,,transcriber',s ,,note    ,italic text 
is denoted by underscores4    ,bold text
 is denoted by equal signs4    ,footnote
 anchors are denoted by number1 and the 
footnotes have been  placed at the end  
of the chapter4    ,some minor changes  
to the text are noted at the end of the 
book4                                   
,,the ,,garden ,,yard                   
,illustration3 ,,the ,,finest ,,suburban
 ,,farm ,,produce4                      
,,the                                   
,,garden ,,yard                         
,a ,,handbook ,,of                      
,,intensive ,,farming                   
,,by                                    
,,bolton ,,hall            ,author of   
8,,three ,,acres ,,and ,,liberty10 8,a  
,,little ,,land ,,and ,a                
,,living10 8,,the ,,game ,,of ,,life10  
8,,things ,,as ,,they ,,are0            
,with an ,introduction by               
,n4 ,o4 ,,nelson                        
,revised by                             
,,herbert ,w4 ,,collingwood             

,president and ,editor 8,rural ,new     
,yorker0 and                            
,,samuel ,,fraser                       
,manager ,fall ,brooks ,farm1 ,geneseo1 
,n4 ,y4                                 
,,philadelphia                          
,,david ,mc,k,a,y1 ,,publisher          
#faj ,s4 ,washington ,square            
,,copyright1 #aiji1 ,,by ,,david ,,mckay
                                ,,what  
,,is ,,in ,,this ,,book                 
,,and ,,where ,,to ,,find ,,it4         
,,contents-,,index4                     
,,page      ,,preface                   
#i-ab      ,becoming a gardener         
#i1 #aj1 #aa      ,intensive ,farm1 the 
#i1 #af      ,some sorts of critics     
#aj      ,,introduction                 
#ac-bj      ,a practical offer          
#ad      ,co-operation                  
#ag-bj      ,farm for nothing1 a        
#ae      ,how much land is needed       
#ae      ,obstacles--how to overcome    
them                                    
#ad      ,the only life                 

#ac      ,what intensive cultivation    
means                                   
#af      ,,chapter ,i4--,,the ,,garden  
,,yard                                  
#ba-bi      ,brain value                
#bd      ,buildings you need            
#bi      ,choosing your farm            
#bg      ,fortunes1 hidden              
#bb-be      ,how to grow rich           
#bh1 #bi      ,land and crops           
#bf      ,location for field crops      
#ba      ,location for garden crops     
#ba      ,market importance             
#bf      ,mistakes and their cost       
#bb      ,money1 in what                
#bd      ,the value of ownership        
#bh      ,unknown capacity              
#ba      ,work not enough               
#be      ,,chapter ,,ii4--,,soil        
#cj-da      ,an unusual use             
#ca      ,best soil1 the                
#cf      ,failure your own fault        
#da      8,good0 soil                   
#cc      ,humus                         
#dj1 #gb1 #gc1 #gd1 #hf      ,moisture1 

how to get and hold it                  
#cd1 #cf      ,soil--,how it was made   
#cj1 #ca        8   ,its contents       
#ca        8   ,texture                 
#cd        8   ,what it is              
#cj      ,soils to avoid                
#cg      ,surface and subsoil           
#cb      ,tillage                       
#cg-dj      ,tilth                      
#cf1 #cg      ,,chapter ,,iii4--,,soil  
,,fertility                             
#db-dh      ,soil fertility--what it is 
#db      ,agricultural ,department's    
crop work                           #df1
 #dh      ,help it offers               
#dh      ,limited crops                 
#df      ,nature and the abandoned farm 
#db1 #dc      ,seeds1 ,bob's solution   
#dc1 #de      ,types of soil in the ,u4 
,s4                                     
#df     ,whitney's 7,prof47 idea        
#de      ,,chapter ,,iv4--,,location    
#di-ej      ,how to buy1 clear1 build   
#di      ,land you can't afford to use  
#di      ,manure and watering           

#di1 #ej      ,market                   
#ej      ,to find out where and how     
#di      ,,chapter ,v4--,,seeds         
#ea-ec      ,houses1 good seed          
#eb      ,ideal1 the                    
#ea      ,planting dates                
#ec      ,seed test                     
#eb      ,use only the best             
#ea      ,,chapter ,,vi4--,,plant       
,,breeding                              
#ed-ef      ,plant breeding--what it is 
#ed      ,good farmers and breeding     
#ed      ,how to improve                
#ed      ,professional breeders         
#ed      ,selection and variations      
#ee      8,sports0                      
#ef      ,,chapter ,,vii4--,,plant      
,,needs                                 
#eg-fa      ,plant needs--what they are 
#eg      ,foods1 three sure             
#eh      ,light1 degrees of             
#eg1 #eh      ,lime values              
#ei      ,medicines                     
#ei      ,protectors                    
#fj1 #fa      ,temperature              

#ei      ,under- and over-feeding       
#eh      ,water1 effect of              
#eg      ,,chapter ,,viii4--,,crop      
,,rotation                              
#fb-fe      ,farming a business         
#fb      ,special crops                 
#fb      ,value of rotation             
#fc1 #fd1 #fe1 #ha      ,,chapter       
,,ix4--,,weeds                          
#ff-fh      ,weeds--how to know them    
#ff      ,common weeds                  
#ff         8    8   ,how to destroy    
them                                    
#fg         8    8   ,their use         
#fh      ,,chapter ,x4--,,insects ,,and 
,,diseases                              
#fi-ga      ,causes1 some               
#fi      ,how transmitted               
#gj      ,preventives                   
#gj      ,preventing attacks            
#fi      ,the little we know            
#fi      ,weeds as breeders             
#ga      ,,chapter ,,xi4--,,re-,,soiling
                                        
#gb-gg      ,best way to do it          

#gc      ,cleaning up                   
#gd      ,how to preserve it            
#gf      ,lawn1 the                     
#ge      ,misleading term               
#gb      ,prepared humus                
#gd      ,success1 real                 
#gg      ,what we really do             
#gb      ,,chapter ,,xii4--,,how ,,to   
,,work                                  
#gh-hi      ,grouping                   
#hj      ,how to plant                  
#gi        8  8 run rows                
#hj      ,keep soil busy                
#hb      ,manuring                      
#gi      ,preparing the plot            
#gh      ,rotation                      
#ha      ,test for acid                 
#gh      ,transplanting                 
#ha      ,companion cropping            
#hb      ,cellar growing                
#hi      ,drainage                      
#hb1 #hc      ,drought1 protection      
against                                 
#hg      ,how we learn                  
#hh      ,irrigation                    

#hb      ,sewage                        
#hf1 #hg      ,small area crops         
#hh      ,things that pay               
#hh      ,tools1 keeping them clean     
#hd1 #he      ,use brains               
#hh      ,waste water value             
#hf        ,,part ,,ii4      ,,chapter  
,,xiii4--,,root ,,crops                 
#ij-aje      ,radishes                  
#ia        ,culture                     
#ib        ,enemies                     
#ic        ,needs                       
#ic        ,varieties                   
#ic        ,when to sow                 
#ib      ,beets                         
#id        ,as greens                   
#ie        ,enemies                     
#if        ,fertilizers1 special        
#if1 #ig        ,marketing              
#ig        ,planting                    
#ie        ,tillage                     
#if        ,where to grow               
#id        ,yield                       
#if      ,carrots                       
#ig        ,how to sow                  

#ig        ,soil preparation            
#ig        ,thinning                    
#ih        ,types                       
#ih        ,yield                       
#ii      ,turnips                       
#ii        ,easy to grow                
#ii        ,cowhorn turnip              
#dd        ,how to plant                
#ajj        ,root maggot                
#ajj        ,soil                       
#ii        ,thinning                    
#ajj      ,parsnips                     
#ajj        ,cultivation                
#aja        ,freedom from disease       
#ajb        ,sowing                     
#aja        ,thorough preparation       
#aja        ,yield                      
#ajb      ,salsify                      
#ajb        ,kitchen use only           
#ajb        ,returns                    
#ajc        ,soil requirements          
#ajb        ,types1 modified            
#ajb1 #ajc      ,horse-radish           
#ajc        ,grown from 8sets0          
#ajc        ,how planted                

#ajd        ,tillage                    
#ajd        ,yield                      
#ajd      ,,chapter ,,xiv4--,,tuber     
,,crops                                 
#ajf-aaj      ,potatoes                 
#ajf        ,early potatoes             
#ajh        ,enemies and diseases       
#ajh        ,how to plant               
#ajg        ,seed1 potato               
#ajg        ,soils1 best                
#ajf        ,spraying                   
#ajh        ,yield1 average             
#ajf          8    good                 
#ajf          8    phenomenal           
#bah-bbe          8    possible         
#ajf      ,sweet ,potatoes              
#aji        ,home of                    
#aji        ,climate                    
#aji        ,cultivation                
#aji1 #aaj        ,enemies              
#aaj        ,soil                       
#aji      ,,chapter ,,xv4--,,bulb       
,,crops                                 
#aaa-aah      ,how to propagate         
#aaa      ,needs1 their                 

#aaa      ,seed-bed crops               
#aaa      ,leeks                        
#aaa        ,how grown                  
#aaa        ,product                    
#aaa        ,storage                    
#aaa      ,ciboule                      
#aab      ,cives                        
#aab      ,garlic                       
#aaa      ,shallot                      
#aab      ,onion1 ,welsh                
#aab      ,onions                       
#aab        ,early crop                 
#aad        ,enemies                    
#aah        ,fertilizing                
#aac        ,growing                    
#aab        ,handling and storing       
#aaf        8,multiplier0 onions        
#aae        ,new onion culture          
#aae        ,season1 main               
#aad        ,selling onions             
#aag        8,sets0                     
#aad        ,sorting                    
#aag        8,top0-onions               
#aad        ,weeding                    
#aad        ,yields                     

#aah      ,,chapter ,,xvi4--,,cole      
,,crops                                 
#aai-acc      ,meaning of name          
#aai      ,why grown                    
#aai      ,brussels ,sprouts            
#abg        ,soil1 food and tillage     
needs                                   
#abg        ,successful growing         
#abh      ,cabbage                      
#aai        ,acre yield1 an             
#aba        ,crops1 two                 
#abj        ,essentials for growing     
#aai        ,fertilizing                
#abj        ,field-grown                
#aba        ,hot-bed plants             
#aba        ,insects and diseases       
#abb        ,locality1 effect of        
#abb        ,marketing                  
#aba        ,planting                   
#abc1 #abd        ,profits in cabbage   
#abc        ,protection from insects    
#abe        ,quick first crop           
#abc        ,second crop                
#abe      ,cauliflower                  
#abi        ,good seed necessary        

#abi        ,growing seed               
#acj        ,tillage1 right             
#acj        ,where it grows best        
#abi      ,kale                         
#abf        ,better for frost           
#abf        ,collards                   
#abg        ,cultivation                
#abf        ,enemies                    
#abg        ,how sown                   
#abf        ,southern kale              
#abg      ,kohlrabi                     
#aca        ,best varieties             
#aca        ,how to thin                
#aca        ,insects1 diseases and cures
                          #aca1 #acb1   
#acc        ,its family                 
#aca         8  uses                    
#aca      ,,chapter                     
,,xvii4--,,pot-,,herb ,,crops           
#acd-adj      ,characteristics          
#acd      ,needs                        
#acd      ,what they are                
#acd      ,chard                        
#acg      ,dandelion                    
#ach        ,characteristics            

#ach        ,harvesting                 
#aci1 #adj        ,tillage              
#aci      ,mustard                      
#acg        ,where grown                
#acg        ,soil requirements          
#ach      ,purslane                     
#adj      ,spinach                      
#acd        ,forced spinach             
#acf        ,how sown                   
#acg        ,how to sow                 
#ace        ,new ,zealand spinach       
#acf        ,where and when grown       
#acd      ,,chapter ,,xviii4--,,salad   
,,crops                                 
#ada-afj      ,what they are            
#ada      ,what they need               
#ada      ,celeriac                     
#aei        ,how eaten                  
#aei        ,how to grow                
#aei        ,soil and tillage           
#aei        ,transplanting              
#aei      ,celery                       
#aej        ,blanching                  
#aed1 #aee1 #aef        ,care in tilling
                                        

#aec1 #aed        ,diseases             
#aeh        ,early and late crop        
#aec        ,fertilizing                
#aec        ,how to sow                 
#aea        ,loss in sprouting          
#aeb        ,marketing                  
#aeg        ,seed-bed crop              
#aej        ,soil requirements          
#aej        ,storing                    
#aeg        ,thinning                   
#aeb        ,transplanting              
#aeb        ,varieties                  
#aeh        ,where it grows best        
#aej1 #aea      ,chicory                
#ade        ,how to grow                
#ade        ,salad plant                
#ade        ,use of chicory roots       
#adf      ,corn ,salad                  
#adh        ,cool-season crop           
#adh        ,how and where to plant     
#adh        ,yield                      
#adi      ,cress                        
#adf        ,how and where to grow      
#adf1 #adg        ,how to plant         
#adh        ,varieties                  

#adf      ,endive                       
#add        ,blanching                  
#add        ,how to sow                 
#add        ,season1 its                
#add        ,soil and tillage           
#add        ,use1 its                   
#ade      ,lettuce                      
#adb        ,companion-crop             
#adc        ,culture                    
#adb        ,growing in the open        
#adc           8    under glass         
#adc        ,nature                     
#adb        ,sowing and thinning        
#adc        ,succession-crop            
#adc        ,yield                      
#adc      ,parsley                      
#adi        ,easy to grow               
#adi        ,nature                     
#adi        ,uses                       
#adi      ,salad ,chervil               
#adi        ,culture                    
#aej        ,ready for use              
#aej        ,varieties                  
#aej      ,,chapter ,,xix4--,,pulse     
,,crops                                 

#afa-agb      ,what they are            
#afa      ,what they need               
#afa      ,beans                        
#aff-agb        ,bush and pole beans    
#afi        ,enemies                    
#aga1 #agb        ,lima beans           
#afg1 #agj        ,ornamental uses      
#agj        ,planting                   
#agj        ,preparing the soil         
#afg        ,string beans               
#aff        ,where they grow            
#aga        ,where and when to sow      
#aff      ,peas                         
#afa-aff        ,early crops            
#afb        ,enemies                    
#afc1 #afe        ,pea values           
#afb1 #afc        ,planting             
#afa        ,soil requirements          
#afa        ,varieties                  
#afc      ,,chapter ,,xx4--,,solanaceous
 ,,crops                                
#agc-ahb      ,crops included           
#agc      ,nature and requirements      
#agc      ,eggplants                    
#agi1 #ahj        ,enemies              

#aha        ,harvesting                 
#ahj        ,marketing                  
#ahj        ,planting                   
#agi        ,tillage                    
#ahj        ,transplanting              
#agi1 #ahj        ,treatment required   
#agi      ,husk ,tomato                 
#ahb      ,peppers                      
#aha        ,cultivation                
#aha        ,growth of demand           
#aha        ,starting                   
#aha        ,transplanting              
#aha        ,uses                       
#ahb        ,varieties                  
#ahb     ,tomatoes                      
#agc        ,cultivation                
#agd        ,fertilizing                
#agd        ,harvesting                 
#agh        ,racks1 cheap               
#aff1 #afg        ,sowing seed          
#agc        ,tillage                    
#agd        ,training and its value     
#age        ,varieties                  
#agi        ,where grown                
#agc        ,yield                      

#agi      ,,chapter ,,xxi4--,,vine ,,or 
,,cucurbitous ,,crops                   
#ahc-aia      ,what they are            
#ahc        8    8  need                
#ahc      ,why you fail                 
#ahc      ,how to succeed               
#ahc      ,when and where to plant      
#ahd      ,enemies                      
#ahd      ,cucumbers and ,gherkin       
#ahe        ,planting in hills          
#ahe        ,uses                       
#ahf        ,varieties                  
#ahf        ,yield                      
#ahf      ,muskmelon                    
#ahf      ,enemies                      
#ahg        ,planting                   
#ahg        ,varieties                  
#ahg        ,where grown                
#ahg        ,yield                      
#ahg      ,pumpkin and ,squash          
#ahi        ,differences                
#aij        ,enemies                    
#aia        ,uses                       
#aij        ,varieties                  
#aij-aia      ,watermelon               

