to four hundred square feet4 ,nitrate of soda is the quickest-acting fertilizer that we have and is very valuable for stimulating the growth of plants early in the spring1 when the nitrogen content of the soil is usually low4 ,it is especially suitable for those crops that are grown for their leaves1 such as spinach1 lettuce1 and cabbage4 ,great care must be exercised in the use of this fertilizer1 as an overdose will injure or kill the plants4 ,as it is very soluble1 it should not be applied until the plants are up and ready to use it1 otherwise much of it will be washed out of the soil and wasted4 ,it should be sprinkled on the surface of the soil1 first crushing the lumps1 and then mixed in with a hoe or cultivator4 ,an ounce to each square yard1 applied at intervals of about three weeks1 until the crops have a good start1 is the right proportion to use4 ,it is impossible to lay too much emphasis on the necessity for care in the use of this fertilizer4 ,it must not be allowed to come in contact with the leaves of the crop1 or it will cause them to burn and turn brown4 ,generally speaking1 it is not a good fertilizer to use on root or fruit crops1 although it can be used to good advantage in helping young plants of tomato1 cucumber1 muskmelon1 etc41 to get a start just after they have been planted out4 ,its use later in the season is likely to result in the production of leaves at the expense of fruit4 ,wood ashes contain potash and lime4 ,this fertilizer is a valuable dressing for heavy1 clayey soils1 as it improves their physical condition4 ,it is good for root crops1 such as beets1 carrots1 radishes1 etc4 ,use twenty pounds to four hundred square feet4 ,it is best to apply all concentrated fertilizers as surface dressings1 and then harrow or rake them into the soil1 rather than to plow or dig them under4 ,if it so happens that the soil is not very fertile and there is only a limited quantity of fertilizer available1 it is a good plan1 instead of spreading it all over the plot1 to apply it only in close proximity to the hills or drills in which the plants are growing4 ,it is important to remember that the greatest good can only be obtained from chemical fertilizers when the soil is plentifully supplied with humus4 ,,vi ,,the ,,kinds ,,of ,,vegetables ,,to ,,grow ,a number of factors have to be taken into consideration before deciding just which kinds of vegetables to plant in your garden4 ,some of these factors are3 the nature of the soil1 the size of the garden1 the food value of the crop and the ease with which it may be stored for winter use4 ,sometimes it is possible to adapt the soil to the crop1 but usually it is easier to adapt the crop to the soil4 ,a rich loam will support practically all of the vegetables and produce good crops4 ,a thin1 sandy soil which has not been properly fertilized is only suitable for such crops as bush beans1 beets1 ,swiss chard1 tomato1 and ,new ,zealand spinach4 ,of course other crops can be grown on such a soil1 but not very satisfactorily4 ,potatoes like a sandy soil1 but it must be well fertilized4 ,heavy clay soils will grow cabbage1 kale1 corn1 parsley1 parsnips 7if the soil is deep71 peas and rhubarb4 ,if the soil is shallow it is not advisable to attempt any of the root crops that make a long root4 ,in this category belong the long beets1 parsnips1 and salsify4 ,that person is unwise who attempts to grow potatoes1 corn1 and cabbage in a very restricted area4 ,these crops need plenty of room in which to develop1 and when one has only a city back yard1 or a small plot1 it is better to concentrate on the smaller-growing vegetables4 ,the best crops to grow in the city back yard are bush beans1 parsley1 radish1 beets1 ,swiss chard1 and tomato4 ,peas would probably succeed if it were not for the sparrows which pick off the leaves as fast as they are produced4 ,one is strictly limited if the available ground is shaded4 ,all the vegetables need sun for the greater part of the day4 ,those kinds which are grown for their leaves are more satisfactory in a shady garden1 and if the soil conditions are favorable the following may be tried3 beet1 cabbage1 lettuce1 and ,swiss chard4 ,even these need a few hours of sunshine4 ,those who are interested in dietetics may wish to choose their vegetables on the basis of their food value4 ,in terms of the calorie1 the unit of energy as applied to food1 we find that #a ounce of dried beans 7seeds7 and #h ounces of string-beans are required to produce a hundred calories4 ,of green corn #c4b ounces are needed2 of potatoes1 #e4c ounces2 of onions1 #h ounces2 of beets1 #i4f ounces2 of cabbage1 #ac4c ounces2 and at the bottom of the list comes celery1 of which #bc4g ounces are required to produce a hundred calories4 ,it is misleading1 however1 to take a list of vegetables with their caloric values and decide1 that because #f4d ounces of peas contain one hundred calories1 while it is necessary to have #aj4a ounces of carrots to produce the same amount1 nothing but peas shall be grown in the garden4 ,the proper basis on which to make a decision along these lines is on the amount of calories that can be obtained from each square yard of ground4 ,a considerable area is necessary for the production of a pound of peas1 while a similar weight of carrots could be produced in a much smaller space4 ,furthermore1 it must be remembered that the human system demands a certain amount of bulky foods1 and these are supplied by vegetables low in caloric values4 ,there are a number of crops that can easily be preserved or stored for winter use1 and this should be considered when deciding what kinds of vegetables to grow4 ,string-beans are easily preserved by pickling them in brine1 and there is no difficulty whatever in caring for the dry-shell beans when they are not infested with weevils4 ,all of the root crops--carrots1 beets1 parsnips--can be easily stored in sand or soil in the cellar1 and potatoes are one of the easiest of crops to care for4 ,onions can readily be carried over into the winter if a cool1 airy room is available4 ,all of the crops just mentioned are fairly high in food value4 ,,vii ,,planning ,,the ,,garden ,a garden can be made without a plan1 but it is usually a haphazard sort of affair1 and it frequently means that much more money is spent for seeds than is necessary4 ,another frequent happening in a miss-or-hit garden of this kind is a plethora of some kinds of vegetables and a great scarcity of others4 ,it is difficult to give any definite information as to the quantities of vegetables to grow1 as yields vary so much1 owing to the character of the soil and climate1 the variety of the vegetable1 and the skill1 or lack of it1 of the gardener4 ,the preferences of the individual must also be considered4 ,the table in the ,appendix giving the approximate amount of vegetables that can be obtained from a hundred-foot row may be helpful4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that these figures are only approximate and that wide variations can be expected4 ,when planning your garden you must take into consideration the sunshine it receives1 and if part of it is shaded reserve that part for those crops that will endure shade4 ,if there is any variation in the nature of the soil1 whether in regard to its physical condition1 fertility1 or wetness1 you should place the crops accordingly4 ,as a general rule the rows should run north and south1 as by this plan each row receives its share of sunlight4 ,if for any reason this is not practicable1 put the tall-growing crops at the north end of the plot1 so that they do not shade the smaller kinds4 ,the perennial crops1 like asparagus and rhubarb1 are best placed at one end or side of the plot so that they are not in the way when digging or plowing is being done4 ,it makes a better-looking plot if those vegetables which are planted the same distance apart are grouped together4 ,plan to have the ground occupied for the whole season4 ,many vegetables take a comparatively short time in which to mature1 and these can be removed when harvested and the ground occupied by another crop4 ,thus peas can be followed by cauliflower or cabbage1 early beets by beans1 lettuce by tomato1 and so on4 ,find out the average number of growing-days in your locality and consult the table in the ,appendix giving the number of days required to bring the various crops to maturity4 ,when planning for succession vegetables1 have some regard to crop rotation4 ,that is to say1 if the ground in the early part of the season has been occupied by a leaf crop1 follow it by a fruit crop1 or vice versa4 ,early cabbage followed by beans may be cited as an example4 ,similarly1 root crops may be followed by leaf crops1 as early carrots and fall spinach4 ,another important reason for crop rotation is that it lessens the danger of loss from disease4 ,many of the fungous diseases of plants are carried over from year to year in the soil4 ,some of them are able to live on only one particular host plant1 and if that crop is not grown in the soil where the fungus is hibernating the disease ultimately dies out through lack of food4 ,the first thing to do in planning a vegetable-garden is to measure the plot and transfer its outlines to scale on paper4 ,then1 bearing in mind the considerations just outlined in this chapter1 decide on the kinds of vegetables you wish to grow4 ,now the real fun of planning begins6 ,the desires of the grower as to quantities and variety of vegetables must be scaled down so as to fit the plot4 ,take a ruler and draw lines across your plan to represent the rows of vegetables4 ,the distance between the rows may be drawn to scale to correspond with the actual distance between the rows on the ground1#a or you may merely note the theoretical distance between the lines4 ,write the name of the vegetable on each line1 with that of the succession crop1 if any4 ,it is a good idea to mount your plan on stiff cardboard when finished1 and to allow a space either at the side or on the back for making notes to be taken during the growing-season4 ,these notes may consist of reminders that such and such a crop is not suited in its present location1 the time occupied from seed-sowing to maturity1 the desirability or otherwise of certain vegetables1 etc4 ----- #a ,see ,appendix1 ,table ,,iii4 ,,viii ,,seeds1 ,,seed-,,sowing1 ,,and ,,transplanting ,most seeds1 with the exception of carrot1 onion1 parsnip1 and parsley1 will grow fairly satisfactorily even if they are more than one year old1 so that left-overs from the preceding year may be planted with good results4 ,before using these left-over seeds1 however1 it is wise to test their germinating power before committing them to the garden4 ,to plant seeds which will not germinate is a waste of time and labor4 ,testing the viability of seeds is a simple and easy matter and very advisable if there is any doubt4 ,count out fifty or one hundred seeds of the kind that you wish to test and plant them in sand or earth in a cigar-box or something similar4 ,place them in a fairly warm room 7temperature about #fj ,fahr47 and keep the soil moist4 ,in a week or two take note of the number which have sprouted1 and this will give you the percentage of good seeds and some idea of the quantity you will have to plant in order to get a good stand4 ,for instance1 if only #ej per cent4 of the seeds germinate it means that it will be necessary to plant double the usual number to make sure of having a sufficient number of plants4 ,another and less messy way of testing seeds is to place them on a plate between blotters or cloth1 which must be kept moist1 covering them with another plate to prevent too rapid evaporation of moisture4 ,although they adequately furnish the desired