#ahg      ,cultivation                  
#ahh        ,enemies                    
#ahi        ,testing                    
#ahi        ,uncertain crop             
#ahg        ,where and how grown        
#ahh      ,,chapter                     
,,xxii4--,,unclassified ,,annuals       
#aib-aig      ,what they include        
#aib        8    8  need                
#aib      ,martynia                     
#aig      ,okra or ,gumbo               
#aif        ,cultivation                
#aig        ,enemies                    
#aig        ,nature                     
#aif        ,uses                       
#aif        ,where and why grown        
#aif      ,sweet ,corn                  
#aib        ,cultivation                
#aic1 #aid1 #aie        ,enemies        
#aif        ,important crop             
#aib        ,marketing                  
#aie        ,preparation for planting   
#aic        ,where it thrives           
#aib        ,yield                      
#aif      ,,chapter ,,xxiii4--,,herbs1  

,,sweet ,,and ,,condimental             
#aih-bjj      ,varieties                
#aih      ,classes                      
#aih      ,growing                      
#aih1 #aii      ,annuals                
#aii      ,perennials                   
#bjj      ,,chapter ,,xxiv4--,,perennial
 ,,crops                                
#bja-bae      ,what they are            
#bja        8    8  need                
#bja      ,asparagus                    
#bja        ,cultivation                
#bja        ,enemies                    
#bjf1 #bjg        ,growing from seed    
#bjc        ,harvesting                 
#bjd        ,marketing                  
#bje        ,planting                   
#bjb        ,soil requirements          
#bja        ,tillage                    
#bjb        ,winter protection          
#bje        ,yield                      
#bjf      ,rhubarb                      
#bjh        ,cellar plots               
#baj        ,forced growth              
#baj1 #baa        ,nature1 hardy        

#bjh        ,new culture                
#bji        ,planting                   
#bjh        ,profitable growing         
#bji        ,soil needs                 
#bjh        ,yield                      
#baa      ,docks and ,sorrels           
#baa        ,varieties                  
#baa      ,artichoke                    
#bab        ,jerusalem and ,french      
,globe                                  
#bab        ,sowing                     
#bab        ,stock feed                 
#bac        ,uses                       
#bad        ,ways of the artichoke      
#bac1 #bad        ,winter mulch         
#bac        ,yield                      
#bad      ,sea-kale                     
#bad        ,blanching                  
#bae        ,care                       
#bae        ,how it grows               
#bad      ,,chapter                     
,,xxv4--,,specialities                  
#baf-bbf      ,asparagus                
#bah      ,celery                       
#bah      ,chestnuts                    

#bag      ,mushrooms                    
#bah      ,onions and potatoes          
#bah        #cjj bushels to the acre    
#bah1 #bbe      ,other specialties      
#bbf      ,specializing and profits     
#baf1 #bag      ,strawberries           
#bbe      ,,chapter ,,xxvi4--,,watching 
,,and ,,spraying                        
#bbg-bcf      ,arsenical sprays         
#bcc      ,bordeaux mixture1 what it    
will do and how to make it        #bbi1 
#bcj      ,emulsions                    
#bce      ,kerosene emulsions           
#bcd      ,manufacture and use          
#bcd1 #bce      ,need of watching       
#bbg      ,paris green                  
#bcb      ,spraying as a remedy         
#bbh      ,spraying mixture             
#bbh1 #bce      ,uses                   
#bcb      ,value of spraying1 the       
#bce      ,,chapter                     
,,xxvii4--,,fertilizers                 
#bcg-bdi      ,best are cheapest        
#bda1 #bdb1 #bdc      ,care of manure1  
the                                     

#bdj      ,natural and chemical         
#bcg1 #bch      ,what each contains     
#bch1 #bci      ,what fertilizer is     
#bcg      ,wire basket1 soil needs test 
#bdd1 #bdi      ,,chapter               
,,xxviii4--,,more ,,about ,,fertilizers 
#bej-beg      ,experiments show1 what   
#bej1 #bea      ,growing crops and      
fertilizers                             
#bee      ,manure contains1 what        
#beg      ,potassium1 kainit1 wood ashes
 and lime                      #beb1    
#bec      ,value of 8check plats10 the  
#bec1 #bed      ,valuable elements      
#bej      ,,chapter ,,xxix4--,,root     
,,houses ,,and ,,vegetable ,,pits       
#beh-bei      ,how to build one         
#beh1 #bei      ,uses1 their            
#beh      ,varieties of pits            
#bei      ,,chapter ,,xxx4--,,small     
,,fruits                                
#bfj-bff      ,cultivation              
#bfb      ,currants and gooseberries    
#bfd        ,how to grow them           
#bfd      ,enemies and their remedy     

#bfd1 #bfe      ,grapes                 
#bfe        ,how to grow them           
#bfe1 #bff      ,growing new plants     
#bfc      ,labor and yield              
#bfj      ,marketing                    
#bfb      ,planting                     
#bfa      ,preparing the soil           
#bfa      ,raspberries and blackberries 
#bfc        ,how to grow them           
#bfd      ,strawberry patch1 the        
#bfj      ,,chapter ,,xxxi4--,,the      
,,poultry ,,run                         
#bfg-bgi      ,branches of the business 
#bgb      ,care and feed                
#bfi      ,central hatching             
#bgc      ,cleanliness                  
#bfi      ,colony plan versus yarded    
#bgd1 #bge      ,effort and profit      
#bgh      ,how to succeed               
#bgi      ,importance of incubation     
#bgc      ,incubator hatching           
#bga      ,indian ,runner ducks         
#bgg      ,intensive hen1 the           
#bfg      ,location of house            
#bgj      ,modern hen-house1 a          

#bgj-bga      ,outdoor brooding         
#bga      ,profitable poultry           
#bfh      ,small companies              
#bfi      ,,chapter                     
,,xxxii4--,,organization                
#bhj-bia      ,agricultural colleges and
 books                                  
#bha      ,new methods                  
#bhj      ,work of the months           
#bhb-bia      ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4--,a   
,,few ,,practical 8,,don',,ts0          
#bib-bih      ,deep plowing             
#bib      ,department of ,agriculture   
#bid      ,farmer's life1 the           
#bib      ,feed the soil                
#bie      ,making seeds comfortable     
#bib1 #bic      ,successful farmers     
#bif1 #big      ,tools and their care   
#bie      ,,appendix ,i4                
#bii-cjj      ,island of ,guernsey      
products                                
#bii      ,,appendix ,,ii4              
#cja-cjf      ,french ,gardening1 etc4  
#cja      ,,appendix ,,iii4             
#cjg-cag      ,maylands ,gardening      

,customs                                
#cjg      ,,appendix ,,iv4              
#cah-cba      ,agricultural ,courses    
#cah                                    
,,preface4      ,an intensive farm is   
only an enlarged garden patch4    ,this 
book is not intended as a scientific    
book on agriculture2 there  are many    
such books which are out of the depths  
of everyone except  professors and      
professionals4 ,in a nice experiment    
station1 nice  experiments and          
scientific calculations are excellent2  
but ,i want to  give the plain man or   
woman who has a back yard or back lot1  
out of  which he might make part of a   
living or more than a living1 a book    
that  will show how to do it4    ,i want
 to help the man or woman who has to do 
the cultivation at odd  times and who   
finds it hard to get the time for the   
work1 even though  this work enables him
 to do far more work of other kinds4 ,i 
have had  all sorts of experience with  
gardening1 in spite of telegrams and    

people who want 8just five minutes for  
some important business40 ,so if  you   
have the same trouble getting the time1 
do not let that discourage  you4 ,we can
 get health1 happiness and some profit  
in spite of the  interruptions4    ,it  
won't be enough simply to read this     
book2 that won't make you a  gardener2  
but if you study it while you are       
working on the land and  use your       
judgment and common sense1 in one season
 you will be able to  teach most of     
those whom you now have to hire as      
expert ,gardeners at  ,three ,dollars a 
,day4    ,if anybody sneers at your     
gardening as being 8book farming10 let  
him  sneer2 a fool never understands    
what a wise man is doing3 if he did1  he
 would do it himself4 ,you have here the
 plain1 simple1 practical  facts without
 scientific terms--just the ordinary    
garden talk4 ,there  are plenty of      
things you will not find in this book4  
,you won't find  analyses of            
fertilizers1 nor how to grow 8pomatoes10

 or anything else  that won't sell when 
you have grown it4 ,nor will you find   
fairy stories  of poultry profits that  
make the goose's golden eggs look like  
thirty  cents4 ,there is a use for all  
that sort of thing--it arouses interest 
and stimulates the imagination4 ,but you
 will probably be content to  be a good1
 practical1 every-day gardener who can  
make things grow and  knows what to do  
with them after they have grown4        
,some critics1 who will not read this   
book1 will sagely remark that such      
books as ,mr4 ,hall's are dangerous1    
because they induce inexperienced       
persons to sell out and lose their money
 trying to get ,liberty on ,three       
,acres or a ,living from a ,little      
,land4 ,to repeat for such people my    
cautions and advice to learn navigation 
before buying your ship1 is to  blow    
against the ,north wind4    ,if you have
 skipped the foregoing1 just skip again1
 back to it4 ,you  will see that ,i have
 promised to use no scientific terms4   

,this book  will be read by more plain  
people than by scientists1 and so ,i    
have  aimed to talk just as ,i would if 
,i were trying to teach you how to      
raise lettuce--or rather trying to teach
 you to learn for yourself how  to raise
 lettuce4 ,for we cannot teach anyone   
anything1 we can only give  him the     
opportunity of learning4 ,so if the     
experimental agriculturist  thinks that 
a good deal has been left out that might
 have been put in1  ,i hope he will     
remember that ,i have had to pick from a
 measureless  field1 and by trying to   
crowd in too much ,i might easily       
confuse the  less experienced and make  
it hard for him to learn4    ,and yet no
 one need think that by reading a book  
or any number of books  he can be made a
 gardener4 ,that is done by work of head
 and hands on  the soil2 and the best   
preparation for a really scientific use 
of your  own land1 is to hire yourself  
out for a while to a market gardener and
  get the practical1 every-day          

experience4    ,you might as well expect
 to learn writing without using a pen as
  gardening without using a bit of land4
 ,you will make some mistakes and  lose 
some crops1 but ,i can show you how to  
profit by mistakes and to  lose very    
little by losses4    ,if you don't      
understand the directions1 that is my   
fault3 ,i should be  able to make it    
clear to everyone4 ,so just write me 7a 
pencil and a  postal card will do7 and  
,i will tell you what you want to know1 
if ,i  know it myself or can find out4  
,,bolton ,,hall4      #ef ,,pine ,,st41 
,,new ,,york ,,city4                    
,,introduction4      ,a farm is the only
 proper home4 ,working for yourself is  
the only true  independence4 ,labor on  
the land in the open gives health and   
long life4  ,raise a living and sell the
 surplus4 ,work all the time1 but don't 
overwork4 ,make faces at the cynic who  
says the farmer and his wife and        
children work fifteen hours a day and   
then starve4 ,it isn't so4 ,work  alone 

is not farming2 you must manage4        
,farming needs intelligence and  care1  
nothing more so4 ,everywhere you see    
good farm-homes and poor  ones2 the     
difference is in the farmer4 ,what the  
good farmers do1 all  can do4    ,in    
this book1 the author tells how to lay  
out the land1 how to prepare  and plant 
and harvest1 and how to make life       
joyous4 ,he has boiled down  the        
experience of himself and his friends   
and the information contained  in       
bulletins and books and catalogs4 ,a    
cobbler or clerk or typo1 can  take this
 book and with his tennis-made muscle   
and his trade accuracy  can make a bare 
living the first year1 a good living the
 second1 and  start a bank account the  
third4 ,i know it because ,i helped do  
it in my  youth and ,i have seen it done
 all my life4    ,one of the obstacles  
in the way of town families going to the
 country  is separation from friends and
 going among strangers4 ,another is the 
conscious ignorance of the work and a   

sense of helplessness4 ,these are  real 
and valid difficulties4 ,they are       
equivalent to the difficulties          
besetting a ,german or ,norwegian farmer
 coming alone into an ,american         
community in a new state4 ,the hundreds 
of thousands of ,european farmers  who  
came to the states every year from the  
forties to the end of the  eighties     
overcame this difficulty by organizing  
colonies of friends and  neighbors and  
settling in one spot4 ,they thus had    
society and they had  the benefit of    
their best leaders4 ,then their old     
friends kept coming  in smaller squads4 
,this is the way for town people to do4 
,find six  or ten or a dozen and go     
together4 ,even if all are not relatives
 or  friends they may be of the same    
class or trade4    ,to any such colony  
,i will furnish the money to pay for all
 the land  they need and let them begin 
paying the cost price of it at the end  
of five years and finish in ten1 with #d
 per cent4 interest4 ,they may  pick the

 tract and bargain for the price4 ,upon 
their showing that the  agreed number   
are ready to go and are able to make the
 improvements and  provide the working  
equipment1 ,i will advance the money to 
pay for the  land4 ,they can divide it  
up to suit themselves4    ,i have       
furnished farms already plowed1 fenced  
and housed1 and horse  and cow free of  
charge4 ,but these empty-handed folk1   
who have saved  nothing out of their    
former occupation1 lack the qualities to
 manage  for themselves and to succeed  
at farming4 ,they are too helpless and  
dependent4 ,their best plan is to hire  
out in the country until they  learn    
farm work and life1 then rent a piece of
 land1 and then buy4    ,how much land  
shall each one have1 how much can he    
properly cultivate8  ,that depends on   
what he raises1 and this governs his    
location and the  price of the land4    
,with present methods1 he will need #bj 
acres if  he keeps a dairy of ten cows2 
or1 #aj acres if he raises vegetables1  

small fruit1 poultry and milk2 or1 four 
acres is enough for truck  and a horse  
and cow1 while one acre is enough if he 
raises only  celery1 asparagus or       
tomatoes4 ,the price of land is         
influenced by  social conditions1       
speculation1 proximity to and quality of
 market  and agricultural adaptability1 
all the way from #e4jj an acre to       
#bej4jj4 ,there is plenty of it not     
above the value of the public and       
private improvements4 ,it is useless to 
buy a farm of #afj acres for  one       
family4 ,they cannot work it1 it is a   
dead expense1 they would be  lonesome1  
would starve and quit4 ,but a colony1   
settling as neighbors  on well-chosen   
land for which they pay only when they  
have had time to  earn it1 will have    
every opportunity to succeed4    ,only  
in rare cases would ,i advise town      
dwellers to go singly to  the country2  
they are disqualified by their social   
and industrial  habits4 ,a colony of    
friends or ,co-operative ,associations  

overcome the  difficulties and do in    
fact assure success to any one possessed
 of  industry and frugality4    ,by     
intensive cultivation is meant1 not any 
particular kind of product1  but farming
 the land thoroughly1 getting the best  
yield and the best  quality out of every
 acre1 the best seeds and the best      
breeds and the  best way of disposing of
 the crop when you get it4 ,the farm or 
garden  may be in the vegetable or small
 fruit or corn and hay or dairying      
section4 ,in either case1 you can       
cultivate it intensively1 which is      
thoroughly4    ,the book will tell you  
in ,a1 ,b1 ,c style how to farm4 ,i am  
asked to tell  what to do with the crop 
after you have raised it1 how to buy    
what you  don't raise1 and how to make  
social substitutes for the city crowds  
and  sights4    ,associate6 ,co-operate6
    ,you may not know it1 but the world 
is turning from private trade to        
co-operation at a fast rate4 ,in some   
countries most of the farmers do  all   

their business by co-operation4         
,co-operation is simple and sure and    
safe1 when enough people want it  and   
are shown how4    ,i have practiced     
co-operation in my business for         
twenty-three years4  ,i have been       
intimate with it the world over for     
twenty-five years4 ,i  have seen it grow
 and grow until it numbers its millions 
of workers in  some countries1 and is   
doubling every five years in many       
countries and  states4 ,though ,i am a  
manufacturer1 my chief occupation is to 
preach  and teach co-operation to       
farmers--at my own expense4             
,co-operative creameries have changed   
,minnesota from a declining wheat  state
 to a rich dairy state4 ,co-operation   
has saved the ,california  orange grower
 from bankruptcy and made him           
prosperous2 it has raised  ,denmark's   
exports of butter1 eggs and bacon from  
eighteen to eighty  millions a year1 and
 it has almost cut off our supply of    
policemen  and politicians from         