information1 neither of these methods of testing seeds gives an absolutely accurate indication of what will take place when they are planted in the garden4 ,seeds out of doors are exposed to a number of hazards that are not present under indoor conditions4 ,before planting any seeds outdoors the soil must be in the proper condition4 ,it must not be so wet that it sticks to the tools used1 the surface must be finely pulverized with a rake1 and all large stones taken off4 ,there are three ways of planting seeds outdoors--in drills1 in hills1 and broadcast4 ,the drills consist of shallow trenches from one-half inch to two inches deep1 in which the seeds are sown4 ,the young plants are later thinned out so that they stand an equal distance apart4 ,seeds are said to be planted in hills when they are sown in such a way that the resultant plants are in groups of three or more standing the same distance in the rows as the distance between the rows4 ,broadcast sowing is when the seeds are scattered over the surface of the ground and covered by raking them in1 or by sprinkling soil over them4 ,a garden line should always be stretched across the plot as a guide when making the drills4 ,this insures straight rows1 resulting in an enhanced appearance of the garden and greater ease in subsequent cultivation4 ,a variety of tools can be used for making the drills or furrows4 ,for those seeds which require to be planted deeply1#b a draw-hoe is a useful tool1 or1 if this is not available1 the corner of a rake will suffice4 ,the shallow drills can be made with a hoe or rake handle or with a pointed stick4 ,the seeds should be planted immediately after the drill is made1 before the soil dries up4 ,consult the table in the ,appendix showing the quantity of seed required to plant a row one hundred feet long1 and refrain from planting too thickly4 ,being too liberal with seeds at planting-time is not only wasteful1 but also involves a great deal of extra labor later on when the young seedlings have to be thinned in order to give them room for proper development4 ,sow the seeds as evenly as possible and cover by raking the soil over them4 ,the soil over the seeds must be firmed4 ,in the case of the larger seeds1 such as peas and beans1 this can be done by walking along the row4 ,the earth over the smaller seeds is best compacted by means of the back of a hoe or rake4 ,this firming process is carried out in order that the earth may come in close contact with the seeds1 so that they may absorb the moisture contained in it2 also to establish capillary action with the soil below1 resulting in moisture being drawn up to the surface4 ,there is a tendency among beginners to plant their seeds either on raised ridges or1 sometimes at the other extreme1 in deep trenches4 ,the first method is liable to result in the plants suffering from drought1 and the latter in flooding1 if it happens to be a wet season4 ,there are times when it is advisable to make use of these practices1 as will be described when the methods of cultivation are taken up in detail1 but speaking generally1 level cultivation is best4 ,after the seeds are planted we are enabled to sit back and have a breathing-spell until the young plants appear1 when it is necessary to proceed with thinning and cultivating as described in the following chapter4 ,it is the common practice1 in connection with some crops1 not to plant the seeds directly where they are to mature1 but to sow them elsewhere at first and to transplant the young plants to their permanent quarters later4 ,in the ,northern states the growing-season is not sufficiently long to get best results from such tropical plants as tomato1 egg-plant and pepper if the seeds are sown outside4 ,a longer growing-season is afforded to these plants by raising them in a greenhouse or hotbed1 and transplanting them to the garden when the earth has warmed up and danger of frost is over4 ,cabbage is transplanted for the reason that if the seed was sown directly in the field it would be necessary to plant much more seed than was actually needed1 and because the ground can be profitably occupied with another crop while the young cabbage plants are reaching a sizable condition4 ,early cabbage is also sown in a greenhouse or cold-frame in order to hasten the time of maturity4 ,although it is possible to raise these transplanted crops with no other facilities than those provided by the ordinary dwelling-house1 it is not worth while when only a few plants are required4 ,young plants of tomato1 egg-plant1 pepper1 and cabbage can be obtained at such a trifling expense from seedsmen who make a business of raising them that it does not pay to bother with raising them yourself4 ,an eye should be given to weather conditions when transplanting4 ,the plants will feel the check less if a cloudy1 humid day is chosen on which to do the work4 ,the soil should be moist1 but not so wet as to be sticky4 ,the hole for the reception of the roots can conveniently be made with a trowel4 ,make it large enough so that the roots may be spread out and then press the earth gently but firmly around them4 ,if the soil is dry leave a shallow depression around the stem of each plant to facilitate watering4 ,sufficient water should be applied to soak the ground for a depth of six inches or more1 and when it has drained away from the surface1 the depression may be filled with loose dry earth to prevent the moisture escaping by evaporation4 ,if for any reason it is necessary to do the work of transplanting on a dry1 sunny day1 the young plants should be shaded4 ,this can be accomplished by covering them with inverted flower-pots1 or with newspapers weighted at the corners with stones to keep them from blowing away1 or a shingle or thin piece of board may be stuck in the ground on the sunny side so that its shadow falls on the plant4 ,in most cases1 unless they are grown in earthen or paper pots1 the root system of the plants is injured in transplanting4 ,in order to restore the balance between root and shoot it is advisable1 and customary1 to cut off part of the leaves4 ,if the whole of the leaves are left on the plant they wilt and sometimes die because the reduced number of roots is unable to supply their demands for moisture4 ----- #b ,see ,appendix1 ,table ,,iii1 for the depth to plant various seeds4 ,,ix ,,hoeing ,,and ,,thinning ,when the young plants appear above the ground it is time to commence cultivating4 ,this consists of breaking up and pulverizing the surface crust4 ,there are several reasons for doing this4 ,it allows air to enter the soil1 which1 it will be remembered1 is a necessity for the roots of plants and has an important bearing on the formation of plant food4 ,it keeps down the weeds1 and1 most important of all1 it helps to conserve the moisture in the soil4 ,all who have had anything to do with the cultivation of the soil will have noticed that when its surface is stirred up after a rain it quickly dries out4 ,it will also have been noticed that1 if any one has walked over this soil just after it has been stirred up1 the soil in the footprints remains moist4 ,why is this8 ,it is simply that capillary action has been broken by the loosening of the surface1 and the soil-water rises to the loosened soil and no farther4 ,on the other hand1 capillary action has been restored in those places where the soil has been compacted by walking on it1 and the surface here is moist because moisture is continually being supplied from the store below4 ,this moisture just as continually evaporates during dry weather and is lost as far as the plant roots are concerned4 ,breaking up the surface soil provides a dust mulch or soil blanket which shades the moist soil below from the sun's rays1 and in a large measure prevents evaporation4 ,therefore1 after every rain1 just as soon as the soil has dried out sufficiently so that it does not stick to the tool used1 the surface should be cultivated4 ,various tools are used for this purpose4 ,when working close to young plants the small hand weeders are useful4 ,between the rows a hoe should be used4 ,these are of three types4 ,the scuffle-hoe1 which is pushed through the soil just underneath the surface1 the operator walking backward4 ,this is a handy tool for small gardens if the soil is not too hard1 and its use gives the advantage of it not being necessary to walk on the loosened soil4 ,the ordinary draw-hoe is used with a chopping motion and the operator walks forward over the loosened soil4 ,it is a good tool for getting rid of weeds1 and is better than the preceding for use in hard or stony ground4 ,there are many forms of wheel-hoes which enable the work of cultivating to be done very expeditiously4 ,they are pushed forward with a jerky motion1 one step at a time1 pulling the implement toward you before making the forward thrust1 thus gaining momentum before the teeth enter the ground4 ,do not attempt to push a wheel-hoe in the same way that you would a perambulator--it's too hard work4 ,to water or not to water is sometimes a debatable point in vegetable-growing4 ,there is this much to be said about the application of water to the garden4 ,if thorough cultivation has been properly attended to there will be much less need of watering1 and when it is decided that watering is necessary1 let it be thorough1 so that the soil is soaked to a depth of a foot or so4 ,then as soon as the soil has dried out somewhat1 stir up the surface so that the moisture is not lost by evaporation4 ,the best way to apply water is by means of a sprinkler1 throwing a fine spray1 which can be left operating for two or three hours4 ,this insures a proper wetting of the soil without washing away any of the loose soil on the surface4 ,the next best thing is to use a hose4 ,the watering-pot is of little use except in a very small garden1 because one gets tired of toting water before the plants have been given nearly enough4 ,in order to obtain good crops it is necessary to allow the plants sufficient room to attain their full development4 ,they must have space in the earth for their roots to ramify in search of food1 and room above to spread their leaves to the air and sunshine4 ,a number of seeds1 including beet1 carrot1 corn1 lettuce1 onion1 parsnip1 radish1 spinach1 and ,swiss chard1 are sown in such a way 7in order to insure a good stand7 that when they germinate the young plants stand too close together4 ,these have to be thinned out4#c ,this operation should be carried out as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle4 ,choose a cloudy day when the soil is fairly moist1 and pull out the weak1 spindly plants1 leaving the strong1 healthy ones4 ----- #c ,see ,appendix1 ,table ,,iii1 for distance these plants should stand apart4 ,x ,,staking ,,and ,,tying ,some of our vegetable crops need supports of some kind to obtain best results from them4 ,peas1 and beans of some varieties1 and tomatoes are of this nature4 ,the dwarf peas1 which need no supports1 are the best for the small garden1 but if the taller kinds1 which are more productive1 are grown it is necessary to supply them with something on which to climb4 ,twiggy brush-wood is the best for the purpose1 as the pea tendrils attach themselves readily to this4 ,the bases of the branches should be sharpened with a knife and then stuck firmly into the ground on either side of the row when the peas are a few inches high4 ,chicken netting stretched along the row and supported on strong stakes is also suitable4 ,pole beans climb by means of twining1 and poles from six to eight feet high and about two inches in diameter are usually supplied for them4 ,these poles are inserted in the ground by first making a hole with a crowbar4 ,another method of supporting beans is by means of ,v-shaped frames about six feet high and three feet wide at the bottom4 ,they can be made of light lumber1 such as three by one or two by two inch rough pine4 ,these are spaced from eight to ten feet apart and connected by thin strips of lumber along the top and along the bases4 ,strings are fastened on one of the base strips1 carried over the top and fastened to the base strip on the other side4 ,these strings should be from six to nine inches apart4 ,the beans are planted so that there is one bean-plant to each string4 ,tomatoes may be left to grow naturally1 in which case they sprawl over the ground and much fruit is spoiled by coming in contact with the earth1 or they may be staked4 ,if grown to a single stem each plant will need a stout stake to which it may be attached by tying with pieces of cloth or tape about an inch wide4 ,if twine were used it would probably cut into and injure the soft stems4 ,another way of supporting tomatoes is to allow all the shoots to grow at will1 but to prevent them from falling on the ground by placing around each plant three or four stakes connected with barrel hoops or with twine4 ,,xi ,,insect ,,enemies ,to be successful in controlling insect pests1 preventive or remedial measures must be applied early4 ,if spraying is deferred until insects infest the plants in large numbers1 great difficulty is experienced in getting rid of them4 ,it is emphatically much easier to kill a few insects than a whole host4 ,if they are once allowed to obtain the upper hand1 the crop will be so much injured that it frequently will not pay to attempt to save it4 ,the important point that must be grasped in connection with the control of insect pests is that they may1 from the point of view of the gardener1 be divided into two groups--8biting0 insects and 8sucking0 insects4 ,the biting insects eat the leaves1 roots1 or stems of the plants attacked1 and their presence is usually obvious even to a casual observer4 ,the sucking insects obtain their food1 not by eating the leaves1 but by inserting their 8beaks0 into the plant tissue and sucking its juices4 ,since it is not feasible to poison the sap of plants to kill the insects1 the best method is to spray them with what are known as 8contact0 insecticides4 ,these must be applied in such a way that they actually come in contact with the insects4 ,soap solutions1 kerosene emulsion1 and nicotine are the principal contact sprays4 ,sometimes1 instead of using sprays it is more convenient to use dry insecticides in the form of powder4 ,this is particularly the case when a spray-pump is unavailable or the water supply not close at hand4 ,no matter in what form these insecticides are applied1 the operation must be done thoroughly or little benefit will result4 ,the contact sprays should be applied with force in such a way that every insect is covered4 ,to apply the stomach poisons a fine1 mist-like spray should be used which will coat the leaves with a thin film of poison4 ,if too much is applied there is a tendency for the mixture to run into globules1 which concentrates the poison at the tip of the leaves4 ,this may result in injury to the plants and is not effective in coating the whole of the leaves4 ,the feeding habits of some insects make it almost impossible to control them by spraying2 so traps1 poison bait1 hand picking1 repellents1 or screening the plants to prevent access of insects are resorted to4 ,these measures are fully described in connection with the insects against which they are used4 ,following are some of the more important insect pests4 ,beets4--,flea-beetles 7small1 very active insects1 as indicated by their name71 blister-beetles1 and various caterpillars1 which eat the leaves1 attack beets4 ,lead arsenate#d should be applied as soon as the injury is noticed4 ----- #d ,various spray formulas will be found at end of chapter4 ,cabbage4--,probably the worst insect pest of this crop is the cabbage-worm1 a green caterpillar which hatches from eggs laid on the leaves by the common white butterflies1 which may be seen flitting about the garden from early spring until fall4 ,spraying the plants with arsenate of lead to which a 8sticker0 has been added to make it adhere to the leaves is a standard remedy4 ,cabbage is also attacked by flea-beetles and caterpillars of various kinds1 which are controlled by the same methods adopted for the cabbage-worm4 ,cauliflower4--,same pests as cabbage4 ,corn4--,the corn earworm is one of the worst of the pests attacking corn4 ,this is a caterpillar which at first feeds on the 8silk0 and later penetrates the ear and eats the kernels4 ,it is very difficult to control this insect4 ,lead arsenate sprayed or dusted on the silk as soon as it appears is a partial remedy4 ,cucumber4--,the striped cucumber-beetle is about a fourth of an inch in length1 yellow in color1 with three black stripes on the wing covers4 ,it eats the leaves of the young plants and if unchecked ruins the chances of obtaining a crop4 ,one of the best ways of dealing with this insect is to prevent it from gaining access to the plants by the use of cheese-cloth or wire mosquito-netting screens4 ,these can be made by tacking the material used over bottomless boxes1 not so high as to shade the plants1 but of sufficient width and length to give them room to grow4 ,another method is to place two or three short sticks in the center of the hill and over these spread a 8tent0 of cheese-cloth1 holding down the edges with stones and earth4 ,tobacco dust sprinkled plentifully over and around the plants acts as a repellent4 ,the twelve-spotted cucumber-beetle may be controlled by the same measures and by spraying with lead arsenate4 ,egg-plant is subject to the same pests as the potato4 ,kale and ,kohlrabi are attacked by the same insects that attack cabbage4 ,muskmelon is subject to the same insects as the cucumber4 ,onion4--,thrips is a tiny insect which infests onions1 sucks the sap from the leaves1 and causes them to assume a silvery appearance4 ,most vegetables are subject to its attack4 ,it can be controlled by using a contact spray1 such as nicotine solution or kerosene emulsion4 ,potato4--,the most troublesome insect pest of the potato is the well-known ,colorado potato-beetle4 ,this may be controlled by picking the insects from the plant by hand1 or by dusting the leaves with ,paris green which has been diluted by mixing it with fifty times its bulk of air-slaked lime4 ,spraying the plants with lead arsenate is even more effective4 ,the flea-beetle eats small holes in the leaves1 making them appear as if they had been riddled with shot4 ,the spray treatment adopted for the ,colorado beetle will also take care of them4 ,blister-beetles are slender insects varied in color which attack potatoes and many other vegetables4 ,lead arsenate is the best remedy4 ,pumpkin is likely to be affected with the same pests as cucumber and squash4 ,squash4--,this crop is subject to the same pests as cucumber4 ,the squash-bug1 or stink-bug 7which also attacks cucumbers and melons71 is grayish-brown in color and about three-fourths of an inch long4 ,it exhales a very offensive odor which makes hand picking1 one of the most effective means of controlling it1 an extremely unpleasant task4 ,the measures adopted against the cucumber-beetles are also effective in controlling this pest4 ,other remedies that may be tried are the collection and destruction of the conspicuous eggs which are to be found in masses on the under sides of the leaves1 and trapping the adults by placing shingles on the ground around the plants4 ,the insects will congregate under these and can then be destroyed by stepping on them4 ,tomato4--,the tomato-worm1 the larva of a ,sphinx-moth1 sometimes occasions much damage4 ,hand picking is a good remedy1 or the plants may be sprayed with lead arsenate4 ,if the latter course is followed1 care must be taken to clean the tomatoes thoroughly before eating them4 ,the tomato is also subject to the same insect pests as the potato4 ,watermelon is attacked by the same insects that infest cucumbers4 ,practically all vegetable crops are subject to attack by the following insects3 ,aphis1 or ,plant ,lice4--,these occur in both small and large species in a great variety of color4 ,they injure the plants by sucking their juices1 and frequently cause the leaves to become curled and deformed4 ,usually these insects are to be found on the soft growing tips of the plants or on the under sides of the leaves4 ,prompt application of remedial measures is necessary4 ,the green-colored forms are usually the easiest to kill1 and a simple soap solution is generally effective4 ,the black aphids are more tenacious of life1 and a stronger insecticide must be used1 such as nicotine solution or kerosene emulsion4 ,cutworms are the larv of several species of moths4 ,they are especially partial to beans1 cabbage1 corn1 onions1 and tomatoes4 ,they are usually dark-colored1 greasy-looking caterpillars which spend most of their time1 when they are not eating1 just underneath the surface of the ground4 ,they cut off the plants by eating through the stems4 ,several different measures should be in operation at the same time to rid a garden of cutworms4 ,one of the most effective is the use of poisoned bait1 but this is not advisable when live stock have access to the garden4 ,the bait should be strewed liberally close to the plants4 ,shingles or thin boards may be placed on the surface of the soil4 ,the cutworms will congregate under these and can then be killed by any means that suggests itself4 ,hunting for them at night1 when they are feeding1 with a lantern or flashlight1 is another method of reducing their numbers4 ,two very important soil pests are white grubs and wireworms4 ,they attack potatoes and the roots of many garden crops4 ,the former are large1 clumsy1 white grubs1 the larv of the ,june beetle4 ,wireworms are long1 slender1 shining grubs1 which may be of any color from light yellow to dark brown4 ,they are the larv of click-beetles4 ,it is very difficult to control these pests4 ,frequent1 deep tilling of the soil is probably the best remedy4 ,if chickens are allowed access to the garden plot when it is being plowed or spaded they will eat a great many of them4 ,wireworms may be trapped by attracting them to buried pieces of carrot or potato4 ,these traps must be examined every morning and the insects congregated on them killed4 ,following are the formulas for the various insecticides recommended4 ,,stomach ,,poisons ,,for ,,biting ,,insects ,lead-arsenate ,solution #a oz4 lead arsenate 7paste7 to #a gal4 of water or oz4 lead arsenate 7dry7 to #a gal4 of water ,this can also be obtained as a fine powder for dusting upon the plants4 ,this method is less economical of material4 ,paris ,green oz4 ,paris green and to #c gal4 of water #a oz4 lime ,when using ,paris green as a powder it is advisable to dilute it with from twenty-five to fifty times its bulk of air-slaked lime4 ,this acts as a carrier and renders it possible to distribute the poison more economically and effectively4 ,it is inadvisable to use these poisons1 ,paris green and arsenate of lead1 on heading cabbages or vegetables that are shortly to be eaten1 as there is some danger of poisoning the consumers4 ,pyrethrum ,powder #a oz4 pyrethrum to #b gal4 of water ,can also be applied as a powder4 ,it is a good insecticide for use on vegetables that are shortly to be eaten1 as there is no danger of poisoning human beings by its use4 ,can also be used as a contact spray4 ,hellebore ,powder #b oz4 hellebore to #a gal4 of water ,the hellebore should first be boiled in water and then diluted to make one gallon4 ,it is very similar in its action to pyrethrum4 ,,contact ,,insecticides ,,for ,,sucking ,,insects ,soap ,solution #b oz4 laundry soap to #a gal4 of water ,nicotine ,solution oz4 #dj nicotine and to #c gal4 of water #a oz4 soap ,the soap is added to this solution to assist in spreading the mixture and to make it come in close contact with the insects4 ,resin ,fish-oil ,soap ,is recommended by ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture to be added to contact sprays and fungicides1 to act as a 8sticker0 when they are to be used on crops with smooth leaves to which the spray will not stick4 ,use two ounces to three gallons of spray mixture4 ,,poison ,,bait ,,for ,,cutworms #c lbs4 wheat bran #b oz4 white arsenic or powdered lead arsenate pint cheap molasses ,mix all together and add enough water to make a mash that will stick together4 ,this is very poisonous and extreme care must be exercised in its use4 ,,xii ,,plant ,,diseases ,most of our vegetable crops are subject to attack by fungus or bacterial parasites which cause disease4 ,preventive measures are the most important in combating ills of this nature4 ,these may consist of providing unfavorable soil conditions for the disease1 as in the case of cabbage clubroot1 or disinfection of the 8seed0 as practised for the control of scab of potatoes4 ,other measures are3 the application of protective sprays1 which kill the spores of disease organisms when they germinate2 rotation of crops2 planting disease-resistant varieties2 and the avoidance of material carrying spores of disease1 such as manure containing parts of diseased plants4 ,bordeaux mixture is the standard fungicide4 ,the formula which calls for four ounces lump lime1 four ounces copper sulphate 7bluestone7 and three gallons of water is the one most commonly used4 ,it is made by dissolving four ounces of bluestone in an earthenware or wooden vessel in one and one-half gallons of water4 ,the lime is slaked in another vessel by adding water gradually until it forms a mixture of a milky consistency4 ,add more water to make one and one-half gallons and strain through cheese-cloth4 ,after it has been strained it should be thoroughly mixed with the copper-sulphate solution and used immediately4 ,bordeaux mixture made in this way will not keep1 but should be applied the same day4 ,stock solutions of copper sulphate and lime will keep indefinitely if they are not mixed together4 ,liver of sulphur 7potassium sulphide7 is valuable for spraying plants affected with mildew4 ,use one ounce dissolved in three gallons of water4 ,this solution discolors paint4 ,the following are some of the common diseases affecting vegetable crops3 ,beans are attacked by anthracnose4 ,it causes dark-colored1 sunken spots to appear on the leaves1 stems1 and pods4 ,it frequently penetrates to the seeds4 ,infected seeds should never be planted4 ,it pays to look over all beans that are to be used for seed and destroy all that are discolored4 ,never work among the bean-plants when they are wet1 as the disease1 if it is present1 is easily spread by this means4 ,beets are subject to a leaf-spot4 ,this causes small1 round1 dead spots to appear on the leaves4 ,bordeaux mixture applied as soon as the spots appear and at intervals of one or two weeks will check this disease4 ,cabbage4--,clubroot is a disease which causes the roots of cabbage1 cauliflower1 kohlrabi1 and allied plants to become swollen and deformed1 and prevents them from functioning properly4 ,if it is not noticed at transplanting-time the first indication of its presence is the sudden wilting of the plants4 ,all affected plants should be destroyed4 ,the seedbed and that part of the garden where the cabbages are to be planted should be limed two or three months before planting4 ,use between fifty and sixty pounds of air-slaked lime on a plot twenty by twenty feet1 and thoroughly mix it with the soil4 ,corn4--,corn smut usually appears as swellings1 covered with a silvery membrane1 on the tassels or ears4 ,these break open later and disclose the masses of dark-colored spores4 ,the swellings should be cut off and destroyed before they burst4 ,cucumber4--,anthracnose1 angular leafspot1 and downy mildew are diseases attacking the leaves of cucumbers which can be controlled to some extent by frequent spraying with ,bordeaux mixture4 ,this should be applied as soon as the diseases are noticed and repeated at intervals of one or two weeks4 ,peas are affected by a mildew which shows itself on the leaves and pods as a whitish mold4 ,the plants should be dusted with powdered sulphur1 or sprayed with potassium-sulphide solution to which resin fish-oil soap has been added to make it stick to the leaves4 ,potato4--,two important diseases affecting potatoes are scab and late blight4 ,the former is a disease which lives in the soil and is also carried over on infected potatoes4 ,it shows itself as scabby spots on the tubers4 ,seed potatoes can be disinfected by soaking them1 before they are cut1 for two hours in a solution of one part ,formalin to two hundred and forty parts water4 ,this treatment will not prevent scab if the soil is already infected4 ,an alkaline soil favors the growth of this disease4 ,late blight appears late in the season and causes the leaves to blacken1 become watery1 and decay1 often accompanied with an offensive odor4 ,the disease also penetrates the tubers and renders them unfit for storage purposes4 ,spraying with ,bordeaux mixture is practised as a preventive measure4 ,it should be applied when the plants are six inches high1 and repeated at intervals of about ten days until the crop is mature4 ,crops can be obtained without spraying1 but ,bordeaux mixture may be considered as a form of insurance4 ,lead arsenate may be added to the ,bordeaux mixture if potato-beetles are present4 ,tomato4--,tomato leaf-spot is a disease which causes dark-brown spots to appear on the leaves4 ,the areas attacked shrivel and die4 ,spray with ,bordeaux mixture4 ,it is just as important to apply remedial or preventive measures early in the case of diseases as it is in controlling insect pests4 ,fine mist-like sprays should be used as recommended for applying stomach poisons1 and for the same reason4 ,,xiii ,,the ,,culture ,,of ,,vegetables ,,in ,,detail ,this chapter is devoted to hints on the cultivation of the more important vegetables1 together with some mention of varieties suited for 8war-garden0 planting4 ,artichoke1 ,jerusalem4--,this has about the same food value as the potato1 but1 unfortunately1 it is a rather tasteless product4 ,proper cooking1 with the addition of sauces and condiments1 will make it palatable4 ,it is a tall1 coarse-growing plant belonging to the sunflower family4 ,if you have an out-of-the-way spot in your garden where nothing else will grow1 try a few artichokes4 ,it needs sunshine1 but is not particular as to soil4 ,it should be planted in the spring on ground that has had a dressing of barn-yard manure spaded in4 ,plant the tubers a foot apart in rows two feet apart4 ,the plant is a perennial1 and likely to become a troublesome weed unless restricted to one corner of the garden4 ,beans4--,this group comprises some of the most important of garden vegetables4 ,the various types of beans differ greatly in their requirements1 and there is scarcely any kind of soil or climate that will support vegetation1 where beans of one kind or another cannot be grown4 ,most of the beans are very susceptible to cold and must not be planted until the soil has warmed up and all danger of frost is past4 ,there is one kind1 however1 belonging to a different genus than the common beans1 which is not harmed by frost and which requires a long1 cool season to develop properly4 ,this is the broad1 or ,windsor1 bean4 ,a rich clay loam is best suited to this plant1 and the seeds must be planted just as soon as the ground is in condition to be worked on in the spring4 ,plant them in rows two feet apart1 and three inches apart in the rows4 ,the ordinary garden beans can be divided into two groups--the pole beans1 which can be subdivided into those of the string and ,lima types2 and the bush beans1 comprising string-beans1 green and wax podded1 green-shell beans1 dry-shell beans1 and ,limas4 ,the pole beans1 especially the ,limas1 are very susceptible to cold and cannot be planted outdoors in the vicinity of ,new ,york until toward the end of ,may1 and not until ,june if it happens to be a cool season4 ,they require a light1 fertile soil for their best development4 ,seeds can be planted in hills three feet apart each way1 placing three or four seeds in each hill4 ,poles must be provided for them to climb on and these should be in place before the seeds are planted4 ,they can also be planted and trained on a trellis1 as described in ,chapter ,x4 ,bush beans of the string type are less affected by cold than the preceding1 but are not very hardy in this respect4 ,they may be planted as soon as danger of frost is past if the ground is not too cold and wet4 ,the distance between the rows should be about eighteen inches1 the plants standing from three to four inches apart in the rows4 ,bush beans will grow in a variety of soils ranging from those of a sandy nature to clay loams1 but they grow best in sandy loam4 ,shell beans of the ,improved ,navy type 7pea-beans7 are especially adapted for planting in sandy soils4 ,bush ,lima beans require the same kind of soil as the pole beans1 and should be planted at the same time4 ,make the rows two feet apart1 with the plants from six to nine inches apart in the row4 ,the following are good varieties4 ,of the dwarf1 wax-podded kinds ,rust-proof ,golden ,wax and ,burpee's ,kidney are desirable4 ,bountiful1 a flat-podded type1 and ,valentine1 a round-podded kind1 are good examples of dwarf1 green snap-beans4 ,in the pole beans we have ,golden ,carmine and ,golden ,cluster1 both wax-pods1 and ,kentucky ,wonder1 an excellent1 green snap-bean and also suitable for providing dry-shell beans4 ,of beans that are grown for their seeds the following may be noted3 ,dwarf ,horticultural 7can also be used as a snap-bean71 ,improved ,navy1 and ,white ,marrow4 ,the ,limas are represented by two forms1 the dwarf and the climbing kinds4 ,good dwarf ,limas are ,burpee's ,improved1 and ,fordhook4 ,for planting in the ,northern states1 ,leviathan1 which is a quick-maturing variety1 is very suitable4 ,this and ,king of the ,garden1 a very productive kind1 are pole1 or climbing1 ,limas4 ,beets are one of the hardy vegetables which can be planted as soon as the ground has been prepared in the spring4 ,there are two distinct kinds of beets--those which have a globular or flat root1 and those with a long1 tapering root4 ,the latter are of slower growth than the round kinds1 and are very suitable for winter storage1 but their cultivation should not be attempted unless the soil is deep and of a sandy nature4 ,the globe beets are the best for the home gardener4 ,for the first planting a quick-maturing kind1 such as ,crosby's ,egyptian1 should be chosen4 ,for later plantings ,detroit ,dark ,red is suitable1 and this is a good variety to plant toward the end of ,june or early ,july to form roots suitable for winter storage4 ,beets can be planted in rows from twelve to eighteen inches apart4 ,after the seedlings have reached a height of two or three inches they should be thinned out to stand four inches apart in the row4 ,if desired1 these thinnings may be taken up carefully1 so as not to break the roots1 and transplanted in another part of the garden4 ,another plan is to defer thinning until the plants are from four to six inches in height1 and then use the thinnings as 8greens40 ,beets will grow in almost any soil1 but the best crops are produced on sandy loams4 ,cabbage may be grown as an early crop1 to mature around ,june or ,july1 