,ireland1 because over a thousand       
co-operative  associations have grown up
 there in twenty years4    ,after you   
have undertaken what this book tells you
 all about1 you want  to count on       
forming co-operative associations with  
your neighbors to  do all the business  
that you have4 ,you raise your own crop2
 but pack  it1 ship it and sell it      
through your association4 ,you use      
bought goods1  but buy them all through 
the association4 ,that gives you a      
saving  in expenses1 a saving in price1 
and a better quality4 ,what is still    
more1 it makes better neighbors of you1 
and rids you entirely of the            
demoralizing tricks of the trade1 and   
prevents you figuring how to get  the   
best trade out of the other fellow4 ,you
 are yourself 8the other  fellow40 ,in  
the co-operative way1 your interest lies
 in producing the  best stuff1 which    
will gradually improve your motives4    
,co-operation  fits any sort of         
business1 if there is enough of it4     

,one hundred and fifty cows are needed  
to start a cheese factory1 #bej  for a  
milk shipping association1 #ejj for a   
butter creamery2 fewer than  these do   
not pay4    ,for co-operation in raising
 vegetables and small fruits1 no fixed  
quantity of product is required2 two or 
more persons working together  is better
 than each for himself4    ,talk it up  
as neighbors and then hold a meeting4   
,let all who want to  join1 sign an     
agreement to deliver all their truck to 
the association  and pay a membership   
fee of #e4jj or over4 ,each member      
should have  an equal voice regardless  
of his acreage4 ,organize1 either as a  
corporation or a limited partnership4   
,elect the best qualified men to  be    
officers1 and then give them unqualified
 support4 ,select a manager  and see to 
the marketing arrangements4 ,if the     
quantity raised is large  enough1 it is 
best to have your own receiving and     
selling agent in  the principal market4 
,every member must make a legal contract

 with  the association to submit to its 
rules about condition1 packing and      
delivering1 to apply to his entire crop4
 ,good quality1 reliable packing  and   
regular supply are essential to good    
prices4    ,the manager or inspector    
must have full authority4 ,each member's
  delivery is graded1 weighed1 measured 
or counted and accurately  recorded4    
,once a month the account from each     
grade is made up1 and the  proceeds1    
after paying expenses1 are paid over4   
,the manager should be an experienced   
trucker1 competent to instruct and      
advise about the work of planting1      
growing and gathering4 ,the growers     
meet each other at the station1 and     
compare notes4 ,they all learn what  is 
known by the most expert among them4    
,they can arrange to have one  man      
gather up the crops from several places 
and make one load to the  packing-house1
 taking turn about in this service4     
,small or poor growers  may be admitted 
with a nominal payment1 even as low as  

#be cents1 the  remainder to be paid by 
a #e per cent4 deduction from his       
proceeds4    ,the association and       
management can also fill the assembled  
orders of  members for fertilizer1 seed1
 implements and packing material1 at    
wholesale prices4 ,in time you will make
 your own boxes1 erect a cannery  for   
the surplus and even buy your own       
groceries co-operatively4    ,you can   
form a credit society with unlimited    
liability1 to receive  on deposit the   
members' surplus and borrow from the    
city4 ,that money  is lent1 for         
productive uses only1 to members of     
known ability and  honesty1 who give two
 similar members as security4    ,when  
you get safely started in one kind of   
co-operative association1  you will     
easily go to the next1 as the ,danes and
 the ,irish have done4      ,,st4       
,,louis1 ,,mo4                          
,n4 ,o4 ,,nelson4                       
,,chapter ,i4                           
,,the ,,garden ,,yard      ,no man      

knows1 nor can know1 the capacity of a  
yard of earth1 for it is  unlimited1    
just as the speed of the engine is      
unlimited4 ,just as with  the engine1   
the only question is whether it would   
pay to make it do any  more--it may cost
 too much4 ,where land is cheap1 labor  
is high2 there  intelligent cultivation 
will pay1 but intensive cultivation will
 not4  ,that is the place where the     
field crops should be raised4    ,but   
the garden crops should be raised right 
round the towns and cities  and it is   
foolish to get to a distance from them4 
,stay right where you  are and get the  
piece of land that is best for your     
purpose2 buy it1 if  you can without    
paying too much for it2 if not1 rent it 
for as long a  term as you can2 or get  
permission to use the bit of land1 the  
vacant  lots--there are plenty even in  
the most crowded cities--and raise your 
truck and your income on those lots4    
,without separating yourself from  your 
acquaintances or exiling your wife and  

children1 learn to get your  living out 
of the earth4    ,suppose that a man    
owns his house1 even if it be but a bit 
of a  bungalow1 and suppose he has a    
little bit of land on which he can      
raise the most of what the family eats2 
he may have to work hard1  especially if
 his family cannot help in the work1 but
 at least he is  independent2 at least  
panics1 lock-outs1 change of            
circumstances or  even loss of health   
will not reduce him to starvation4      
,if you have a farm1 ,intensive         
,cultivation should interest you all the
  more4 ,every farm is full of          
opportunities to make good money2 but   
you  must not make the usual mistake of 
half working a big piece of land2  that 
means that you will always be           
overworked1 always have a lot of  things
 that you know ought to be done1 but    
cannot find time to do2  always have    
common grade crops that bring common    
prices4 ,everyone that  is overworked is
 underpaid1 for he cannot do his best   

work4    ,use the big fields for        
pasture1 or for raising fine horses1 or 
for pigs  or ,angora goats or even for  
sheep2 you had better let the fields run
  wild rather than half cultivate them4 
,keep accounts and watch your chance to 
sell all the land that does not  pay    
well4 ,it may be that you are missing a 
fortune in the old neglected  orchard1  
or in the chestnut or hickory grove4    
,the black walnuts or  butternuts1 that 
are usually left for the neighbors'     
boys1 may be the  most profitable part  
of the farm4    ,the wood-lot may have  
possibilities for barrel hoops1 which   
may be sold  to the improvement of the  
timber4 ,it may need only thinning to   
bring  you a steady income while it     
increases in value4    ,fine apples     
grafted on the old trees that now bear  
only cider apples1  if properly sprayed 
and thinned so as to give first-class   
fruit1 may  sell for more than all the  
corn you can raise4#a    ,the 8pesky    
briers0 that the farmer struggles with  

year by year1  may be the raspberries   
and blackberries that will sell readily 
for  good prices1 when they are         
cultivated1 to the summer residents or  
boarding-houses4 ,your exposure and soil
 may be just the place for the  fine    
strawberries with which1 when nicely    
separated from the second and  third    
grades1 no market is ever overstocked4  
,but if you are always behind with the  
work and always short of cash or        
worried to pull through1 you have no    
time to think of these things and  no   
means to hire labor nor to develop them4
    ,that pond may be needed1 if it were
 cleared out1 for a profitable  ice     
supply1 furnishing paying work in the   
winter4 ,the stream may be  a valuable  
water-power or at least may bring a     
high-priced crop  of water-cress2 or it 
may be the very water needed1 when      
properly  distributed1 to make yours the
 most fertile land in the county4 ,the  
bit of swamp land1 that raises nothing  
but mosquitoes1 may need only a  few    

dollars' worth of cranberry sets to be  
the best paying acre in the  country    
side4    ,there may be a veritable gold 
mine in a neglected quarry1 or          
brick-clay  pit1 or kaolin clay deposit1
 or in a sand bank1 or a vein of marl4  
,possibly you could rent the farm house 
or let camping sites for the  summer to 
people who would pay city prices for    
much of your stuff2 so  that you could  
afford to keep help enough to leave only
 the easy work  of superintendence for  
you4 ,brains save more work than        
machines4    ,if you are raising the    
same crops that your neighbors do1      
harvesting at  the same time1 and       
getting the same prices that everyone   
else does1 you  may be sure that you are
 neglecting your chances4    ,the money 
is in finding things to raise that will 
sell1 and that do not  have to compete  
with all the others4    ,says the ,farm 
,journal3 8,farmers need more time to   
plan their work  and look after the     
business and economic end of their      

calling4 ,the  employer who makes a full
 hand in barn and field from #e ,a4 ,m4 
till #h ,p4  ,m41 has no other time to  
devote to the real business of the farm 
than  the hours in which ,nature        
imperatively calls upon him to rest1 and
 a  man with aching muscles and tired   
limbs is not in condition to think      
clearly or plan intelligently4 ,it is   
poor economy for a farmer to take  the  
place of a dollar-a-day man in the      
field1 when in so doing he has  left no 
leisure in which to work out the details
 of his operations40                    
,think--think--it is true that we       
ourselves must work with the men if we  
are to get the best work out of them2   
there is a big difference between       
saying 8,go1 do that10 and 8,come and   
let us do this40 ,but it is not  enough 
to work2 any jackass can do that4       
,you know the old fable3 8,a farmer got 
his wheels stuck fast in a miry  road4  
,the man knelt down in the mud crying to
 ,hercules to come and help  him4 ,said 

,hercules1 8,get up and put your        
shoulder to the wheel1 ,i help  only    
those who help themselves60    7,there  
is a new part to that fable7--,now the  
mire was very deep and even  ,hercules' 
help was not enough2 so he called on    
,pallas1 the ,goddess of  ,wisdom4 ,said
 she1 8,put this lever under the wheel40
 ,then the wagon was  easily lifted out4
    ,since then1 some one else suggested
 using wide tires1 so that the  wheels  
would not sink at all1 and another      
invented a split-log  road-drag to keep 
the roads hard4 ,but we are still       
waiting for the  farmers to learn to use
 them4    ,maybe the roses in the bit of
 garden would bring you bigger money1 if
  they were made to bloom at the right  
time1 than the potatoes that take  twice
 as much outlay and ten times as much   
work4    ,pick out as much land as you  
can attend to without walking your legs 
off1 and raise on it the best crops that
 bring the best prices and let  the rest
 take care of itself4    ,the market is 

more important than the crop4 ,consult  
the editors of your  agricultural papers
 about where to sell4 ,require bank     
reference from  any commission merchant 
that you do not know1 and write to the  
bank for  its report on him before you  
ship to him4 ,make his acquaintance1 if 
possible1 and talk to him about what he 
can sell the best2 naturally1  he will  
take more interest in the affairs of a  
man that he knows than  in a stranger4  
,don't go to town or to the boat or     
railroad with half a  load or with a    
load of poor stuff4 ,arrange with your  
neighbors to take  enough for them to   
make your trip pay4    ,if a trolley or 
a carrier can be brought into use to    
make regular  shipments1 see some       
merchant or hotel man and arrange to    
supply him  constantly4 ,then lay out   
your plantings so as to have a constant 
supply  of what he needs4    ,if you are
 choosing a farm or have a chance to    
sell yours1 inquire  and look to see if 
you can find one near a good market     

where you  will earn your own           
commissions4 ,the way to find out what  
you want is  to talk about it to        
everyone you meet4 ,a good local map    
will help  you1 but of course the real  
estate agents know more about what is   
for sale and the prices and values than 
you could learn in a year's  travel4 ,no
 men1 except editors and hotel clerks1  
are so ready to give  information as the
 real estate agents4 ,remember1 however1
 than even  when they are honest 7most  
of them are1 like the rest of us1 as    
honest  as circumstances allow71 the    
successful real estate agent must see   
the  rosy side of the peach and may not 
point out the worm-hole on the other    
side4 ,you will have to look for that   
yourself4    ,when you have found what  
you want1 point out that you are buying 
to  improve1 so that the security will  
be better every day1 and fight for  easy
 terms and for a long mortgage4 ,you can
 get the privilege to pay  off any time 
that you cannot use the capital to      

better advantage4    ,let some good     
lawyer examine the records and see that 
the papers are  all straight1 and       
guarantee the title4 ,if there is a     
local title  insurance company its      
policy is worth all it costs1 and will  
help you  greatly should you want to    
sell or to raise another mortgage4      
,buy your land--don't rent it2 it does  
not pay to put your work into  another  
man's land4    ,every improvement in the
 condition of the earth--agricultural1  
mechanical1 ethical1 educational1       
political or even religious must  go    
eventually and mainly to the benefit of 
the owners of the earth2  therefore get 
hold of a bit of the earth1 so that     
everyone who does  good will do that    
good for you4    ,get a small bit of    
land near the market rather than a big  
bit away from  it1 because the more     
people there are near you the better you
 can live  and the more money you can   
make4 ,besides it is much pleasanter and
  better for the wife and children1 as  

well as for yourself1 to be near        
schools1 libraries1 proper company1     
stores1 than to be away out among       
stumps4 ,a growing town will make you   
rich when it grows out your way1        
because you are in the way and when the 
land is wanted you must be paid  to get 
out4 ,meanwhile1 you can get manure and 
help much easier and  cheaper than if   
you were at a distance4    ,don't put   
your labor or your money into expensive 
buildings3 they only  invite the tax    
assessor2 but get proper buildings--they
 may be only  shacks1 but they should be
 well planned shacks1 for you must have 
room  enough to shelter your tools1     
wagons and farm machines1 to house your 
stock1 to store your crops1 to sprout   
your seeds1 to save your manure  and to 
do indoor work during bad weather4      
,,footnotes3    #a ,there is only one   
good way to do this3 cut back all the   
old wood  and work out a new top on     
which to graft the fine apple scions4   
,,chapter ,,ii4                         

,,the ,,soil4      ,if this book is to  
be of real service1 we must be clear    
about the terms  and expressions1 so    
that1 though you may know nothing about 
gardening  when you begin to read it1   
you may know enough to earn a living    
from  the soil when you finish it--and  
practice a little4    ,many talk glibly 
enough about the soil1 though few could 
tell exactly  what it means4 ,but       
market-gardeners must understand it1 if 
they are  to live by it4 ,so it will be 
well to begin with the soil itself4     
,soil  is that thin layer of earth that 
covers our globe like a blanket1 and  in
 which all that plants1 beasts and men  
live upon1 grows4 ,if it were  washed   
off1 starvation would follow4 ,the      
scientific explanation of  the origin of
 this blanket1 is1 that it was formed by
 the action of  heat1 cold1 water1      
frost1 ice1 low forms of vegetable life 
and tiny  animals2 sometimes working    
singly and sometimes all together4 ,it  
is now  established that the most of the

 face of the earth was once rock which  
was rubbed1 crushed and ground by these 
forces until this surface layer  was    
made4 ,then higher forms of life became 
possible4 ,not centuries  only1 but     
aeons of time1 were necessary to        
accomplish this4 ,layer upon  layer of  
finely crushed particles were exposed to
 the action of the air  which completed 
the work the grinding of ,nature's      
forces had begun4    ,to follow out the 
story of the development of the soil is 
a most  fascinating study1 and if you   
have time from your other interests1 you
  will be glad that you took it up2 for 
though you may be a good farmer  without
 this knowledge1 you will be a better   
one with it1 because you  will be more  
intelligent and sympathetic4 ,the       
soil-blanket holds within  its warm     
folds all that is necessary for life1   
and the wonder of it all  increases the 
more we learn about the millions of     
years and numberless  forces employed to
 bring it to this state of perfection4  

,if ,nature has  not wearied in her     
great work1 there is poor excuse for the
 gardener to  shirk or neglect the labor
 necessary to get the best possible     
results  from any given piece of soil4  
,nobody yet knows what are the best     
possible results from any given  piece  
of soil2 for since new discoveries are  
being made every year1 we  can show only
 what has so far been done with the best
 knowledge and  skill at our disposal4  
,one man in ,pennsylvania is selling his
 soil2 not  his crop1 at #a4ej per      
bushel to inoculate other ground4       
,the fine1 fertile layer of earth that  
is called soil does not go  very deep4  
,it covers another layer which is       
harder1 coarser1 colder  than itself1   
and this second layer is known as the   
subsoil1 or that  soil which is under   
the surface layer4 ,in all temperate    
climes the  difference is strongly      
marked1 but in rainless1 sun-dried      
regions  there is often no difference to
 be noted4 ,the intelligent farmer or   

gardener has the opportunity to decide  
just how much of that subsoil  he will  
convert into surface soil1 and the means
 of doing this will be  disclosed later 
under the head of 8,tillage40 ,the more 
of it he brings  into use the greater   
his own profit1 so that it pays to know 
how4 ,in  the early days of farming no  
effort was made to bring the subsoil    
into  use1 and consequently the returns 
from agriculture were small4 ,now we    
know better than that1 and we also know 
how to get more out of the  soil1       
whether surface or subsoil4    ,no soil1
 no garden2 so the new gardener must get
 acquainted with the  ground he intends 
to cultivate4 ,it is not to be denied   
that soil which  is in good tilth will  
be a great help to the beginner1 but    
that is only  to be had in              
well-cultivated gardens1 which usually  
bring a good price  when found in the   
market4 ,besides1 with proper care and  
attention1 any  well situated soil can  
be made to yield good returns1 and the  

gardener  who is not disposed to give   
proper care and attention will find     
nothing  in this book1 or in any other1 
that will teach him how to succeed4 ,the
  ,german idea is that a good soil is   
merely a place to put fertilizers  7and 
,german ideas on gardening are not to be
 despised74 ,this is simply  another way
 of repeating that1 with brains and work
 any soil can be  made to yield good    
returns4 ,it is not safe1 however1 to   
trust to the  8,light of ,nature0 as to 
what 8proper care and attention0 is1 so 
here  are the details4    ,if you are   
already settled and are planning to use 
your back yard for a  garden1 you will  
have to take the soil as it is1 and by  
your own effort  make it what it should 
be4 ,there is no cause for despair no   
matter what  it may be4 ,a back yard    
that was trodden almost as compact as   
asphalt1  and whose clods when dug had  
to be broken up with an axe1 was made to
  yield a large variety of flowers the  
first season it was planted4 ,so go     

ahead and do what you can with what you 
have4 ,but1 if you are hunting  for a   
garden plot1 bear in mind the importance
 of soil texture4 ,you may  thereby save
 yourself both time and labor4    ,the  
first thing is to examine the soil to   
determine whether it is  sandy or       
clayey1 dry or moist1 light or heavy1   
well drained or wet2  whether it is warm
 and live1 or cold and dead4 ,you will  
then learn what  sort of cultivation is 
best for your particular plot of ground4
    ,because in your neighbor's garden a
 certain treatment has been  successful1
 is not saying that it will give the    
same results in yours1  unless all the  
conditions are the same4 ,for instance1 
his light1 sandy  loam needs little     
cultivation1 and your soil may be hard  
and clayey4 ,in  that case you would    
have to make up the difference by       
careful work4    ,there are 8gardeners0 
who think it is sufficient barely to    
break up the  ground1 add a little      
manure or other fertilizer1 and scatter 

seeds4  ,that they get any sort of      
results only shows how willing ,nature  
is to  give a return on the slightest   
labor4 ,but ,nature is wise as well as  
willing1 and therefore gives lavishly to
 him only1 who1 by intelligent  labor1  
deserves the best returns4              
,therefore1 learn the needs of your soil
 and supply them1 and you will  have no 
cause to complain of the niggardliness  
of ,mother ,nature to  those of her     
children who feed at her bosom4         
,plants often die for lack of moisture  
in the soil1 and this condition  cannot 
be satisfactorily remedied by the       
watering-can4 ,the trouble  lies back of
 such surface treatment and can only be 
cured by getting at  the cause4 ,the    
soil should be so prepared by tillage   
that it will catch  and hold enough     
water to supply the plants with the     
moisture they need  even through hot1   
dry spells4 ,plants draw their          
nourishment through  their roots to     
their stems and leaves1 and you need    

only examine the  fine roots and        
rootlets of any plant to realize for    
yourself that  such nourishment could   
not be taken in in a solid form4 ,plants
 are  constantly drawing this moisture  
from the soil and as constantly giving  
it off into the air through their       
leaves4 ,if you will watch any plant    
during a drought1 you will see the      
leaves begin to shrivel before the      
stems or branches show signs of         
suffering4 ,this is ,nature's effort to 
sustain the life of the plant as long as
 possible4 ,the shrivelling of  the     
leaves prevents the escape of the little
 moisture the plant can  draw1 and      
retains it longer within the plant's    
system4    ,deep plowing1 the breaking  
up of the subsoil1 the addition of      
decaying  vegetable matter or humus1    
fertilizing with stable manure1 and the 
raising of crops that can be frequently 
tilled1 all help to add  moisture to the
 soil4 ,if you do these and the dry     
spell does strike  you hard1 so that it 

seems necessary to bring water1 the soil
 will  suck it and hold it1 instead of  
letting it pass off quickly through  the
 action of sun and air4 ,frequent       
stirring of the surface soil1  to the   
depth of one inch1 will make a little   
dry layer or top-coat  through which the
 moisture does not readily escape4 ,this
 is what is  called a 8mulch40 ,a mulch 
may also be an added coat of leaf-mould 
or stable-litter or any little dry      
covering which will prevent the         
moisture from escaping4    ,for early   
crops a light1 sandy loam is best4 ,a   
sandy loam is a loose1  sandy soil made 
productive by good tillage1 by mixing in
 humus and  plant food or fertilizer4   
,but when you haven't the best1 it is   
for you  to counterfeit it as nearly as 
possible4 ,the advantages of sandy loam 
are that it is early1 easy to work1     
responds quickly to fertilizers and  is 
readily kept in good tilth4    8,tilth0 
is really the planting condition of the 
soil1 and good tilth  means the best    

possible conditions for planting seeds2 
where the plow  and the harrow have done
 their work2 where the sun has warmed   
and the  rain moistened2 where the      
fertilizer has sweetened and quickened2 
where  stones and weeds are unknown1 so 
that the new life finds the best        
conditions for sprouting and developing4
 ,you will understand why such  soil is 
not often in the market4 ,it is         
,nature's materials plus man's          
intelligent labor2 and he who has it1 is
 usually found working it to  his own   
profit4    ,some soils are easily put   
into condition3 others require much time
 and  labor1 but all always repay4 ,it  
is well1 however1 to avoid a hard1      
cold1 clayey soil if possible2 it takes 
so long to warm up1 that the  seeds make
 little progress4 ,of course1 steady    
persistent effort will  greatly improve 
even this soil1 and if that is the sort 
you have1 you  must do your best with   
it1 but the average gardener cannot     
afford to  wait4    ,compared with      

agriculture1 which has been known in    
some form ever  since there have been   
any records1 tillage is very new4 ,like 
many  another important thing1 it was   
discovered quite accidentally by an     
,english farmer1 named ,jethro ,tull4   
,he found that by stirring up the  soil 
about his plants1 he got better returns2
 and gave his discovery  to the world4  
,but he could not explain why it was so2
 he merely knew  the fact itself4       
,science has since discovered that it is
 due to the  action of the air in       
helping to break up the many compounds  
found in  the earth containing plant    
food4 ,it was a simple thing1 yet it has
  really revolutionized gardening4      
,before tillage was known the returns   
from the sort of cultivation in use were
 very scanty1 and this book had  never  
been written had ,tull's discovery never
 been made4 ,so you may be  able to do  
the world a great favor if you cultivate
 intelligently1 not  fearing to         
experiment or to make known the results 

of your experiments4  ,it may be        
reserved for you1 in your little garden 
patch1 to discover  some new truth that 
will prove a blessing to the whole      
world1 for no  science today offers so  
wide a field for discovery as the       
science of  ,agriculture1 nor so sure a 
return for labor expended4    ,there is 
a story that illustrates the value of   
tillage4 ,a man lay  dying and as his   
four sons gathered about his bed he     
whispered feebly1  8,my sons1 there is a
 great treasure hidden in the garden40  
,scarcely  had they laid the body of    
their father away1 when the sons went to
  the garden and began digging it up4   
,they dug every inch carefully1  and    
found nothing for their pains4 ,then the
 eldest son1 being of a  practical turn 
of mind1 suggested to his brothers that 
they plant the  garden and thus secure  
some return for their labor4 ,this they 
did1  and when harvest-time came the    
returns were so wonderfully increased   
that they said1 8,now we know what our  

father meant4 ,let us seek like         
treasure in all our fields40 ,and in    
every garden and field lies hidden  the 
same treasure that can be revealed only 
by the expenditure of  intelligent      
labor4    ,tillage is an art in itself1 
and very important to success4 ,there   
are  two kinds--the tillage of          
preparation and the tillage of          
maintenance4  ,they are widely different
 in their purpose and effect4 ,the      
average  farmer thinks that both may be 
carried on at the same time1 and this   
belief may be in part the cause of his  
failures4    ,the tillage of preparation
 includes not merely the breaking up of 
the soil by the plow1 but pulverizing it
 for as great a depth as the  roots of  
the plants will reach4 ,how deep that   
may be1 depends upon the  character of  
the soil and of the crops4 ,for example1
 a hard soil with a  subsoil near the   
surface1 must be plowed deep2 so that   
the root crops1  which run deep1 may    
find sustenance4 ,on the other hand1    

sandy soil1 or  one which leaches away1 
can stand only shallow plowing1 as we   
must hold  the subsoil firm to prevent  
leaching4 ,so that1 even in the tillage 
of  preparation it comes back to the    
same point1 to learn the needs of your  
particular soil and supply them4    ,the
 tillage of maintenance should be given 
as often as once a week or  ten days1   
and is merely that surface loosening    
which enables the soil  to drink in the 
rain and withstand the heat of the sun4 
,the loosened  surface will not cake    
about the plants1 and it makes a layer  
of mulch  for the protection of the     
under soil4    ,by the addition of      
humus1 or vegetable matter1 a clayey    
soil may  be put in condition so that it
 will respond to further tillage  as    
satisfactorily as the lighter1 sandy    
loam4 ,this is the way to  8counterfeit 
the best soil40    ,humus is added by   
plowing into the land vegetable matter  
which is in  condition to rot quickly   
and become thoroughly mixed with the    

soil4  ,rye1 clover1 cornstalks1 vines  
or other garden waste1 and manure1 are  
commonly used4 ,manure that contains a  
large proportion of stable litter  and  
sweepings1 and street sweepings1 are    
especially rich in humus1 and  are much 
sought after by experienced gardeners4  
,by adding them1 the  texture of the    
soil is lightened and improved1 made    
loose and mellow  so as to hold         
moisture1 and is at the same time       
prevented from caking4  ,moreover1 humus
 contains plant food and heat that make 
seed sprouting  easy4    ,the amateur   
gardener seldom recognizes the          
importance of the physical  texture of  
the soil1 but the best results demand   
the best conditions4  ,unless you want  
to grow pears and plums--which thrive in
 clayey  soil--break up the clayey earth
 and improve its texture in every way4  
,your garden will repay you1 and you    
won't go about denouncing those who     
have written books about the            
possibilities of small areas as wilful  

deceivers of the guileless and unwary4  
,get it firmly fixed in your mind  to   
start with1 that1 if your garden does   
not yield adequate returns  upon your   
labor1 the fault is yours4 ,you are     
working unintelligently1  and deserve no
 more than you are getting4 ,to know    
your soil is to be  able to give it the 
treatment it needs to make it fruitful4 
,,chapter ,,iii4                        
,,soil ,,fertility4      ,soil fertility
 is the power in the soil itself to     
produce a good crop  under proper       
conditions4 ,man can neither make nor   
destroy the land4  ,all that man can do 
is to make it more or less efficient1   
according to  how he uses it4 ,two men  
may take two pieces of soil of equal    
fertility  and get vastly different     
results2 by careful study and experiment
 we  may learn how to take advantage of 
this fertility2 but the real secret  of 
it1 ,nature has wisely locked up in the 
soil itself1 so that one  generation of 
men cannot really rob the next4 ,it has 

been said that  old-time farmers1 of    
,new ,england particularly1 robbed the  
soil of its  fertility1 so that their   
sons have been compelled to abandon the 
old  farms and seek new land in the     
west1 or new occupations in the cities  
of the country4 ,the real truth is1 not 
that the soil has been robbed  of its   
fertility by the fathers1 but that the  
sons have continued the  unenlightened  
methods of the fathers even after their 
ineffectualness  has been proved4       
,since that land was abandoned it has   
not really been idle4 ,nature has  been 
improving it all these years by placing 
leaves and trees back  upon it1 thus    
providing humus2 and also by the action 
of heat and  cold4 ,some of this land1  
overgrown with briers and brush1 has    
been  cleared and found to be better and
 stronger than ever before4 ,much of    
the soil is sour1 but that is easily    
remedied1 and wherever a patch  is      
burned over1 the grass works in well4   
,on some of these abandoned  farms there

 is an excellent opportunity to combine 
intensive culture on  the lowlands with 
orcharding on the hills1 for the        
fertility is still  there4 ,if man could
 destroy this quality1 that clings to   
all soil1 he  would have spoiled it     
centuries ago1 and the race would have  
starved4  ,but we are a long time       
learning how best to use it4    ,robert 
,s4 ,seeds1 of ,birmingham1 ,pa41 thinks
 he has solved the secret  of unlocking 
that soil fertility1 and he offers the  
astounding results  of his operations on
 an abandoned farm1 as proof of his     
claims4 ,he not  only raises enormous   
crops1 but he sells his soil by the     
bushel1 to his  less enlightened        
neighbors to inoculate their farms4 ,he 
tells the story  of his experiments in a
 lecture called 8,how ,god made the     
,soil ,fertile10  which is published in 
pamphlet form and sells for #be cents4  
,he says 8,the ,lord made all the acres 
of the land fertile1 from the  ,atlantic
 to the ,pacific1 and gave it to man to 

live upon1 to prosper  and be happy4 ,in
 doing so ,he never hauled a wagon-load 
of manure or a  load of lime1 nor bought
 a ton of fertilizer--and how did ,he do
 it8 ,he  did it with vegetable matter2 
and ,i thought if the ,lord could do it1
 ,i  could do it4 ,this sounds a little 
conceity1 but ,i mean it40    ,as a     
result of this belief1 ,mr4 ,seeds took 
to experimenting1 beginning  with the   
crops that store nitrogen in their      
roots1 such as crimson  clover1 and with
 purple-top strap-leaf turnip4 ,but the 
results were  not sufficiently great to 
please this man1 who was after all there
 was  in the soil4 ,he needed some plant
 with longer roots1 and finally hit     
upon the cowhorn turnip1 which will grow
 roots from #i inches to #b feet  long1 
thus making available the plant food    
locked up in the subsoil4  ,finally he  
combined cowhorn turnip and rape1 and   
now his soil is the  most fertile in his
 district1 and is so profitable as an   
inoculator of  other soils that he keeps

 fields free from harvest crops so as to
 have  the soil for sale4    8,bob      
,seeds0 further says that a field filled
 with the decayed vegetable  matter and 
humus from one crop of crimson clover   
plowed down1 will  hold fifty tons more 
water to the acre than soil that is not4
 ,if you  figure how much water you must
 have to raise a crop of corn1 oats1    
potatoes1 hay1 etc41 you will see the   
value of land that has the power  to    
hold water4 ,there was a farmer in      
,pennsylvania who got his farm in  such 
a water preserving condition that he    
said the spring rains were  a nuisance4 
,watch the soil and you will see1 that  
soil that is filled  with decayed       
vegetable matter and humus is warmer in 
the winter-time1  cooler in the         
summer-time1 wetter in dry weather and  
dryer in wet  weather4    ,a mulch which
 preserves the moisture in hot or cold  
weather also  unlocks this fertility of 
the soil4    ,all of this is of immense 
importance1 not only to the farmer on a 

large  scale1 but also to you1 with the 
limited area of your garden yard2  for  
in it lies the secret of heavier and    
earlier crops than your less  instructed
 neighbors4 ,professor ,whitney1 ,chief 
of the ,bureau of ,soils1  ,department  
of ,agriculture1 ,wash41 says that deep 
plowing and shallow  cultivation are the
 best means of retaining moisture in the
 soil1  and he adds1 8,strange as it may
 seem1 while we suffer if we do not  get
 rains1 we should actually be better    
off1 as they are in the arid  regions of
 the west1 if we did not have any rain  
during the growing  season and had a    
means of providing water when we wanted 
it4 ,the  trouble with us is that we    
cannot maintain the dry mulch1 because  
we  have rain on the average every three
 days4 ,if you knew what was coming1    
you could save your crop through any    
ordinary period of drought1  provided   
you had the skill1 the judgment and the 
chance which would  lead you to begin   
your operations at just the right time40