or as a late crop1 to mature in the fall4 ,the early crop is usually produced from seeds sown in a greenhouse or hotbed in ,february or early ,march1 the young plants being set out in ,april4 ,they require plenty of room for development and should be planted so as to stand from eighteen inches to two feet apart in the rows1 the rows being two and one-half to three feet apart4 ,early ,jersey ,wakefield is the variety commonly grown for an early crop4 ,seeds for the late crop can be sown in ,may4 ,if sown outdoors1 a plot of rich1 sandy soil 7a square yard will produce an ample supply of seedlings for most home gardens7 should be chosen4 ,if the plot has been limed a short time previous it is an advantage1 as an alkaline soil lessens the liability to club root1 a disease which prevents proper development of the cabbage4 ,the resultant seedlings should be set out in ,july4 ,as late cabbages are stronger growers and form larger heads than the early kinds1 they should be given more room--three feet between the rows and two feet apart in the rows4 ,a standard variety for late planting is ,flat ,dutch4 ,cabbages will succeed in a variety of soils1 but to get best results heavy applications of decayed stable manure should be incorporated with the soil before planting4 ,surface dressings of nitrate of soda are also beneficial4 ,carrot4--,this crop can be planted any time after the ground is in condition in the spring up to ,july1 which is a suitable time to sow seeds for the crop designed for winter storage4 ,the quick-maturing kinds1 such as ,early ,scarlet ,horn1 should be sown first1 choosing the warmest position in the garden4 ,these will be ready for use in a short time1 when they may be harvested and the ground used for another crop4 ,for later crops ,danver's ,half-long may be used4 ,carrot seed should be sown in rows a foot or fifteen inches apart and one-half inch deep4 ,the early varieties should be thinned to stand about two inches apart1 while the main crop needs about four inches between each plant4 ,some people defer the thinning of their carrots until they are of sufficient size for the table4 8,baby0 carrots are one of the most delicious of vegetables when they are properly cooked1 far preferable to the roots that have been allowed to mature4 ,while this plan has great advantages1 the carrots left behind do not attain so great a size as would be the case if thinning had been attended to earlier4 ,a deep1 well-cultivated soil is the best for this crop4 ,in heavy soils that have not been deeply worked1 the short-rooted kinds1 such as ,ox-heart1 should be planted4 ,cauliflower4--,the cultivation of cauliflower is substantially the same as that of cabbage4 ,it is a cool-weather crop1 and not much success is likely to be obtained if attempts are made to mature it during hot weather4 ,for this reason it is either planted early1 or as late as possible consistent with the prospects of maturing the crop4 ,it requires a light1 rich soil4 ,when the heads begin to form1 it is advisable to bend the outside leaves over and fasten them in such a way that the head is shaded from the sun4 ,cauliflower is emphatically not a crop for the novice4 ,celery4--,there are two distinct kinds of celery--the so-called 8self-blanching0 varieties1 and the green-leaf kinds4 ,the former are the earliest to mature1 but are not to be compared for flavor and tenderness with the latter4 ,seed of the early kinds1 of which ,white ,plume is an example1 is sown in ,february in a greenhouse or hotbed4 ,the young plants should be transplanted once or twice1 either in shallow boxes filled with earth or in the open ground1 before the plants are set out where they are to mature1 in ,may or ,june4 ,celery naturally forms a long 8tap root0 with few fibers4 ,the object of the successive transplantings is to check this 8tap root0 and promote the formation of a mass of fibrous feeding-roots4 ,the plants are placed in single or double rows thirty inches or three feet apart1 and from four to six inches apart in the rows4 ,when they attain sufficient size they are blanched by placing boards1 a foot wide and as long as can conveniently be handled1 on either side of the row4 ,other methods of blanching are by slipping a drain-pipe over each plant or by wrapping around them a collar made of stout paper and tying it in place with twine4 ,seed of late celery is sown about the same time as the early kinds1 or a few weeks later1 and the procedure is the same up until planting-time1 which is early in ,july4 ,late celery is of stronger growth than the early varieties and needs more room for its development4 ,the plants should be set in rows three and a half to four feet apart1 and six inches apart in the rows4 ,in some sections it is customary to dig a trench six inches or more deep and plant the celery in this4 ,by this means watering is facilitated1 and it is easier to blanch the celery later on4 ,this method is not advisable when the good soil is shallow1 as it results in the roots being placed in the infertile subsoil4 ,blanching of late celery is usually effected by mounding the stalks with earth dug from between the rows4 ,two persons can most advantageously perform this operation1 one holding the stalks together so that the soil does not fall into the heart1 the other mounding up the soil and patting it into position with the back of a spade4 ,it is not worth while to attempt to grow celery unless a rich1 moist soil is available4 ,good varieties of 8self-blanching0 celery are ,white ,plume and ,golden ,self-blanching4 ,among the best of the 8green-leaf0 kinds are ,giant ,pascal and ,winter ,queen4 ,the latter variety has a splendid flavor and keeps well into the winter4 ,chard4--,one of the easiest to grow and most productive of the pot herbs is ,swiss chard1 8silver beet0 or 8leaf beet0 as it is sometimes called4 ,the seeds should be sown in rows about eighteen inches apart4 ,when the plants are about four inches high they can be thinned so as to stand six inches apart and the thinnings used as 8greens40 ,later on alternate plants should be taken out1 so that finally each plant is a foot away from the next4 ,after this stage is arrived at the chard should be picked by pulling off the outside leaves4 ,there are two varieties listed in the catalogues4 ,one1 ,lucullus1 has crumpled leaves and very broad1 thick1 white midribs4 ,this is the variety that should be grown when it is desired to cook and serve the midribs separately1 after the fashion of asparagus4 ,swiss chard is a form of beet which does not produce edible roots4 ,nitrate of soda1 as recommended for kohlrabi1 is an excellent fertilizer for this crop4 ,corn1 the most delectable of all vegetables1 should receive the attention of all home gardeners who have sufficient room and a fairly rich soil4 ,this is a vegetable the flavor of which rapidly deteriorates after the ears have been removed from the plant2 therefore the store article can never be as good as the home-grown kind4 ,the hill and drill methods of planting each have their vehement advocates4 ,good crops can be obtained either way1 but the drill method is probably best for the small garden4 ,the seeds are planted in drills two inches deep1 dropping two or three seeds at every foot4 ,when they germinate1 all but the strongest plant should be pulled up from each group4 ,the rows can be two and a half feet apart for the small-growing kinds like ,golden ,bantam1 and three feet for the larger varieties such as ,stowell's ,evergreen4 ,when the hill system of cultivation is adopted1 five or six seeds are planted in spaces two and a half or three feet apart each way4 ,the young plants are thinned out to stand three or four to a hill4 ,corn needs to be frequently hoed to get best results4 ,several methods may be adopted in order to insure a succession of corn for the table4 ,a quick-maturing variety may be planted at intervals of three weeks up to the middle of ,july1 or1 early1 midseason1 and late varieties may be planted at the same time in ,may or ,june4 ,the removal of the side shoots which appear in the axils of the leaves at the base of the plant should be attended to4 ,this is known as 8suckering40 ,it causes the vigor of the plant to be concentrated in the production of ears instead of being frittered away on side shoots or 8suckers0 which will never amount to anything4 ,corn should not be planted until the soil has warmed up and danger of frost is past4 ,it is permissible1 however1 to take a chance with a few rows by sowing early1 in the hope that they will come through all right--say about the end of ,april or beginning of ,may in those sections which possess a climate similar to that of ,new ,york4 ,cucumbers are a crop that requires a fair amount of room for proper development4 ,they should be planted in hills five feet apart each way1 with four or five plants in each hill2 or in rows five feet apart1 with the plants standing about one foot apart in the rows4 ,the seeds should not be planted outdoors until all danger of frost is past4 ,an early crop can be obtained by raising the plants in a greenhouse by sowing the seeds early in berry-boxes and transplanting outdoors when the weather is warm enough4 ,it is a good plan1 when planting outdoors1 to sow the seeds rather thickly1 about ten seeds to a hill1 so as to get a good stand and lessen the risk of losing the plants by insect attacks4 ,the soil most suitable for cucumbers is a sandy loam that has been well enriched with decayed stable manure4 ,they will succeed admirably on newly broken sod land4 ,the best cucumbers for outdoor planting are those belonging to the 8white spine0 type1 of which ,davis ,perfect is a good example4 ,for supplying small cucumbers for pickling1 ,fordhook ,pickling is one of the best varieties to grow4 ,egg-plant is a tropical plant which will not mature its fruits in the ,northern states unless its season of growth is lengthened by starting the plants in a greenhouse or hotbed4 ,it is very susceptible to cold and it is scarcely safe to set the young plants outdoors until ,june in the latitude of ,new ,york4 ,egg-plant requires a sunny position and a warm1 light1 fertile soil4 ,it can be planted in rows two and a half to three feet apart1 two feet being allowed between the plants in the rows4 ,black ,beauty is a standard variety4 ,early ,long ,purple is a quick-maturing kind4 ,kale4--,the cultivation of kale is practically that of late cabbage4 ,it is an extremely hardy vegetable and will stand a great deal of frost4 ,kohlrabi is another member of the cabbage group4 ,it is desirable to mature it quickly1 as slow-grown plants are woody and inedible4 ,this quick growth is effected by planting in rich soil and by giving top-dressings of nitrate of soda at the rate of one ounce to ten feet of row4 ,the swollen stems should be eaten when they are about two inches in diameter4 ,early ,vienna1 either white or purple top1 is a good variety4 ,the seeds may be sown in the spring just as soon as the ground can be worked1 in rows from fifteen to eighteen inches apart4 ,when the young plants are large enough they are thinned to stand six inches apart in the rows2 if so desired1 the thinnings may be used as 8greens40 ,lettuce1 the most important salad crop1 requires a rich1 sandy soil4 ,it is seldom that it will 8head0 properly in city backyards1 because of unsuitable soil and other adverse conditions4 ,lettuce is a cool-weather crop1 and during the hot days of summer the greatest difficulty is experienced in growing it4 ,there are several different types4 ,the loose-leaf kinds1 those that do not form a head1 are the easiest to grow4 ,the other forms are the ,romaine1 or ,cos1 which makes a columnar head1 and the ordinary kind1 or cabbage lettuce4 ,the