    ,according to ,professor ,whitney   
there are about #djj distinct types of  
soil so far encountered in the ,united  
,states1 with varying degrees of  known 
fertility1 and only eight or ten staple 
crops growing4 ,this1  of course1 does  
not include the special crops like      
celery2 it is the  regular1 staple field
 or garden crops that are unnecessarily 
limited4  ,these are grown on all kinds 
of soil in all parts of the country     
without regard to the suitability of the
 soil to the crop4    ,the ,government1 
through the ,department of ,agriculture1
 has given a  great impetus to plant    
introduction1 and you cannot of course  
expect to  rival or approach it1 with   
its enormous funds and staff of experts1
 but  you can experiment with the new   
crops it introduces4 ,hitherto1 in this 
country1 where the soil was too dry for 
corn or wheat1 or too moist for         
potatoes1 it has been neglected         
altogether2 but the present movement    
includes finding crops suitable for     

these lands4 ,the ,government has       
introduced the durum wheat which yields 
crops in regions suffering  from        
drought1 and in #aije the ,united       
,states exported #f1jjj1jjj bushels  of 
it2 ,japanese ,kiushu rice is doing well
 in ,louisiana and ,texas rice  fields2 
the ,japanese salad plant1 the udo1 is  
being tested from ,maine  to ,california
 and giving good results2 ,kafir corns  
from ,abyssinia1  ,india and ,east      
,africa are being grown in ,kansas and  
other western  sections2 while the      
,english broad bean1 ,hungarian paprika1
 and fruits  from all parts of the      
world1 are being tested in all sections 
of this  country4 ,those #djj different 
types of soil should mean limitless     
diversifications of crops1 and it is    
fair to assume that the real day  of    
agriculture1 in this country at least1  
is only just dawning4    ,the           
,government is now testing profitable   
crops for the farms of ,new  ,england   
which have been abandoned to the        

mortgagees4 ,areas there are  too small 
to grow corn#b and wheat in successful  
competition with the  great farms of the
 west1 but there are other crops which  
will yield  even better results and     
command the market4 ,you1 who are now   
coming  into the great calling of       
earning your living from the soil1 could
  not have chosen a better moment for   
entrance4 ,keep in touch with the       
,department of ,agriculture4 ,it is your
 department1 a sort of college or       
training school which you maintain1 and 
anything you want to know the           
,department will gladly try to tell you4
 ,if you want to know what is  best for 
you to plant on your patch1 send a      
sample of your soil1 tell  where your   
farm is located1 what are your means and
 experience1 and  the suggestions made  
will fit your particular case4 ,if you  
send any of  your requests1 whether for 
advice or for bulletins1 addressed      
simply  to the ,department of           
,agriculture1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 you 

will get a  reply1 and will find out who
 is the head of the special department  
your  request was referred to4 ,the     
,department is doing needed work1 and by
  corresponding with them and getting   
advice1 you can give proof of your      
interest4      ,,footnotes3    #b       
,,note4--,but corn growing is on the    
increase in ,new ,england and at the    
great ,omaha ,corn ,show a ,connecticut 
farmer won three first prizes4 ,the     
,flint varieties are especially adapted 
for the ,new ,england climate and  soil 
and open up new possibilities for the   
,new ,england farmer4                   
,,chapter ,,iv4                         
,,location4      ,how to buy land and   
why2 how to help the poor to keep       
themselves on the  land and what plain  
people have actually done2 the record   
yields and  how they have been raised2  
how much capital can be used by one man1
 are  considered in 8,a ,little ,land   
and a ,living40    ,how much of a crop  
you may be able to get2 how much or     

rather how  little capital it takes2 how
 much labor is needed2 where cheap lands
  are to be found and how to clear wild 
land and how to build1 are all  treated 
fully in 8,three ,acres and ,liberty10  
now published in fine shape  at fifty   
cents4 ,so this 8hand book0 need only   
show what other things  are included in 
the term 8location40    ,if you are     
thinking of the character of the soil   
when hunting for a  garden plot1 you    
will more than ever think also about the
 importance of  location4 ,any soil1    
even the best sandy loam1 needs some    
fertilizing  and watering1 and you      
cannot afford to use land where manure  
can  not be had easily1 or where there  
is not a good water supply4 ,to  pay    
high for fertilizer cuts the profit from
 your small area1 and  this is more     
especially true if your soil is clayey  
and needs much  preparation-tillage4 ,in
 most cities you will find              
stable-keepers and  others who will give
 you manure or street sweepings in the  

winter in  return for hauling it away4  
,that is a great advantage to you1 but  
if  you locate your garden where        
truckage amounts to two or three dollars
 a  load1 you have offset the advantage 
you derived from the free manure4       
,also1 if your water supply is poor1 you
 will find it difficult to carry  your  
crops through the hot weather4          
,,market4    ,you can raise a good crop 
from good soil properly fertilized1 but 
if  you cannot market it to advantage1  
you can't sell it at a profit4 ,a  long 
railway haul not only injures the garden
 truck1 but it also eats  up the        
profits4 ,therefore1 get your plot near 
a town or city where the  expense of    
selling is reduced to a minimum and     
where the demand for  garden products   
will at least equal the supply4    ,so  
the good-garden-plot tests are three3   
first1 the character of the  soil1      
second1 the location as regards the     
market1 and third1 the  demands of that 
market4 ,he who must of necessity use   

the land where he  is1 will1 if he uses 
his brains as well as his hands1 find   
his reward  satisfactory1 even though it
 fall below the returns from a plot with
  all advantages4                       
,,chapter ,v4                           
,,seeds4      ,the expense and labor of 
preparing and tilling soil is too great 
to  allow you to plant poor seed4 ,the  
stock-breeder does not take his         
sickliest1 poorest specimens for        
breeding purposes1 but rather selects   
the best and most nearly perfect        
specimens2 you should be careful to  do 
the same with your plants4 ,the farmer's
 work is just as important  as the      
stock-breeder's4 ,it should be the aim  
of each to improve the  strain and      
produce the best possible result4       
,therefore1 if you are  growing corn1   
plant seed only from the stalk that     
produced the most  and the best ears of 
corn4 ,it is good to send fine ears to  
market and  get the best price for them1
 but if you save only your scrubby ears 

for seed1 next year you will not have   
fine1 perfect ears of corn to  send4 ,so
 select of your very best for seed      
purposes1 and if your best  is not good 
enough1 then buy from a better grower   
who has the best4  ,aim to produce an   
ideal ear of corn4 ,it can be done1 and 
you might as  well do it4 ,only in this 
way will you find your corn crop paying 
you  for your time and labor4 ,if you   
carefully follow this every year1 you   
will find your acre annually producing  
more and more corn without any          
additional labor or expense4 ,that is   
one trick in making farming pay4  ,it is
 a trick that holds good with every     
garden crop as well as with  corn4 ,it  
won't do to wait until harvest time to  
find out if the seed  you have planted  
is any good1 if you have to buy your    
seed and want to  make a profit from    
your garden the first season4 ,this     
simple method of  testing seeds may save
 you time and money4 ,get your seed     
early in the  season1 select about one  

hundred and put them between two moist  
pieces  of flannel1 which in turn are   
placed between two soup plates4 ,keep   
the  flannel moist 7not soaking wet with
 water standing in the dishes71 and  as 
soon as the seeds have sprouted1 count  
the proportion of live ones4  ,if only a
 few of them have sprouted1 you will    
know that you cannot  afford to give    
ground up to the use of such poor seed4 
,the larger the  proportion of your test
 seeds that sprout1 or 8germinate10 as  
this  process is called1 the better for 
your profit1 if you plant from this     
same stock or assortment4    ,be sure   
you deal with a seed house that has a   
reputation at stake2 and  if possible go
 there yourself and see the man who     
really knows about  seed3 generally     
there is only about one man in a concern
 who does know  his business4    ,if you
 answer attractive advertisements and   
buy at 8big bargains0 you  may lose your
 money1 or1 what is worse1 you may be   
kept waiting from  day to day till your 

planting days are over1 or worst of all1
 you may  plant poor seed4 ,the dates of
 planting given throughout this book are
  for the latitude of ,new ,york4 ,in   
,northern ,new ,england planting should 
be about three weeks later4 ,all the    
middle western states can be  figured   
the same as ,new ,york3 but all states  
south of ,pennsylvania may  be figured  
twelve days in advance for every one    
hundred miles southward4    ,this holds 
good for sowing out of doors or for     
transplanting out of  doors4 ,for       
starting seeds in your home1 these times
 will do for the  entire eastern states4
                                        
,,chapter ,,vi4                         
,,plant-,,breeding4      ,plant-breeding
 is producing plants adapted to         
particular conditions or  requirements2 
but the mere production of something new
 or different1 is  not true             
plant-breeding4 ,the plant breeder has a
 definite purpose or  aim in mind1 and  
this comes only from a clear idea of his

 business4 ,the  professional breeders  
produce the races or groups1 but the    
intelligent  individual farmer adapts   
them to his own conditions1 and may make
  modifications of inestimable value to 
other farmers4    ,good farmers have    
always been plant-breeders1 even though 
they did not  know it4 ,they have always
 kept the best ear of corn and the best 
potato  for seed4 ,they have followed   
the stock-breeder's plan--only the best 
stock for sires and dams4 ,so no common 
plants should be used for seed2  only   
the finest is worth planting4           
,improvement is made by selection1 as   
,darwin taught us many years ago1 but we
 are slow to learn new lessons4  ,we    
know that we do not look to the children
 of physically1 mentally  or morally    
deformed persons for our specimens of   
physical1 mental  and moral manhood2 nor
 to the cur's litter for the best type  
of pup4  ,now we are learning that the  
same holds good with plants1 and that   
the farmer who keeps the small potatoes 

for seed will produce poorer  potatoes  
than he ought to have4    ,the other day
 ,i found a farmer harvesting a measly  
lot of corn4 8,where  did you get that  
seed80 ,i asked4 8,oh10 he said1 8,i    
picked it up 'most  anywhere40 ,i could 
have told him that myself without       
asking4    ,selection and breeding are  
not the work of experts alone1 for any  
one  who gains the simple knowledge that
 enables him to recognize the plant  or 
crop that resists prevailing diseases   
and flourishes best under  his          
conditions1 needs only to preserve the  
seed of such plants for  propagating4   
,cross-breeding1 on the contrary1 is    
expert work1 but new  strains may be    
secured by straight selection of        
individual plants1 and  this gives      
enormous results4 ,if one persistently  
saves the seeds of  those plants that   
best serve his purpose1 he will soon    
have crops that  are superior to any    
that he had before4 ,the process is so  
simple that  anybody can do it4 ,we have

 talked for years of the 8survival of   
the  fittest10 and this is but helping  
the best to beat the poorer ones4       
,what causes the variations that make   
selection possible nobody yet  knows2   
but we do know that changes in soil1    
climate1 methods of  growing and in     
other things have an effect4 ,some      
variations come from  8crossing10 and   
some from no cause that we can see3 in  
those cases they  are called 8sports0 of
 nature2 learn to look out for them and 
when the  new variety is better than    
anything you have before produced1 save 
it  for seed and see what comes of it4  
,you may thereby be doing all mankind  a
 service4                               
,,chapter ,,vii4                        
,,plant ,,needs4      ,plants need      
water1 air1 food1 light and warmth just 
as animals do1 and  it is wonderful to  
study the shifts and contrivances to    
which they  resort to get these1 and    
also to protect themselves against too  
much of  any of them4 ,if the plant were

 not able to change itself to suit the  
conditions1 it would often die where now
 it fights successfully4    ,nothing    
affects the plant like the water supply2
 the size of every part  of the plant is
 increased by plenty of water4 ,it not  
only helps the  growth of flowers and   
fruits1 but it even changes the         
character of the  plant4 ,in a moist    
air1 cactus will put out leaf-like      
organs1 gorse will  grow leaves instead 
of thorns2 while where the water supply 
is very  scanty1 the potato will put    
forth no leaves1 but will become like a 
cactus4    ,yet plants do not grow in   
soil that is too wet1 because they need 
air1  and too much water suffocates the 
roots4 ,by proper irrigation--which     
means giving just the right supply of   
water--both the quantity and  quality of
 the crop can be improved4    ,while    
plants need light1 all varieties do not 
need the same amount of  it4 ,you will  
find that those which need much light   
can turn towards  it1 and this of itself

 will show you where such plants should 
be sown4  ,plants have various ways to  
resist the supply of light when they are
  getting too much4 ,they droop their   
heads or close their leaves1 which      
prevents evaporation4    ,different     
plants need different food and the same 
soil conditions will  not suit all4     
,some require rich soil if they are to  
flourish1 while  some do better in poor 
soil4 ,on the whole1 plants1 like       
people1 are  better for under-feeding   
than for over-feeding4 ,in general1     
starving  a plant makes it flower and   
fruit more quickly1 but less abundantly2
  while over-feeding helps to make much 
stem and leaf instead of fruit1  and    
also produces monstrosities4 ,too much  
nitrogen1 especially1 makes  too much   
stem and leaf1 though nitrogen is one of
 the most important  plant foods4       
7,bailey says too much nitrogen can be  
corrected to a  certain extent1 by      
potassium put in the soil4#c7    ,we are
 sure of only three plant foods--potash1

 phosphoric acid1 and  nitrogen4 ,then  
there are lime1 stable manure1 green    
manure1 clover  and cowpeas to doctor   
the soil with1 when it is suffering from
  chemical ills4 ,this gives some idea  
of the vast unexplored regions of       
agriculture which afford you and every  
other worker in the soil an  opportunity
 to make some great discovery for the   
benefit of the world4  ,no other calling
 offers such limitless opportunities4   
,lime is especially valuable for plant  
food and also to make other kinds  of   
plant food available4 ,crops often fail 
in soil where there is plenty  of plant 
food1 because it is not in the form that
 the plants can use4  ,lime hastens the 
decay of vegetable matter1 sweetens sour
 soil1 and  greatly improves the texture
 of clay soils4 ,besides this it        
counteracts  magnesium in the soil and  
destroys its bad effects4 ,but lime may 
not be  applied carelessly1 because1    
although some plants cannot live without
  it1 some require a very small         

quantity4 7,it is1 therefore1 wise to   
send  a sample of the soil1 to write    
what we want to grow1 to the nearest    
,government experiment station1 who will
 probably suggest what could be  done   
with it1 to make it productive47    ,the
 right degree of warmth is another plant
 necessity4 ,the best  temperature for  
plants generally is #hf of the ordinary 
thermometer  7#cj ,centigrade74 ,this1  
however1 depends upon the plant4 ,the   
8best  temperature0 varies with the     
species and variety4 ,usually1 if the   
soil  is hotter than that1 growth stops1
 and if the greater heat is kept up1    
the plant dies4 ,when the temperature is
 lowered1 growth ceases before  freezing
 point is reached4 ,some few plants may 
be frozen without injury  if they are   
allowed to thaw slowly1 but most of them
 are easily killed  by the frost4 ,too  
great heat or too much cold acts the    
same as lack of  water2 the heat causes 
too great evaporation1 the cold prevents
 the  roots taking in the water4        

,shingles stuck in the ground on the    
sunny side will serve to protect  young 
plants from sun and rain1 while cool    
soil may be had by using  the shady     
places1 or by sheltering the ground with
 flat sheds the roof  boards of which   
have open spaces between them as wide as
 the boards4  ,this is done in some     
southern tobacco fields4    ,it is the  
law of nature that living cells must    
have a constant supply  of oxygen1 that 
is why a tar wash sometimes kills plants
 by cutting  off the air supply4 ,in the
 same way1 too wet soil or too hard a   
crust  smothers the roots and the plants
 die4 ,the surface soil should be kept  
loose and sufficiently dry1 so that the 
air can circulate4 ,if this be          
prevented1 the soil becomes hard and    
sour and unfit to feed plants4    ,it is
 of the greatest importance to keep the 
soil open and loose by  proper tillage1 
so as to make plants healthy and        
vigorous4    ,though plants need air    
they should be protected from draughts  

and  sudden blasts of air1 whether hot  
or cold4 ,for this reason1 the          
intelligent gardener will consider the  
effect of wind upon his crops  and where
 necessary will plant windbreaks4 ,if   
you look about you1 you  cannot fail to 
see the ill effects of strong winds in  
the odd shapes  of forest trees2 and in 
badly arranged gardens you will find the
 same  effects in the fruit trees and   
small fruit bushes and in the stunted   
crops4 ,plants shape themselves to their
 surroundings1 and the way they  shape  
themselves is determined by inherited   
qualities2 so it may be  said that the  
success of the plant depends upon its   
surroundings and  upon the seed it came 
from4      ,,footnotes3    #c           
,,note4--,in regard to muck soils1 it is
 not a case of excess of  nitrogen but  
lack of potash which makes potash       
valuable for such4  ,samuel ,fraser4    
,,chapter ,,viii4                       
,,crop ,,rotation4      ,in agriculture 
on a large scale the difficulty is how  

to arrange the  farm business so as to  
make it pay4 ,it is only of late that we
 are  beginning to understand that      
agriculture is a business1 and that to  
make it pay one must apply business     
principles4 ,the best farmer is not     
necessarily the one who knows the most  
8,science10 but the one who is  able to 
fit his science1 his facts and his      
business in together4    ,the market    
value of special crops is so high that  
the grower can afford  to provide the   
extra manure and other expensive        
materials to keep the  land in good     
condition4 ,this is the chief reason for
 the use of great  quantities of stable 
manure in market-gardening1 far greater 
quantities  than are needed for mere    
food of the crops4 ,so if you find that 
you are  advised to use more manure on  
your small plot than some farmer you    
know  uses on his big field1 do not feel
 that you are being imposed upon4 ,he   
could not afford to use so much and you 
cannot afford to use less4 ,the  farmer 

on a large scale has to let part of his 
low priced land rest in  clover once in 
a while4 ,you cannot afford to let any  
of your small  area rest1 so you must   
make up to the land by giving it plant  
food  enough4    ,in these days         
machinery has made so many wonderful    
changes in the  management of crops that
 the farmer who sticks to the old       
farming  customs has no chance of making
 more than a living4 ,when the country  
was new1 it was the practice to farm one
 section until it was  exhausted1 and   
then to move to fresh soil4 ,the farmer 
was saved the  bother of cultivating1 as
 virgin soil needed practically only to 
be  planted to bring forth a good       
harvest4 ,but conditions have changed   
and the virgin soil left today is not   
important in the farming  possibilities4
 ,therefore1 we have had to look for    
other means of  getting crops and making
 every inch of land do its share4 ,we no
 longer  allow land to lie fallow that  
it may rest and renew itself4 ,we renew 

it  by fertilizing and by rotation of   
crops4 ,crop rotation is very valuable  
because it is a saving of fertilizer and
 labor1 and keeps the soil  in good     
condition4 ,this has been proved by     
experiments made without  manure1       
depending entirely upon rotation for    
fertilizing1 which gave  excellent      
results4    ,there are probably a dozen 
or more good reasons for the value of   
crop  rotation which have not yet been  
discovered and formulated1 but the      
following are well known3    ,some crops
 tend to correct the faults of others4  
,it has been proved  that the continuous
 growing of one crop injures the soil in
 some  respect1 and the crop falls off  
both in quantity and quality4 ,rotation 
tends to overcome this difficulty4      
,then1 too1 this rotation works out  and
 evens up the inequalities of the soil1 
partly through the different  treatment 
required by the different crops4        
,different plants draw different        
portions of food from the soil and at   

different times4 ,by rotation these     
heavy drafts on the plant food do  not  
come at the same times1 and the seasons 
get a chance to even up the             
inequalities4    ,different plant food  
gets mixed into the soil1 so that the   
roots can  feed on it1 by the decay of  
the parts left in the ground or which   
are plowed under4 ,but the greatest     
benefit comes from the nitrogen         
compounds through growing plants1 such  
as cowpeas1 crimson clover1  etc42 these
 8leguminous0 plants have little knots  
or tubers on their  roots with the      
mysterious power of gathering the free  
nitrogen out of  the soil or air1 and   
turning it back again to the soil in    
condition to  be used by other plants4  
,now nitrogen is the hardest to keep and
 the  most expensive of all the plant   
foods that the farmer has to buy1 and   
to get this nitrogen is sometimes the   
only reason he has for buying  chemical 
fertilizers4    ,this shows the         
importance of leguminous crops to the   

farm4 ,they supply  this nitrogen at    
almost no cost1 or at a profit4    ,some
 plants have more power than others to  
use the contents of the  subsoil1 and   
may draw less on the upper soil1 and    
further1 by their  decay may add        
richness to the earth4 ,most legumes    
have this power to  take nourishment    
from the subsoil4    ,well-planned      
rotation helps to maintain the supply of
 decayed stuff  in the soil1 on which   
the plants feed4 ,it also improves the  
soil's  texture4 ,moreover1 it not only 
lessens the necessity for much chemical 
fertilizer1 but it puts those           
fertilizers to better use4 ,where live  
stock is kept1 crops should be raised to
 feed the stock to make manure4         
,rotation is1 also1 a plan for cleaning 
the soil4 ,different weeds and  insects 
grow after different crops and the      
succession or 8rotation0 as  we call it1
 prevents any kind getting a secure     
hold4    ,it enables the farmer to meet 
the demands of the market1 by continuous

  crops4                                
,,chapter ,,ix4                         
,,weeds4      ,it is not enough to know 
what to grow1 you must also know what   
not to  grow for profit1 in a garden    
patch2 and first in this class come     
weeds4  ,study them until you know even 
their seeds4 ,you cannot expect to get  
rid of weeds until you know the nature  
of them and the best way to  attack     
them1 so that they may be readily       
destroyed4 ,if you run across  any      
common ones that you cannot place1 send 
sample to the ,department of            
,agriculture4 ,they will tell you all   
about them4 ,get from the ,department   
,farmer's ,bulletin #bh on 8,weeds and  
,how to ,kill ,them40 ,all this will    
pay4    ,one of the most common of the  
weeds of the north is the pigweed4 ,this
  is the growth of one year and can be  
destroyed by simply preventing  it from 
running to seed4 ,a year or two will    
clear out even the most  obstinate      
growth of pigweed4    ,mustard1         

plantain1 chess1 dodder1 cockle1        
crab-grass and ,jimsonweed  are the most
 disagreeable of the common weeds4 ,the 
best time to kill  them is when they are
 small2 therefore1 you should keep the  
ground  constantly stirred up that the  
young weeds may not have a chance to    
get a firm hold of the soil4 ,if they do
 get a start on you1 don't let  them    
ripen4 ,cut them down before they run to
 seed at all4 ,never let up  in your war
 upon them4 ,that advice holds good for 
all weeds1 whether  they be annuals1    
which die every year1 biennials that    
last for two  years1 or perennials that 
can stand the winters4 ,the biennials   
commonly  found are wild carrot1        
thistle1 moth mullein1 wild parsnip and 
burdock4  ,these are best destroyed by  
cutting the roots below the leaves with 
a  grubbing hoe or spud4 ,be sure they  
are cut low enough1 else they will      
branch out and make new seeds4    ,some 
weeds live more than two years and are  
called perennials1 such  as many        

grasses1 dock1 ,canada thistle1 poison  
ivy1 passion-flower1  horse-nettle1 etc4
 ,the best thing to do with them is to  
dig them out  and take them away4 ,crude
 sulphuric acid applied to the soil     
kills  them1 or they may be starved by  
covering them with boards or with       
layers of straw4 ,if they come up       
through the straw1 lift it up a bit  and
 let it fall again4 ,there is yet       
another method1 and if you have  the    
time and land to spare1 you will find it
 a good one4 ,smother them  out by a    
dense growth of useful plants4 ,some use
 buckwheat and others  cowpeas4 ,the    
cowpeas are to be preferred as they     
enrich the soil by  the nitrogen their  
roots gather4 ,and that is another story
 that has its  own time and place4 ,just
 now we are considering weeds1 and you  
will  find that they will keep you      
considering most of the time1 for the   
only  good thing so far known about them
 is1 that they make even lazy farmers   
till their crops1 if they have any4     

,left to themselves1 weeds shade the    
crops1 steal their nourishment1 waste   
moisture1 and probably poison the  soil4
 ,not even a mortgage can eat up a      
farmer's profits like weeds4            
,,chapter ,x4                           
,,insects ,,and ,,diseases4      ,the   
wise gardener uses the spray to prevent 
disease and the attacks  of insects1    
instead of waiting to fight them after  
they have arrived4  ,but if they attack 
your garden you must fight them         
intelligently and  without ceasing4     
,the destruction by insects1 is1        
generally speaking1 easily seen1 but    
diseases of plants are not so plain1 and
 have only been carefully  studied even 
by experts during the past fifty years4 
,at present1 all  we know is how to     
fight insects and diseases by different 
substances1  put on or about the plants4
 ,as fresh discoveries are constantly   
being  made1 we will some day get rid of
 all these difficulties4 ,it is always  
better to get the advice of an expert   

when insects or diseases become         
troublesome4    ,anything in the soil or
 surroundings of your garden which      
interferes  with the plants during the  
growing season1 weakens the crop and    
lays  it open to attacks4 ,plants are   
like children4 ,if they are badly fed1  
poorly clothed1 ill housed or neglected1
 they are far more likely to  become    
diseased than if they are kept in a good
 state4 ,so look after  your drainage1  
the character of the soil and the sort  
of cultivation  you give it4 ,all these 
help the crop to withstand disease4 ,on 
the big  western wheat fields1 it has   
been found that drainage has a most     
marked  effect upon blights1 wilts and  
rust4 ,undrained wheat sections suffer  
greatly from rust4    ,just how diseases
 are caught by one plant or section of a
 garden from  another1 is not fully     
known1 but we know that insects often   
carry  infection from one to another1 as
 in fruit trees to which bees go for    
honey4 ,the bee1 coming from an infected

 tree to a perfectly healthy  tree1 may 
bring with it the germs of the disease  
or the eggs of the  pest4 ,many         
scientific men now hold that plant      
diseases are transmitted  by germs1     
which are carried not by insects only   
but also by the wind  and the water in  
the soil4    ,the wrong use of          
fertilizers or barnyard manure may often
 induce  disease1 simply because the    
unbalanced food supply causes           
irregularity  in growth1 which weakens  
the plant's resisting power4 ,what is   
called  a 8balanced ration10 is of the  
utmost importance to plants4 ,it is not 
enough that the soil contain an         
abundance of some of the elements of    
plant food1 but that it contain all of  
them in nice proportion1 so that  the   
plant can draw all it needs1 and not be 
overfed in some ways and  underfed in   
others4 ,that is why we add humus1 why  
we fertilize1 why we  cultivate1 and why
 we take note of our plants while       
growing4 ,only in  this way can we      

supply their wants4    ,weeds spread    
diseases and we should be ashamed of    
them4 ,not only are  they usually       
favorable to the growth of insects1     
scales and blights1  but some kinds of  
weeds actually breed these parasites4   
,moreover1 they  rob the soil of        
nourishment during the dry1 hot spells1 
thus bringing  about various kinds of   
rots and mildews4 ,and now it is        
supposed that  they give out a kind of  
poison1 or excrement1 which renders the 
soil  unfit for crops4 ,all this shows  
the necessity of clean cultivation if   
we would help our crops to resist both  
insects and diseases4                   
,,chapter ,,xi4                         
,,re-,,soiling4      ,there is a good   
deal of talk these days about           
re-soiling1 but the word  is misleading4
 ,we cannot re-soil this earth or any   
part of it4 ,the soil  is there for     
keeps4 ,it was here before us1 and will 
remain after we are  gone4 ,all we can  
do is to put back into the soil some of 

the vegetable  matter of which we have  
robbed it2 and this is really what we   
have in  mind when we speak of          
re-soiling4 ,people have the habit of   
coining  almost meaningless words1 and  
then wondering why everybody does not   
know at once what they meant to say4    
,what we are after is1 to put humus1    
which is really decayed vegetable       
matter1 back into the soil4 ,then that  
natural fertility1 of which we  have    
been talking1 will have a chance to get 
to work4    ,illustration3 ,,winter     
,,residents ,,in ,a ,,summer ,,camp4    
,now1 decayed vegetable matter is part  
of what makes up stable and  barnyard   
manure1 street and stable sweepings2    
but1 in practice1 this  does not afford 
enough humus3 that is one reason why    
crops of clover1  cowpeas1 velvet-bean1 
buckwheat1 etc41 are often grown only to
 be  plowed into the ground in the fall4
 ,these are the green manures which     
decay and become a part of the soil     
before the next planting season4  ,soil 

fertilized in this way will be richer1  
moister1 darker1 than soil  fertilized  
solely by stable manure or commercial   
fertilizer4 ,soils that  contain enough 
plant food to supply crops for a        
thousand years to come1  are often      
barren or yield but a niggardly crop4   
,this may be because  they lack humus1  
which is the key that unlocks the store 
of plant food  in the soil1 and makes it
 available for the seeds and tender     
rootlets4  ,how much more humus may do1 
we do not yet know1 but every year fresh
  discoveries are made1 and if we are to
 be benefited by them1 we must  get     
ourselves ready for the new truths by   
using those already known4    ,on his   
famous farm in ,birmingham1 ,pa41 8,bob0
 ,seeds plows his cowhorn  turnips1 tops
 and all1 into the earth in the fall1   
and by spring they  have decayed4 ,he   
says wherever a turnip has rotted1 you  
can see the  difference in the color of 
the soil even some distance away1 and   
the  abundance of the next season's crop

 shows how quickly ,nature responds     
when we work with her4    ,all vines and
 garden waste may be used for humus if  
plowed into the  ground in the fall1    
unless they have been infested with     
insects or  troubled by diseases4 ,it is
 well established1 that insects and     
their  eggs manage to live over the     
winter by the aid of vines and refuse   
left lying about1 as well as by weeds   
that the careless farmer has  failed to 
destroy4 ,it is well to cut all weeds1  
not only those that  bother you in your 
garden1 but also those that grow along  
the road1  as often their seeds are     
carried by the wind or the birds into   
your  garden patch4 ,gather them into a 
heap and burn them1 adding to your      
bonfire all the sickly1 dead1 diseased1 
or insect-ridden vines and  plants1 and 
completely destroy them4 ,you may be    
sure that the bugs on  those particular 
plants will not bother you next year4   
,what you lose  in possible humus by    
this practice1 you can make up by       

growing green  manure1 or even by buying
 some of the prepared humus materials   
now on  the market4    ,the ,long       
,island ,agronomist1 in a recent issue1 
tells of one of these  materials which  
comes from ,new ,jersey1 and consists of
 innumerable  rootlets1 leaf-fibres and 
vegetable matter of all descriptions4   
,it is  gathered from the peatbogs of   
,new ,jersey and is really the wash from
  mountains and hills carried down by   
streams in freshet times1 until  some   
level was reached where this deposit was
 made4 ,when spread on the  land or     
mixed with the earth1 it is found to    
hold much moisture1 for  each particle  
swells up as if it were a sponge1 and   
the crops planted  on soil treated with 
this preparation do remarkably well4 ,it
 was so  very expensive at first as to  
be almost prohibitive except for very   
valuable crops1 but the price is now    
such that many a man can afford to  use 
it1 especially if he cannot afford the  
time or space to grow his  own green    