seeds should be planted shallowly in rows a foot or eighteen inches apart1 and afterward the young plants must be thinned to stand ten or twelve inches apart in the row4 ,a row twenty feet long is enough to plant at one sowing4 ,other plantings should be made at intervals of two or three weeks1 so as to provide a succession4 ,during hot weather the plants are benefited by being shaded with cheese-cloth screens4 ,these can be conveniently made by tacking cheese-cloth on lath frames of suitable size1 which should be supported on stakes driven into the ground4 ,quick growth is essential to obtain crisp1 well-flavored lettuce4 ,this can partially be brought about by the use of nitrate of soda1 as recommended for kohlrabi4 ,avoid getting any of the nitrate on the leaves of the plants1 as it will burn them4 ,good varieties of lettuce are ,may ,king and ,hanson1 belonging to the cabbage-head type2 ,grand ,rapids1 a loose-leaf variety2 and ,paris ,white ,cos4 ,in cities sparrows are frequently troublesome to growers of lettuce1 as they are fond of picking off the leaves of the young plants4 ,protection is effected by stretching several strands of strong thread a few inches above the rows4 ,the sparrows become very suspicious of an arrangement of this kind1 and it is usually efficacious in keeping them away from the plants4 ,muskmelon4--,the cultivation of this crop is very much like that of cucumber4 ,muskmelons are rather more susceptible to cold than the latter1 and in consequence the soil and air must be warm before they are planted4 ,the soil must be well drained or they will not succeed4 ,when they have to be planted on land that is cold and poorly drained it is a good plan to plant them on ridges or mounds1 about two feet across1 raised six inches or so above the general level4 ,this assists the soil in warming up and insures better drainage4 ,a layer of decayed manure about three inches thick1 buried in the hills where the plants are to grow1 greatly helps this crop and others of a similar nature1 such as cucumbers1 squash1 and pumpkin4 ,frequent cultivation of the surface soil is necessary to stimulate growth1 keep down weeds1 and conserve moisture1 when the plants are young4 ,good varieties of muskmelon are ,emerald ,gem1 a small or salmon-fleshed form1 and ,rocky ,ford and ,hackensack1 which are of medium size with green flesh4 ,okra4--,the cultivation of okra is very similar to that of corn1 although otherwise they have nothing else in common4 ,it succeeds best in a sandy1 well-fertilized loam4 ,onion4--,there are two ways of producing a crop of onions--from 8sets0 and from seed4 8,sets0 are small onions produced by sowing seed very thickly in rather poor soil and allowing the plants to mature as they stand4 ,this results in a crop of small bulbs which are stored over the winter and sold the following spring as onion 8sets40 ,there are two methods of raising onions from seed4 ,the plants may be obtained by sowing the seed in a greenhouse in ,february1 transplanting the seedlings to the open ground in ,april4 ,the procedure most commonly followed1 however1 is to plant the seeds in rows a foot apart1 in the position where they are to mature1 as early as possible in the spring4 ,when the young plants appear they are thinned to four inches apart4 ,if the seedlings are left until they are the thickness of a lead-pencil they may be pulled and used as a salad in the form of bunch onions4 ,a crop can be produced earlier by the use of 8sets40 ,these are planted in furrows two inches deep1 spacing them two inches apart4 ,the soil is then drawn over them and firmed4 ,after some growth has been made1 alternate plants may be pulled out and used as salad1 leaving the remainder to mature4 ,thorough preparation of the soil is essential to achieve success in growing onions4 ,it should be dug up as deeply as possible1 thoroughly pulverized1 and afterward compacted by rolling with a garden roller or by tramping4 ,onions succeed best on soil which is fairly retentive of moisture and rich in nitrogen4 ,top-dressings of hen or sheep manure1 or of nitrate of soda1 are beneficial to this crop4 ,remember what has been said previously with regard to taking care not to apply too much of any of these fertilizers4 ,weeding is a very important operation in connection with onion-growing1 and some of it1 when the weeds are close to or in the rows1 has to be done by hand4 ,if the weeds are allowed to obtain a headway the crop will suffer greatly in consequence4 ,in wet seasons1 and when planted in rich1 retentive soils1 the bulbs sometimes fail to mature at the proper time4 ,when they show signs of growing too late in the fall1 it is customary to go over the plot and break over the tops4 ,this can be done by dragging a board over the onion-bed1 or1 if the plot is a small one1 it may be done by hand4 ,this process arrests growth and causes the bulbs to mature so that they are suitable for winter storage4 ,immature bulbs will not keep properly4 ,standard varieties of onion are ,yellow ,danvers and ,southport ,globe1 which can be obtained in red1 white1 and yellow forms4 ,prize-taker is a very large1 mild onion which succeeds best when started in a greenhouse4 ,parsley succeeds best in a clay loam soil that has been well fertilized with stable manure4 ,the seeds are slow to germinate and it is frequently four or five weeks before the young plants show themselves above the ground4 ,growth may be hastened by soaking the seeds in tepid water for twenty-four hours before sowing them4 ,they should be planted in rows a foot apart and the young plants thinned to stand six inches apart4 ,champion ,moss ,curled is a good variety4 ,parsnip4--,a long season is required for the development of large roots4 ,the seeds should be sown in ,april in rows from fifteen to eighteen inches apart1 afterward thinning the seedlings so that they stand six inches apart4 ,the seeds are slow in germinating and it is a good plan to sow a few seeds of radish in the drill with them4 ,the radishes germinate quickly and serve to break the surface crust and to mark the row so that cultivation may be performed close to the row without disturbing the parsnip seeds4 ,the radishes are mature and can be pulled and used for the table by the time the parsnips have appeared above the ground4 ,a deep1 loamy soil is most suited for the production of parsnips4 ,in a shallow soil the roots are likely to be stunted and misshapen4 ,the following method of producing extra-large and well-shaped roots is sometimes used by exhibitors of vegetables4 ,holes about two feet deep and three inches in diameter at the top are made in the ground with a crowbar at intervals of about nine inches4 ,these holes are filled with sifted fertile earth1 and three or four seeds planted in each4 ,when the seedlings appear1 all but the strongest are pulled out4 ,this method is only to be recommended when it is desired to walk off with the prize for the best parsnips at the county fair or the town vegetable show4 ,hollow ,crown is a good variety4 ,peas are essentially a cool-weather crop1 and they especially resent hot1 dry conditions at the root4 ,for this reason the seeds should be planted just as soon as the ground is workable in the spring4 ,the dwarf varieties can be planted in double rows about six inches apart1 leaving a space of eighteen inches or two feet between each double row4 ,the tall varieties1 which need support of some kind1 may be planted in the same way1 but a space varying from three to five feet must be allowed between the rows1 according to the height of the variety planted4 ,the taller the variety1 the greater is the necessity for ample space between the rows4 ,it is said to be possible to produce a crop of peas in the fall by sowing the seeds in ,august1 but the writer has never seen much success attained with a crop at this season2 at any rate1 not in the vicinity of ,new ,york4 ,for a late crop of peas it is advisable to dig a trench from six to eight inches deep and sow the seeds in this1 covering them with two inches of soil1 as usual4 ,water them thoroughly if the weather is dry4 ,as the plants grow the earth should be gradually drawn into the trench until it is filled up to the surrounding level4 ,this system is adopted so that the roots may be well down in the earth and thus protected from the hot rays of the sun4 ,this is also a good method to adopt for late spring plantings of peas4 ,a fairly fertile1 loamy soil1 well drained1 but of a retentive nature1 is most suited to peas4 ,first of ,all1 thirty inches high1 is a good variety of the smooth-seeded type of pea4 ,this type does not possess such a good flavor as the wrinkled-seeded kinds1 but the seeds are not likely to rot if planted in cold1 wet soil4 ,nott's ,excelsior is an excellent dwarf variety of the wrinkled-seed type4 ,of the tall kinds1 ,alderman1 five feet in height1 ,gradus1 thirty inches1 and ,champion of ,england1 five feet1 are to be recommended4 ,peppers require very much the same conditions as tomatoes and egg-plant1 except that they may be planted somewhat closer together4 ,the rows should be from eighteen inches to two feet apart1 with the plants spaced from one to two feet apart in the rows4 ,bull ,nose and ,chinese ,giant are good examples of the mild1 sweet kinds1 with ,golden ,queen to give color variation in the salad made from them4 ,long ,red ,cayenne and ,red ,chili should be chosen if the peppery varieties are desired4 ,potato4--,the largest crops of potatoes are produced in cool1 moist1 climates such as are found in ,great ,britain1 parts of ,europe1 and1 in the ,united ,states1 in ,maine and ,michigan4 ,the soils best suited for potatoes are fertile1 rather sandy loams which should be fairly retentive of moisture4 ,a soil of this nature which has been heavily fertilized with barn-yard manure the preceding year may be considered ideal for potato culture4 ,the use of barn-yard manure1 particularly if it is fresh1 is inadvisable if the soil contains a good proportion of humus and is in good physical condition4 ,it is claimed that the practice of using barn-yard manure the current season causes the crop to be more susceptible to attacks of potato scab4 ,many of the largest growers of potatoes refrain from fertilizing directly with barn-yard manure1 but rely instead on the use of commercial fertilizers4 ,these may be applied broadcast over the field in the spring1 after the soil has been plowed1 and harrowed in4 ,if only a small quantity of fertilizer is available1 it is preferable to apply it by spreading it in the furrows1 but thoroughly mixing it in the soil before the potatoes are planted4 ,the fertilizer obtainable from most seedsmen under the name of 8potato manure0 can safely be used in the furrows at the rate of five pounds to a plot of four hundred square feet4 8,seed0 potatoes should consist of medium-sized tubers1 ,northern grown1 and free from disease4 ,although whole potatoes may be planted1 the usual practice is to cut them into pieces1 each piece containing two or three 8eyes10 or buds4 ,when cutting the potatoes for sets make each piece as 8chunky0 as possible so that there is a good-sized piece of potato for the 8eyes0 to draw upon for their food supply until they have formed a root system of their own4 ,there are two methods of planting potatoes--in hills and in furrows or rows4 ,in the hill system of planting1 the plants are spaced from two to three feet apart either way1 the distance being dependent on the vigor of the variety4 ,when planted in furrows the rows are spaced from two to three feet apart and the sets placed from twelve to eighteen inches apart in the rows4 ,the early varieties may be planted about four inches deep1 and the late varieties about six inches4 ,when the shoots appear above the ground the surface soil should be cultivated to conserve moisture and to keep down weeds4 ,later in the season when the tubers are being formed it is customary to hill them up with earth so as to cover the tubers and prevent 8greening10 and also to assist in keeping the roots cool4 ,the potato is particularly susceptible to environmental conditions4 ,a variety that may be an excellent cropper in one section may be an utter failure in another4 ,it is thus difficult to recommend any particular variety4 ,the best plan for those who are to attempt the cultivation of potatoes is to make inquiry in the neighborhood with a view to finding the variety that is most successful in that locality4 ,the following are standard varieties that are widely grown3 early varieties--,irish ,cobbler1 ,early ,rose1 ,early ,ohio2 main-crop varieties--,carman ,no4 #a1 ,green ,mountain1 and ,rural ,new-,yorker4 ,pumpkins will succeed under practically the same conditions as outlined for cucumber and melon4 ,they are also subject to the same insect pests4 ,this crop is frequently grown in the corn-patch1 in hills about eight feet apart each way1 planting five or six seeds to a hill4 ,radishes are only palatable when they have been grown very quickly4 ,if they are slow in coming to maturity the product is pithy and worthless4 ,a light1 rich soil is most suited to the production of radishes4 ,the seeds should be sown in rows nine inches or a foot apart and the seedlings thinned to about two inches4 ,it does not pay to transplant radishes4 ,five or six feet of row is sufficient to plant at one time1 securing a succession by planting other batches at intervals of about ten days4 ,radishes are usually not in great demand during the summer months1 as the home grower has been surfeited by his spring crop4 ,those who are so fond of radishes that they want them throughout the whole season should plant ,white ,strasburg or ,icicle to mature during the hot weather1 and ,cardinal ,globe1 ,round ,red ,forcing1 or ,french ,breakfast for an early crop4 ,winter radishes1 which form very large roots and may be stored by the same methods adopted for beets and carrots1 are usually sown about the end of ,july or beginning of ,august4 ,they need more space in which to mature--about eighteen inches between the rows and six inches in the rows4 ,rutabaga4--,see ,turnip4 ,salsify or ,vegetable ,oyster is a vegetable that is coming into more general use4 ,seeds are sown early in the spring on deeply broken ground in rows fifteen inches apart1 and the plants thinned to three inches4 ,the roots are dug in the fall and stored like beets1 or they may be left in the ground and dug when required for use1 if the weather permits4 ,spinach is a cool-weather crop that requires a light soil heavily manured with decayed stable manure for best results4 ,the seeds should be planted in very early spring or in ,september1 in rows fifteen inches apart1 and the plants thinned to stand four inches apart4 ,nitrate of soda as recommended for kohlrabi is good for this crop4 ,spinach 7,new ,zealand74--,although called spinach1 this is an entirely different plant and belongs to another family4 ,it luxuriates during hot weather and will supply the table plentifully with 8greens0 throughout the summer4 ,seeds should be planted during ,april or ,may in rows two feet apart1 the plants later being thinned to one foot4 ,when the plants attain a foot in height picking may begin1 using the tender shoot-tips1 or leaves1 as required4 ,the thinnings1 of course1 are also available for cooking4 ,squash4--,cultivate the same as cucumber4 ,the bush varieties should be planted four feet apart each way1 and the vining kinds from six to eight feet4 ,there are several different types of squash4 ,the summer kinds are represented by the ,pattypan and ,crookneck types1 and the winter varieties by the ,hubbard4 ,they are subject to much the same insect pests and diseases as the cucumber and muskmelon4 ,sweet ,potatoes are not very well adapted for ,northern gardens1 although they are grown to a considerable extent in parts of ,new ,jersey4 ,they succeed best in a rich1 sandy soil4 ,the 8sets0 are usually planted on slightly raised1 broad ridges about four feet apart4 ,they are spaced from twelve to eighteen inches apart along the ridges4 ,the production of 8sets0 is usually effected by placing small potatoes in a hotbed and covering them with sand4 ,this causes them to sprout1 and when the shoots are six or eight inches in length they are pulled off with roots attached and planted as described4 ,yellow ,jersey is a good variety for ,northern planting4 ,swiss ,chard4--,see under ,chard4 ,tomato4--,this plant adapts itself to a great variety of soils1 and will succeed almost anywhere if it receives warmth and sunshine4 ,it is seldom worth while for any one without greenhouse facilities1 unless he wishes to have the experience1 to raise tomatoes from seed4 ,young plants can be obtained at a low cost at planting-time from seedsmen who have every convenience for raising them cheaply4 ,the distance apart between the plants when they are set out in the garden depends on the method of training adopted4 ,the truck farmers and market gardeners seldom go to the trouble of staking their plants4 ,they are simply set out in the field three or four feet apart each way and allowed to grow naturally4 ,this results in the spoiling of some of the fruit through coming in contact with the soil4 ,the home gardener can usually afford the time and trouble required to stake his tomatoes1 and receives his reward in the shape of more fruit of better quality4 ,one method of training is to set out the plants a foot apart in rows three feet apart4 ,if this scheme is adopted each plant must be supplied with a stout stake to which it is tied1 and the plant must be restricted to a single stem4 ,this last is effected by pinching out the side shoots with thumb and finger as soon as they are formed4 ,avoid taking off the flowering shoots or you will have no fruit4 ,another method is to set the plants three feet by two feet1 and support them as described in ,chapter ,x4 ,in this case it is advisable to prune out the thin1 spindly shoots which frequently congregate in the centers of the plants4 ,this causes the vigor of the plant to be concentrated in the strong1 fruiting shoots1 admits light and air1 resulting in better ripened tomatoes4 ,they can also be trained on the south side of the house1 supporting them with tape or cloth passed around the shoots and fastened to the wall with tacks4 ,favorite tomatoes are ,chalk's ,early ,jewel for an early crop1 ,stone and ,ponderosa for main crop4 ,in small gardens ,dwarf ,stone can be used to advantage4 ,turnip is a hardy crop well suited for early spring or late fall cultivation4 ,for the early crop such varieties as ,snowball or ,early ,white ,milan should be planted4 ,the seed may be sown as soon as the ground is prepared in the spring1 in rows a foot apart4 ,when they are large enough the young plants must be thinned out to stand about four inches apart4 ,yellow ,globe1 ,golden ,ball1 or the white strap-leaf kinds may be sown for fall use4 ,they are cultivated in the same way as the preceding except that the seeds are sown in ,july or ,august4 ,rutabaga turnips grow much larger than the preceding1 require more room1 and a longer period for development4 ,they can be sown in ,may or ,june in rows two feet apart1 and the young plants thinned out to stand about ten inches apart in the rows4 ,treated in this way1 they will form large roots suitable for winter storage4 ,turnips succeed best in a loamy soil in which there has been incorporated a liberal supply of well-decayed stable manure4 ,watermelon4--,these plants succeed under much the same conditions1 and need the same treatment as muskmelon4 ,they are rampant growers and the hills should be spaced about eight feet apart each way4 ,they are1 therefore1 not adapted for cultivation in very small gardens4 ,the striped cucumber-beetle is also partial to watermelon4 ,for planting in ,northern gardens1 quick-maturing varieties such as ,cole's ,early and ,fordhook should be planted4 ,,xiv ,,harvesting ,,and ,,storing ,the flavor and tenderness of many vegetables depend in a large measure on their being harvested at the proper time4 ,the picking of string-beans should be early1 constant1 and methodical1 partly because old beans are stringy and unpalatable and partly because1 if picking is neglected and the plants allowed to form seed1 production ceases4 ,peas should always be picked just as soon as the pods are well filled1 before the seeds commence to harden4 ,their flavor deteriorates if they are picked more than an hour or two before they are needed for the table4 ,the same remarks apply to sweet corn4 ,there is an old saying that 8the pot should be boiling before the ears are picked from the plant40 ,great care should be taken in harvesting beets4 ,if the roots are bruised or broken1 or if the leaves are cut off too close to the root1 the color of the beets1 one of their greatest attractions1 will be lost in cooking4 ,the crispness of salad plants--celery1 lettuce1 radish1 and onion--is enhanced if they are gathered early in the morning and stood in water in a shady1 cool place until they are required for use4 ,such crops as ,brussells sprouts1 kale1 celery1 and parsnips are considered to be improved in flavor after they have been slightly frozen4 ,the fruits of tomato1 watermelon1 and muskmelon should be allowed to ripen on the plants4 ,muskmelons are ripe when the fruit parts readily from the stem on being lifted in the hand4 ,proper harvesting is a prime necessity if vegetables are to be successfully stored for winter use4 ,bruised1 broken or diseased vegetables should always be rejected1 as decay is almost certain to take place when they are stored1 and this is likely to spread to the sound vegetables4 ,a cellar with an earthen floor1 well ventilated and frost-proof1 in which a temperature of from #dj to #de ,fahr4 can be maintained1 forms a splendid storage-place for potatoes1 the majority of the root crops1 and some of the leaf vegetables4 ,if there is a furnace in the cellar which raises the temperature too much1 the coolness required may be obtained by partitioning off part of the cellar1 preferably in a corner containing a window1 so that ventilation may be secured4 ,quite a number of vegetables can be successfully stored in the open by burying them in pits or trenches and covering with straw1 salt hay1 and earth4 ,some of the disadvantages of this method are the inaccessibility of the vegetables when the weather is severe1 and the difficulty of looking them over occasionally so that diseased and decayed specimens may be removed4 ,when storing vegetables in this way it is important that the whole of the covering should not be put on at one time1 as this endangers the whole pile of vegetables through the possibility of heating4 ,root1 ,tuber1 and ,bulb ,crops ,artichoke 7,jerusalem74--,the tubers of this plant are unaffected by frost and may be allowed to remain in the ground all winter4 ,in those sections where the frost penetrates the ground deeply a supply sufficient for use during the winter should be dug in the fall and stored in sand in a cool cellar4 ,parsnip1 ,horseradish1 and ,salsify may be treated in the same way as the preceding4 ,beets should be carefully dug up after the first frost and handled gently to avoid breaking or bruising them4 ,cut off the leaves about an inch above the roots and pack them with moist sand or earth in boxes in a cool cellar4 ,covering the roots in this way maintains their freshness and prevents shriveling4 ,carrots4--,in the fall large numbers of fibrous roots are produced on the sides of the large tap-root4 ,these roots spoil the symmetry of the carrots and impair their flavor4 ,the crop should therefore be harvested before these fibrous roots form4 ,observation of the roots is the only way of determining the proper time to dig them up4 ,in other respects they are stored the same as beets4 ,potatoes for winter use should be dug on a dry day as soon as possible after the tops have died down4 ,leave them lying on the surface of the ground for a few hours1 so that they may dry properly4 7,it is inadvisable to allow them to be exposed to the light for too long a period1 as it will cause the tubers to become green and unfit for use47 ,they can then be gathered up and placed in boxes or barrels in a cool1 frost-proof cellar1 but not exposed to the light4 ,all diseased or injured tubers should be laid aside for immediate use1 provided they are not too far gone1 in which case they may be boiled and fed to pigs or chickens1 or destroyed by burning1 so as to avoid the possibility of spreading disease4 ,potatoes may also be stored outdoors in sections where the winters are not too severe4 ,a high-lying sandy piece of ground should be chosen on which to make the 8pit40 ,dig out the soil for a depth of about six inches and line the excavation with three inches of straw4 ,place the potatoes in a pile on this and cover with a similar thickness of straw or hay4 ,place over this a layer of earth three inches thick to prevent the straw from blowing away4 ,gradually increase the covering as the weather becomes more severe1 until a thickness of a foot or eighteen inches is reached4 ,a layer of manure over this is advisable in very cold climates4 ,if the pile is a large one it is important that ventilation should be provided for4 ,this may be accomplished by sticking a stovepipe into the center of the pile and allowing the top to project above the covering of earth1 or by allowing a tuft of the straw that forms the first covering to extend in the same manner4 ,this vent-hole must be covered with a board1 a piece of oilcloth1 or something similar to prevent rain from entering4 ,other vegetables that may be stored in this way are beets1 carrots1 turnips1 salsify1 and parsnips4 ,rutabagas and ,turnips require to be dug up before severe frost4 ,they can be stored the same way as potatoes4 ,sweet ,potatoes are very difficult to store over the winter4 ,the loss through decay in storage is enormous every year1 even though proper facilities are obtainable4 ,they need a warm1 dry room and a constant temperature4 ,the less they are handled after being stored the better4 ,the best advice for those who have raised a crop of this vegetable is to avoid loss by eating them as quickly as possible4 ,onions should be properly 8cured0 before they are stored4 ,this is accomplished by harvesting them during dry1 settled weather1 and allowing them to lie in windrows two or three days before bringing them indoors4 ,they should then be placed in a cool1 airy room in slatted crates1 so that air has free access to them4 ,if wet weather is prevalent at harvesting-time they may be 8cured0 by placing them in a single layer under cover until they are thoroughly dry4 ,the dead leaves and loose scales should be pulled off before storing them4 ,leaf ,crops ,cabbages can be stored by digging them up with some soil attached to the roots1 and packing them close together on the floor of a cool cellar4 ,treated in this way1 they are a rather 8smelly0 vegetable1 and1 unless the cellar is tightly shut off from the rest of the house1 likely to cause some unpleasantness4 ,they can be stored outside in the way recommended for potatoes by placing them head downward in a trench or pit4 ,cauliflower4--,it is possible to preserve cauliflower1 for a short time only1 by digging them with roots attached and suspending them head downward in a cool1 moist cellar4 ,celery can be dug in the fall and packed closely in boxes in an upright position in a cool cellar4 ,the more roots and soil adhering to the plants the better the chance of success4 ,when the soil dries out it must be watered1 but be very careful not to get any water on the leaves or leaf-stalks4 ,another way of caring for celery is to dig a trench deep enough to accommodate the plants when they are placed upright4 ,pack them as tightly as possible in this and cover with boards to keep out rain4 ,in severe weather it will be necessary to put on an additional covering of straw and earth4 ,parsley4--,in sections where the winter is not too severe parsley may be kept green through the greater part of the winter by covering the patch with a bottomless box1 with a pane of glass for covering the top4 ,the box should be banked with manure or leaves1 and the glass covered with straw in very cold weather4 ,parsley can also be dug up1 placed in plant-pots1 making the soil firm about the roots1 and kept in a cool1 sunny room4 ,seed or ,fruit ,crops ,beans4--,dry-shell beans should be allowed to stay on the plants until the pods dry up and become yellow4 ,they may then be gathered1 and shelled when convenient4 ,if they are infested with weevils they should be dry baked in a temperature of about #ade ,fahr4 ,care must be taken not to allow the temperature to rise above this figure1 or the beans will be roasted and spoiled4 ,fumigating with carbon disulphide is also an efficacious expedient1 but somewhat dangerous because of the explosive properties of the fumigant4 ,pumpkin and ,winter ,squash can be stored in a warm1 dry room4 ,it is advisable to turn over the fruits selected for storing two weeks or so before they are harvested1 so that the side that has been lying on the ground may have its rind hardened by exposure to sun and air4 99 99 99 99 99 ,although concerned primarily with 8war gardens10 the methods advocated can be used by all vegetable growers who practise intensive cultivation4 ,the fundamental principles of soil management also apply equally to flower-gardens4 ,the writer has found in his experience that good crops can be raised1 on what would be usually considered poor soil1 by men and women who know little of horticultural practices4 ,larger crops could have been produced had they known more of the art of growing vegetables4 ,it is to help such people that this book has been written1 from information gained during twenty years of professional experience4 ,it is the earnest hope of the author that the crops raised by 8war gardeners0 will be of such a size as to cause this last chapter to be the one that is most consulted4 ,,appendix ,table ,i ,approximate quantities of vegetables obtainable from a row fifty feet long4 ,this table is based on actual yields obtained from a plot of moderate fertility by using standard varieties of vegetables4 ,beets #dj bunches 7#e in a bunch7 ,bush beans 7pods7 #bg quarts ,cabbage #be heads ,carrots #de pounds ,cauliflower #be heads ,corn #ajj ears ,egg-plant #ajj fruits ,lettuce #ej heads ,onions #bj pounds ,parsnips #dj pounds ,peas 7pods7 #bj quarts ,potatoes #e pecks ,tomatoes #bdj pounds ,table ,,ii ,approximate number of days from seed-sowing to first picking of crops4 ,variation is caused by temperature and character of variety--early1 midseason1 or late4 ,beans 7bush7 #de to #fe days ,beans 7pole7 #fj 0 #hj 0 ,beets #fj 0 #hj 0 ,cabbage 7early7 #ie 0 #abj 0 ,cabbage 7late7 #ajj 0 #acj 0 ,carrots #ge 0 #aaj 0 ,cauliflower #ajj 0 #acj 0 ,celery #abe 0 #aej 0 #e;,chard #fj 0 #hj 0 ,corn 7sweet7 #fj 0 #ajj 0 #e;,cucumber #fj 0 #hj 0 #e;,egg-plant #abe 0 #afj 0 ,kale #ajj 0 #abj 0 ,kohlrabi #fj 0 #hj 0 ,lettuce #fe 0 #ajj 0 #e,muskmelon #aae 0 #adj 0 #e,okra #ij 0 #ajj 0 #e,onion 7seed7 #acj 0 #aej 0 #e,onion 7sets7 #ij 0 #abj 0 ,if 8sets0 are planted for use as bunch onions they are ready in about #dj days4 #e,parsley #ij to #ajj days ,parsnips #abe 0 #aej 0 ,peas #de 0 #hj 0 #e,peppers #abj 0 #aej 0 ,potato 7,irish7 #hj 0 #adj 0 ,potato 7sweet7 #ajj 0 #acj 0 ,pumpkin #ajj 0 #acj 0 ,radish #be 0 #ej 0 ,salsify #abe 0 #aej 0 ,spinach #cj 0 #fj 0 #e,spinach ,new ,zealand #fj 0 #gj 0 #e,squash 7summer7 #fj 0 #hj 0 ,squash 7winter7 #abe 0 #acj 0 #e,tomato #ajj 0 #abe 0 ,turnip #fj 0 #hj 0 #e ,continue to bear until frost4 ,table ,,iii ,showing the correct depth to plant seeds and the amount of space required by the plants in and between rows4 ,depth to ,distance ,distance between plant between rows plants in the rows ,bean 7pole7 #b in4 #c-d ft4 #c-d ft4 if in hills1 #i ins4 if in rows4 ,bean 7dwarf7 #b in4 #ae-ah in4 #c-f in4 ,bean 7dwarf ,lima7 #b in4 #b-b ft4 #f-aj in4 ,beet #a in4 #ae-ah in4 #d in4 ,cabbage 7early7 in4 #b-c ft4 #a-b ft4 ,cabbage 7late7 in4 #c ft4 #b ft4 ,carrot in4 #ae-ah in4 #d in4 ,celery #a_/h in4 #b-e ft4 #d-f in4 ,chard #a in4 #ae-ah in4 #f-ab in4 ,corn #b in4 #b-c ft4 #b-c ft4 if in hills1 #a ft4 if in rows4 ,cucumber #a in4 #d-e ft4 #ae in4 ,egg-plant in4 #b-c ft4 #b ft4 ,kale in4 #ah-bd in4 #h-aj in4 ,kohlrabi in4 #ae-ah in4 #f in4 ,lettuce in4 #a ft4 #i-ab in4 ,muskmelon #a in4 #f ft4 #ah in4 ,okra #a in4 #c ft4 #b ft4 ,onion 7seed7 #a in4 #a ft4 #d in4 ,onion 7sets7 #b in4 #a ft4 #b in4 ,parsley in4 #a ft4 #f-i in4 ,parsnip #a in4 #ae-ah in4 #f in4 ,peas 7dwarf7 #b in4 #ah-bd in4 #b in4 ,peas 7tall7 #b in4 #d-f ft4 #c in4 ,peppers in4 #b ft4 #ab-ah in4 ,potato #d-f in4 #b-c ft4 #ab-ah in4 ,radish in4 #i-ab in4 #b in4 ,salsify #a in4 #ae-ah in4 #b in4 ,spinach #a in4 #ab-ae in4 #d in4 ,spinach ,new ,zealand #a in4 #b ft4 #a ft4 ,squash 7bush7 #a in4 #c-d ft4 #c-d ft4 ,squash 7vine7 #a in #g-aj ft4 #g-aj ft4 ,swiss ,chard see ,chard4 ,tomato in4 #c ft4 #a ft4 if trained to single stem1 #b-c feet if allowed to grow naturally4 ,turnip in4 #ae-ah in4 #f in4 ,table ,,iv ,quantity of seeds required to plant a row one hundred feet long1 and time of planting4 ,time to plant ,quantity required ,bean 7pole7 ,late ,may or early ,june pint ,bean 7dwarf7 ,may #aj to ,august #a pint #f;,beet ,april to ,august #b oz4 #f;,cabbage 7early7 ,feb4 indoors2 plants set out #a pkt4 in ,march or ,april ,cabbage late7 ,may2 plants set out in ,june or #a pkt4 ,july #f;,carrot ,april to ,july #a oz4 ,cauliflower 7early7 ,treat like ,cabbage #a pkt4 ,cauliflower 7late7 ,treat like ,cabbage #a pkt4 ,celery ,march indoors2 plants set out #a pkt4 in ,june or ,july #f;,chard ,april #a oz4 ,corn ,may #aj to ,july #aj pint ,cucumber ,late ,may or early ,june oz4 ,egg-plant ,march indoors2 plants set out #a pkt4 early in ,june ,kale1 see ,cabbage 7late74 ,kohlrabi ,april to ,august oz4 #f,lettuce ,april to ,august oz4 ,muskmelon ,early ,june oz4 ,okra ,may or ,june #b oz4 ,onion 7seed7 ,april and ,may #a oz4 ,onion 7sets7 ,march #ae to ,may #ae #a quart #f,parsley ,april oz4 #f,parsnip ,april oz4 #f,peas ,march #ae to ,may and ,august #a #a quart to #bj ,peppers ,march indoors2 plants set out #a pkt4 in late ,may or early ,june #f,potato ,april to ,june #a peck #f,radish ,march to ,september #a oz4 #f,salsify ,april #a oz4 #f,spinach ,march and ,september #a oz4 ,squash ,late ,may or early ,june oz4 #f,swiss ,chard1 see ,chard4 ,tomato ,march indoors2 plants set out #a pkt4 in late ,may or early ,june ,turnip ,april1 ,july and ,august oz4 #f ,are hardy vegetables1 and will stand slight frost4 ,should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked4 ,dates given are approximate and apply in the vicinity of ,new ,york4 ,other localities should take into consideration the effects of elevation and latitude4 ,,the ,,end 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,a few obvious punctuation and typesetting errors have been corrected without note4 ,chemicals mentioned for insect control should not be used in modern day gardens since they are not considered to be safe4 ,end of ,war ,gardens by ,montague ,free