manure4    ,nothing looks nicer about a 
house than a green lawn1 with           
smooth-cropped1 velvety surface1 but    
nothing is harder to maintain  after a  
few years of cropping4 ,this is because 
a well-kept lawn is  carefully raked    
after each clipping1 and is kept free   
from falling  leaves or other vegetable 
waste matter4 ,it must be admitted that 
the  general effect is better1          
particularly when the lawn stretches    
from  the front of the house to the     
roadside4 ,but the lawn is1             
nevertheless1  being starved1 and though
 watered every day it cannot keep up its
  velvety surface indefinitely1 unless  
supplied with the food it needs4  ,this 
is ,nature's own secret for replenishing
 the earth with good crops1  and all you
 need do is to observe what is going on 
around you1 to find  daily proof of it4 
,to quote ,mr4 ,seeds again3 8,every two
 years1 we ought to sow clean blue      
grass or lawn grass seed over the lawn4 
,i prefer to mow often and leave  the   

clippings on the lawn4 ,it is the       
blanket and vegetable matter that  will 
do the lawn good4 ,every few years ,i   
cover the lawn with barnyard  manure1 in
 the fall2 let it lie there all winter  
and that which we rake  off in the      
spring we put on the garden4 ,this is a 
little trouble1 but ,i  want to say that
 ,i made more money creating my lawn    
than ,i ever did in  taking a fat ox    
from the stall1 or a bushel of potatoes 
from my cellar4    8,a man will stand on
 the public road in front of my place1  
and give me  more for my property on    
account of my lawn2 but money is not the
 only  thing in the world4 ,the lawn    
makes the boys and girls want to stay on
  the farm4 ,it is on our lawn that we  
spend our spare moments on ,sundays1    
entertaining our friends1 in the summer2
 and there1 beneath the shade  of #8the 
old apple-tree1' the smoke curls more   
beautifully from my  chimney than from  
any other ,i ever saw40    ,so there is 
no reason why you should not have a good

 lawn1 as well as  a good garden1 if you
 will supply what the grass roots want4 
,and it  is true that the lawn is a     
genuine asset4 ,the man who is too busy 
to  bother with making a lawn1 or to sit
 on it with his family in spare         
moments1 even though it takes a good    
deal of contriving to spare those       
moments1 is the man who1 by and by1 is  
going to complain that his  boys and    
girls have left the old place1 and that 
8farming is mighty  expensive with all  
hired help40 ,unless you have made      
yourself and your  family happy1 you    
will not have achieved success1 no      
matter how much  wealth you may get4    
,give your crops and your children what 
they need  for their best development1  
and you will find nothing to complain of
  either in parenthood or in farming4   
,,chapter ,,xii4                        
,,how ,,to ,,work4      ,if you are only
 just beginning to experiment with      
gardening1 and feel  that a fresh supply
 of fruits and vegetables from ,may     

until ,christmas  would satisfy you for 
the first year or so1 you will find a   
plot #ajj   #bjj feet quite large enough
 to feed your family and a little more  
besides4 ,if your plot has not been used
 for a long time1 you will have  to do  
your plowing1 if you can1 the fall      
before you plant it4 ,this will  give   
the frost a chance to sweeten the soil1 
and it is very likely to  need a good   
deal of sweetening4 ,most yard soils    
have become acid1 and  in an acid soil  
little will grow4 ,it comes from the    
earth having been  so long packed down  
that the air has had no chance to       
circulate1 and  fresh air sweetens your 
soil just as it does your house4    ,it 
is not good to put stable manure on an  
acid soil4 ,what it wants is  a little  
slaked lime or plaster1 to help the     
sweetening process4 ,some  scientists   
claim that we can find out whether or   
not soil is acid by  the use of blue    
litmus paper1 which you can get at any  
druggist's4 ,open  the soil to a depth  

of six inches and put in the litmus     
paper1 drawing  the earth close up to   
it4 ,examine it in #bj minutes1 and if  
there is  any acid present1 the paper   
will have turned red4 ,this test is     
still  being experimented on4#d    ,if  
your land is in proper condition to     
manure1 use about twenty-five  heaping  
wagon-loads to the acre before plowing  
in the early spring1 and  then use a    
disc or cutaway harrow until you have   
made the soil as fine  as dust4 ,then   
you have good planting conditions4      
,how much of the discontent with farming
 and gardening may have arisen  from the
 old method of planting in beds1 it is  
hard to say4 ,but that  cause for       
dissatisfaction no longer exists4 ,we   
now plant in long rows  far enough apart
 to allow the use of the wheel-hoe in   
cultivating the  large and small plants 
alike1 without having to readjust the   
blades4  ,the wheel-hoe is one of the   
most useful of farm tools1 and has done 
away with most of the back-breaking work

 of hand-weeding4    ,we cannot use the 
wheel-hoe on beds2 that is why we now   
plant in rows4  ,if your plot allows    
rows one hundred feet long1 you will    
find one row  of any vegetable enough   
for family use4 ,let them run crosswise 
of the  slope of the ground if your     
patch is not level1 else the rain may   
make  channels of your seed rows4 ,if   
possible1 choose a southern exposure    
for your garden2 because this gets all  
the sun1 it will be earlier  than less  
favored exposures4 ,lay out a plan of   
your land and work with  a definite     
purpose4 ,the 8rule of thumb0 is no more
 satisfactory in  gardening than in     
carpentering4    ,if the slope of your  
land allows it1 run your rows north and 
south1  so that each row may get the sun
 from the east in the morning1 and  from
 the west in the afternoon4 ,put        
asparagus1 rhubarb1 sweet herbs  and    
other permanent vegetables in a row at  
one side1 so they may not  interfere    
with the plowing of the rest of the     

garden4    ,plant vegetables of the same
 height together1 so far as the tillage 
required will allow4 ,put the tall ones 
at the back1 so as not to shade  the    
others4 ,if you have a hedge1 a building
 or a strip of woods as a  windbreak on 
the side where the wind blows worst in  
winter1 you will  get vegetables a      
fortnight earlier in the spring1 and    
probably a month  later in the fall4    
,the more protected the garden1 the     
warmer the soil1  and warm soil means   
quick and abundant returns4 ,that is one
 reason why  we use so much manure4 ,it 
warms and quickens the soil4    ,plant  
vegetables that ripen at the same time  
as near together as their  size1 habits 
and tillage requirements will permit4   
,practice rotation2 for instance1 lima  
beans should not immediately  follow    
string beans or peas4 ,as far as        
possible1 keep the plants  subject to   
the same insects and diseases together4 
,it is easier to  treat them1 and       
besides1 it leaves the other portions of

 the plot  uninfested1 if they get so   
bad that you have to change the position
 of  the plants4    ,if you are growing 
fruits1 you could plant a row of apple  
trees about  fifteen feet apart on the  
northern border1 plums and pears on the 
west1 and cherries and peaches on the   
east side4 ,then if you could put  a    
grape-trellis next the apples1 and a row
 of gooseberry1 currant1  raspberry and 
blackberry bushes in front of the       
grapevines1 you will  have a windbreak  
as a protection against the north winds1
 which will  prove profitable in itself 
as well as in its service to the        
vegetables4    ,transplant freely2      
nearly all vegetables are the better for
 it1  especially lettuce and other salad
 plants4 ,sow seed thickly in the  first
 place4 ,you can easily thin out or     
transplant1 but you cannot  increase the
 number of plants if you have sown      
thinly4 ,even a small  proportion of    
weak seed that would not sprout would   
seriously affect  your crop4 ,besides1  

where you sow thickly1 you can afford to
 weed out  all but the best and         
stockiest1 and you are thus doing       
something to  improve the strain4       
,keep your soil busy all the time4 ,dr4 
,watts said1 8,satan finds some         
mischief still1 for idle hands to do10  
and that might be paraphrased  to read  
that 8,nature has great store of weeds  
in idle lands to grow40  8,weeds are the
 farmer's best friend1 they force him to
 cultivate40  ,but that friendship is   
only true where it has that effect4 ,the
 farmer  who lets the weeds grow either 
in the garden rows or in the walks  and 
hedges1 is going to find them his worst 
enemy4 ,they poison and  suffocate his  
crop1 and are also regular incubators of
 insects and  diseases4 ,the best way to
 fight them is to starve them out with  
paying  crops4 ,therefore1 as soon as   
one crop begins to ripen1 plant another1
  and then another1 and so on4 ,to grow 
but one crop is risky1 unless  you are  
specializing and have prepared the best 

possible conditions  for that one crop4 
,for a special market this is very      
profitable4 ,but  usually               
companion-cropping is best4 ,that gives 
two crops in the ground  at the same    
time1 one maturing before the other     
needs the space4 ,thus  late celery may 
be planted between the rows of early    
celery2 lettuce  with early cabbage2    
radishes with beets or carrots2 corn    
with squash1  pumpkins or beans1 and    
horse-radish with early onions or       
cauliflower4    ,irrigation for arid    
soils and drainage for wet or clayey    
soils1 are  the two opposite methods    
which bring astounding results4 ,any    
sort  of drainage is better than no     
drainage1 but the best form so far      
discovered is the tile drain laid about 
two and a half to four feet  below the  
surface4 ,this carries away the surplus 
water and prevents  the roots of the    
crops being suffocated4 ,on the other   
hand1 irrigation  supplies to the dry   
lands the moisture they need4 ,the      

tremendous  irrigation works carried on 
by the ,government in the sandy1        
hitherto  barren1 reaches of the west1  
are bringing results even more          
tremendous  than the works4    ,hard1   
wet soil will not grow crops and here is
 where the advantage  of draining comes 
in4 ,drainage deepens the subsoil and   
removes the  water2 it deepens the      
surface also and makes more of the plant
 food in  the soil available4 ,wet soil 
is sticky and hard for the seeds to push
  their way through2 but drainage will  
improve its texture and make it  crumble
 and fall apart easily1 or as the       
experts say1 it will make it  8friable40
 ,at the same time it will prevent it   
washing or 8leaching0  away4 ,but even  
this does not tell all of the advantages
 of drainage4 ,it  warms the soil and by
 making the ground more porous allows   
the roots to  go deeper in search of    
their food and moisture4 ,this in turn  
enables  plants to withstand drought and
 hot weather better and makes returns   

more sure4 ,it also permits working the 
ground earlier in the spring and  after 
rains1 because1 the more porous the     
soil1 the quicker it absorbs  and stores
 moisture that comes in rain4    ,there 
are germs in the soil which change the  
nitrogen into nitrates1  the form in    
which nitrogen becomes the real plant   
food1 and drainage  favors the          
development of these germs4 ,you see how
 important good  drainage is4    ,get   
the tools you need4 ,you cannot afford  
to be without implements if  you are    
cultivating intensively4 ,that does not 
mean that you must get  all the         
advertised garden tools1 or even all    
that your neighbor has4  ,although a    
tool may be the best of its kind1 that  
is not reason enough  for buying it4    
,you must have a use for it on your     
plot4 ,get whatever  you have a use for1
 and get only the best4 ,it pays in the 
long run4    ,a list of tools and costs 
is given in 8,three ,acres10 and in 8,a 
,little  ,land10 so it is necessary only

 to note here that the spading fork is a
  far better tool than the spade2 some  
gardeners never use a spade4 ,the       
spading-fork is easier to use and breaks
 the soil much better4    ,the seeder1  
attached to the wheel-hoe1 is also a    
saver of labor and  of seed3 it makes   
the rows quite straight1 so that they   
are easy to  keep free from weeds2 it   
drops the seeds at even distances and if
  your soil is as fine as it should be1 
it covers them all just deep            
enough--provided you have learned to fix
 the gauges right to start on4          
,combination tools1 those that do       
several different things1 sometimes     
work well1 but they usually get out of  
repair quickly1 and are apt  to puzzle  
the beginner4 ,get the best and simplest
 form of the tool  you want1 and keep it
 always in condition for use4 ,tools    
that are  not cleaned after use are     
spreaders of disease4 ,cleanliness      
prevents  and cures4 ,see to it that    
your cultivating tools1 your harvesting 

baskets and bags1 and your storage bins 
are thoroughly cleaned1 and  you will   
soon discourage the bugs4 ,they will    
regard you as cold and  unsympathetic1  
and your garden as a place to be        
avoided4    ,don't be afraid to use     
manure1 both stable and green1 and when 
you  must1 use commercial fertilizer4   
,but this is expensive and is only      
profitable under particular crops4 ,you 
won't need it1 if you keep the  soil    
supplied with humus4    ,don't waste    
kitchen slops or any other waste water4 
,it all has  fertilizing qualities that 
will help your garden4 ,even in the     
winter it  is a good plan to pour your  
slops on the ground1 choosing a         
different  spot each day so that no one 
place may get too wet and leave surface 
pools4 ,mankind in the lump is stupid1  
so stupid that we drain our  fertilizing
 matter into our harbors and then dig it
 out again at the  cost of four dollars 
the yard4    ,but you need not be so    
stupid as that4 ,even some of our cities

 are now  learning the value of sewage1 
notably ,san ,antonio1 ,texas4 ,this    
city1  with its #he1jjj inhabitants1 has
 solved the problem of what to do with  
its sewage1 although the city fathers   
leased the rights to a private          
corporation1 instead of providing for   
the city's own disposal of it4  ,this   
company carries the sewage six miles out
 of town1 and has built  five miles of  
canal1 through which the surplus sewage 
not used in  irrigating1 flows upon a   
filter-bed where all solids are removed1
 and  the water runs into a big basin   
which covers about #ajjj acres4 ,this   
basin being very shallow1 the sun's rays
 reach the bottom of it1 and  purify the
 water1 so that1 though it enters one   
end of this basin as  sewage1 it flows  
out of the other as pure water4         
,chemical analyses and  tests have      
proved this many times over1 and we     
might take a hint from  this at home to 
8raise our darkened windows and open    
wide our doors1 to  let the blessed     

sunshine in40 ,it is the best destroyer 
of disease and  impurity yet discovered4
    ,the company's acres along the line 
of the canal profited so much from  this
 irrigation1 that farmers soon began to 
purchase the irrigating  sewage water   
for use on their forage crop fields1 and
 for root crops  particularly4 ,the     
solids are spread on the surface of the 
lands upon  which the clear1 purified   
water is to be used1 and the results    
have  been most satisfactory4 ,san      
,antonio really makes a profit out of   
that  which is costing other cities     
millions every year1 and in doing this  
has shown us another way to work1 in    
bringing into use all lands that  are   
available in any way for intensive      
cultivation4    ,plenty of manure and   
thorough cultivation are almost a       
complete  protection against drought4   
,if you have plowed deep1 manured       
thoroughly1 added humus and maintained  
tillage1 you can laugh at the  drought  
that would once have spelled ruin for   

the farmer in any part  of the country4 
,you have been told this before in this 
very book1 but  that is no reason why it
 should not be repeated4 ,it is of such 
great  importance1 that the average     
farmer would make no mistake if he had  
it  made into a motto printed in large  
and striking type1 and hung it where  he
 could see it a dozen times a day4 ,it  
is part of the 8,how to ,work10  and a  
mighty big part1 as you will learn1     
whether you practice it or  neglect it4 
,use your brains2 that's what they are  
for4 ,after you get your farm  started1 
you can get cheap and unintelligent     
labor1 to keep it going1  if you wish2  
but you can only reap a profit from     
intelligent labor1  and you must furnish
 the intelligence yourself4 ,plan your  
work1 and  make the most of your soil1  
your climate and your market4 ,things   
that  everybody grows bring low prices1 
but things that you alone grow1 or  that
 you grow better than your neighbors1   
bring good returns all the  year round4 

,we have to learn1 you know1 and if we  
won't learn by doing right  and         
profiting by it1 then we shall have to  
learn by doing wrong and  suffering for 
it--8the way of transgressors is hard40 
,if you have very little time or very   
little land1 you will probably get  the 
best return for your time and money by  
growing radishes early in  the season   
with lettuce1 followed by bush-beans or 
tomatoes and then  sweet corn4    ,put  
some nasturtiums in any odd space and   
climbing nasturtiums and                
morning-glories on your fence1 and you  
will have a very creditable  looking    
garden--big returns for little          
expenditures4    ,if you haven't got any
 land1 don't let that discourage you3   
grow  some things in a window box and   
learn how1 so that you have learned     
something when you do get some land4    
,you can grow mushrooms in half a barrel
 in the cellar4 ,the thing to do  is to 
get started growing something4          
,,footnotes3    #d ,,note4--,another way

 is to mix a little soil with rain      
water1 stir it  well1 and put the litmus
 paper in it4 ,pure rain water is the   
only water  that can be successfully    
used in this test4                      
,part ,,ii4                             
,,chapter ,,xiii4                       
,,root ,,crops4      ,root crops are    
usually grown in drills and are not     
ordinarily  transplanted4 ,they are     
hardy and require little skill in the   
gardener1  but they need a cool season  
and deep soil so as to grow long1 firm  
and  well shaped4 ,the quicker they grow
 the better the quality1 so that  in the
 north it is necessary to warm the soil 
with stable manure and  have it in good 
condition4 ,good tilth helps quick      
growth and therefore  improves the      
quality2 so that it rests with the      
gardener to make his  root crops among  
the first and the best in the market4   
,the price of a  root crop depends      
almost entirely upon its looks1 so have 
as few side  roots as possible1 and cut 

off those that may develop in spite of  
care4  ,forked or branched roots should 
not be mixed in when we market1 for     
even a few such specimens lessen the    
price of all4    ,early crops1 such as  
radishes1 beets1 carrots and turnips1   
are sold in  bunches of #f to #ab4 ,all 
in the bunch should be of the same size 
and  shape and tied neatly around the   
leaf-stalks with a cord4 ,the leaves    
are left on these early vegetables1 so  
they should be kept cool and  moist1 as 
wilted leaves also spoil the sale price4
 ,beauty may be only  8skin deep10 but  
it commands the market4    ,late root   
crops sell in bulk1 and harvesting them 
is the hardest work  connected with root
 crops4 ,it is well to plow them out1   
cut off the  tops1 and allow the roots  
to lie in the sun only until the soil is
 dry  enough to shake off4 ,they are    
then ready for storing in pit or cellar1
  and are easy to keep4                 
,,radishes4    ,the radish is the       
earliest root crop1 and the quickest    

growing4 ,it is  ready for market in    
three to six weeks after planting the   
seed2 so it  is a great financial help  
to one who is just starting a garden4   
,it is a  hardy crop requiring rather   
cool weather or shade4 ,the radish      
responds  well to hot-bed culture and   
the earliest spring varieties are       
usually  grown that way4 ,but even for  
planting in the open garden you need not
  wait long4 ,soaking the seeds will    
save several days4 ,as soon as you  can 
work the ground1 even before all the    
frosts are over1 radishes may  be sown1 
provided there has been good            
preparation-tillage4 ,to secure  crisp1 
edible radishes1 the growth must be     
continuous4 ,any interruption  in       
development1 or an overgrowth1 makes the
 root stringy1 bitter and  often hollow4
 ,see that those in each of your bunches
 are even-sized and  bright and clean1  
so that they will look like the delicacy
 that they  are4 ,a prime bunch of      
radishes is as pretty as a bouquet4     

,the radish is a partial season crop1   
and is1 therefore1 suited for all  sorts
 of double-cropping4 ,it is often sown  
shallow in the same drills  with the    
other vegetables of later growth1       
because it matures so early  that it    
breaks the earth crust for the slower   
seeds4 ,radishes may also  be sown      
between rows of cabbages1 beans1 peas1  
etc41 or broadcast in  beds by          
themselves4 ,one ounce of seed will sow 
about #ajj feet of drill  or eight to   
ten pounds to the acre4    ,sow the     
seeds one-half inch deep 7better sow too
 shallow than too deep7  in rows #f to  
#ab inches apart1 if you have only a    
little plot2 or in  long rows a little  
farther apart if you use a wheel-hoe4   
,drop two or  three seeds to the inch2  
this can be done only with a seeder     
attached  to the wheel-hoe frame3 later1
 thin out the seedlings to about two    
inches apart4 ,only large seeds should  
be used1 the small ones being  too slow 
maturing4 ,they may be sown at regular  

intervals of seven to  ten days all     
through the spring4 ,it is usually      
difficult to grow good  radishes in     
summer1 unless you can select a cool    
spot and keep the soil  cool1 but some  
sorts of radishes do well in the hot    
weather4 ,although  in ,america the     
radish is best known as an early spring 
crop1 it may  also be grown for winter  
use if planted in ,july or ,august1 and 
stored  like turnips or other root      
crops4 ,the tops make good greens for   
boiling4    ,the radish is the easiest  
of crops to grow1 and has only one      
serious  enemy1 the root maggot4 ,this  
insect is one of the cabbage enemies    
also1  and can be destroyed by injecting
 bisulphide of carbon in the soil1  but 
that treatment is too expensive for the 
returns from radishes4 ,the  most       
effective way is to sow the radishes    
where the maggot has not been  breeding1
 and thus starve the pest out4    ,the  
most popular varieties of radish are the
 ,french ,breakfast1  ,olive-shaped1    

,scarlet ,short-top1 ,chartier1 ,wood   
,early ,frame1 and ,white  ,box4 ,those 
that grow well in summer are ,white     
,naples1 ,white ,vienna1  ,strasburg and
 ,stuttgart1 while for use in winter    
,scarlet ,chinese1 ,black  ,spanish and 
,white ,spanish are best4               
,,beets4    ,beets1 like radishes1 are a
 hardy crop requiring a loose1 rich soil
  and continuous growth to reach their  
best and quickest development4  ,they   
are easy to raise and respond readily to
 good tillage4 ,the early  or garden    
beet is usually a succession or         
companion crop1 because it  may be      
planted early and matures quickly4      
,although most kinds require  two or    
three months for maturing1 yet with some
 of the early varieties  roots large    
enough for bunching may be had in six   
weeks to two months4  ,the quickest     
sorts are the round or nearly round     
varieties1 which may  almost be called  
surface feeders4 ,for this reason they  
require soil in  excellent tilth and the

 richest1 well-rotted barnyard manure4  
,indeed1  the wise gardener will plow   
his land in the fall1 and plow it       
deeply1  too2 then as soon as it can be 
worked in the spring run the cultivator 
and harrow over it1 and plant the seed  
about #a inches deep in rows  from #ab  
to #ah inches apart4 ,the land must be  
kept well tilled and free  from weeds1  
especially during the early part of the 
season4 ,the long  field-crop beet is   
now very little grown1 as the early     
varieties may  be sown late in the      
season for fall and winter use1 and the 
,southern  grown beets cost less in the 
late winter than it does to grow and    
store  them4 ,even in feeding cattle1   
the beet has been largely superseded  by
 the mangel1 so that few are grown      
except the short round sorts for  table 
use4 ,the sugar beet is a field crop4   
,the seeds 7which are really fruits1    
containing within a hard shell four  or 
five seeds each7 require a great deal of
 moisture to germinate4 ,some  gardeners

 advocate throwing them into hot water  
and allowing them to  soak for six or   
eight hours before planting4 ,this makes
 them sprout  more quickly4 ,beets come 
up in clumps and must be carefully      
thinned1  until they stand #f to #h     
inches apart1 although this is not done 
until  the tops are sufficiently grown  
to sell for 8greens40 ,in this way there
  is no waste1 since top and root alike 
are used as a pot-herb4 ,the  contrast  
of the green leaves with clean roots    
attracts customers4    ,if you plant    
beets early in the season1 say as soon  
as the ground can  be worked1 they may  
be followed by celery1 late potatoes1   
cabbage or  cauliflower2 or they may be 
grown at the same time between the rows 
of some main season crop like cabbage4  
,if planted in hot-beds or  cold-frames 
it will not pay to transplant them1 as  
they mature very  early under such      
conditions1 and may be bunched and sold 
without that  labor4 ,in ,july or       
,august1 and in some places even in     

,september1 the  turnip-rooted variety  
may be sown for fall and early winter   
use1 but  special attention must be     
given to tilling them so that the soil  
may  not be too dry4 ,the best and      
firmest of the roots may be stored for  
winter use1 and for better prices4      
,early beets are sold in bunches of six1
 but late crops are sold in  baskets or 
barrels4 ,five to eight pounds of seed  
are needed for each  acre2 one ounce    
will sow from #ge to #ajj feet of drill4
 ,the average crop  is from #cjj to #djj
 bushels to the acre4    ,beets have    
three serious diseases3 root-rot1 for   
which apply lime to  the soil2          
leaf-spot1 kept in check by spraying    
with ,bordeaux mixture2  scab1 for which
 the only cure now used is not to plant 
where the land  is infested4    ,beets  
respond to special fertilizers1 which   
may be used if the soil is  already rich
 in plant food1 and the market will     
afford enough profit  to pay for the    
extra expense4 ,at the ,new ,jersey     

,experiment ,station  from #djj to #gjj 
pounds of nitrate of soda well-worked   
into the soil  before the plants were   
set out1 increased the yield from #aj to
 #bc per  cent42 and the earliness all  
the way from #ag to #ace per cent4 ,in  
the  8,farmer's ,cyclopedia of          
,agriculture10 ,messrs4 ,wilcox and     
,smith of the  ,department of           
,agriculture1 say that 8where earliness 
is of primary  importance1 nitrate of   
soda can be used with profit with this  
crop even  on the richest of soils40    
,if you can't get your root crops early1
 get them late4 ,when the mercury  goes 
away down1 the prices go away up4       
,,carrots4    ,besides being a hardy    
crop that may be planted in the early   
spring as  soon as the ground can be    
worked1 carrots have the advantage of   
having  no serious insects or diseases4 
,they require a clean1 mellow soil1     
that will not 8bake0 over the seeds1 and
 the best of surface tillage4  ,carrot  
seeds are so small and so slow in       

sprouting1 that it is good  practice to 
plant radishes or turnips or other quick
 seeds in the  same row1 to help break  
the crust for the tender seedlings4 ,the
 young  carrots have such a slight hold 
upon the soil1 that they need petting1  
only the shallowest1 surface tillage    
being possible1 yet scarcely  any of the
 garden crops need tillage more4 ,but   
once let the carrots  get established in
 the soil1 and they are easy to grow and
 give good  returns4 ,they are sown     
thickly about one inch deep in rows from
 #ab  to #ah inches apart4 ,when they   
are well up1 they should be carefully   
thinned so as to stand two to three     
inches apart in the row4 ,the early     
varieties will bear forcing and respond 
to hot-bed culture1 but they  are slower
 of growth than radishes or beets1      
requiring from two to two  and a half   
months to be ready for market4 ,they are
 tied in bunches of  six with the tops  
left on1 and are in great demand in the 
early season  when small and bright and 

tender4    ,carrots are of two main     
types1 the early1 small variety and the 
large  sort grown in the field for      
winter use4 ,the large kind is not much 
grown1 because the smaller varieties may
 be planted late for winter  use1 and as
 feed for stock1 carrots are no better  
than the larger  root crops4 ,if you    
grow the early variety for winter use1  
you will  need to be sure that the soil 
is in good tilth1 as dry or weedy soil  
would be fatal to carrots4 ,maybe you   
are tired of reading that all  these    
crops need good tillage2 but you will be
 much more tired if you  neglect it4    
,this crop may be sown as late as the   
middle of ,june in the  ,northern       
,states1 and the ground should be sown  
with some early crop1  like radishes1 to
 keep it in good condition until needed 
for the late  carrots4    ,carrot seed  
is sown thickly1 about two pounds of    
seed being required  for an acre1 or one
 ounce to about #cjj feet of drilled    
row1 if the  seed is fresh4 ,a good crop

 of carrots is from #bjj to #cjj bushels
 per  acre4    ,the best varieties are  
the ,early ,forcing1 which may be grown 
in  hot-beds1 cold-frames1 open garden  
in the spring1 and also in the fall  for
 home use2 the half-long ,danvers for a 
good1 reliable mid-season  crop and the 
,long ,scarlet for a good late crop4    
,these root crops are among the         
prettiest 8fancy goods0--where they can 
be sold directly to well-to-do people   
they bring fancy prices4                
,,turnips4    ,the turnip is such an    
easy crop to grow that the gardener     
would have  a snap with it if it were   
not for the snap that the root maggot   
has4  ,it is a hardy1 quick-growing     
crop1 requiring a cool1 short season    
and a moist soil4 ,the turnip is so     
hardy that the herbage can bear         
considerable cold without real injury1  
so that when grown for winter  use it is
 left standing in the field until the   
black frosts2 but the  roots will not   
stand such hard freezing as parsnips or 

salsify4    ,turnips should be planted  
in moist1 rich soil to insure quick     
sprouting1 because their chief value as 
food is the result of rapid  growth4    
,like the radish1 the turnip1 if it     
grows slowly1 is likely  to be tough1   
woody and stringy4 ,true turnip has     
soft1 white flesh  7sometimes the boys  
eat it raw7 and the roots are flatly    
rounded1 while  the leaves are rough and
 hairy4 ,the seed is sown as soon as the
 soil  can be got ready in the spring   
for the early crop1 and as late as the  
last week in ,july in the ,northern     
,states1 or the middle of ,august in    
the ,middle ,states1 for a fall crop4   
,they are ready for the table in six  to
 ten weeks4 ,turnips are planted from #a
 to #a inches deep in drills  from #aj  
to #ah inches apart2 one ounce of seed  
for every #bjj to #cjj  feet1 or one    
pound to the acre4 ,plants should be    
thinned until they  stand three or four 
inches apart1 and later1 as the roots   
are pulled1 a  foot of space will allow 

of full development4    ,turnips suffer 
so from root maggot1 that where the land
 has become  infested with this pest1 it
 is better not to try to grow them until
  the insects are starved out1 because  
the only effective treatment that  we   
have found so far is to inject          
bisulphide of carbon into the soil1     
which costs too much for turnip crops4  
,,parsnips4    ,unless your             
preparation-tillage has been thorough1  
there will be no  good parsnips for you4
 ,they require cool1 very deep soil in  
excellent  tilth to make good roots a   
foot long1 straight1 clean and tapering4
 ,a  lumpy or shallow soil makes the    
roots branchy1 and of little market     
value4 ,parsnips are usually sown in    
drills1 far enough apart to let the     
wheel-hoe in2 sow thickly and then thin 
out the rows1 leaving plants  about six 
to eight inches apart4 ,we have to sow  
thickly because some  seeds may be bad1 
for parsnip seed does not retain its    
life for more  than two seasons4 ,an    

ounce of fresh seed will do for #bjj to 
#bej feet of  drill1 or about four      
pounds to six pounds to the acre4       
,the seeds sprout so slowly that it is  
well to plant some quick-growing  seed  
with them to break the soil1 else it may
 have to be broken by  hand4 ,the       
parsnip is hardy and the seeds may be   
sown as soon as the  ground can be put  
in condition1 but it must be the main   
crop1 for it  takes the whole season to 
grow the long roots4 ,the roots may be  
left  in the ground until the next      
spring1 as the hard winter freezes do   
not  injure them4 ,in that case you must
 store a large part of the crop in  cool
 pits or cellars1 because the best price
 is obtained in the late  winter or very
 early spring when the ground is often  
frozen so hard  that you can't pull the 
roots up4 ,it would not pay to blast    
them out1  you know4 ,there need be no  
waste where stock is kept1 because the  
ragged roots make excellent feed4 ,the  
,hollow ,crown and the ,student         

varieties are the standards4 ,a good    
crop is #ejj to #fjj bushels to the     
acre1 but under good conditions1 this   
can be bettered4 ,no serious pests  or  
diseases consume the parsnips1 so men   
and stock get all that grow4            
,,salsify4    ,the salsify plant tastes 
so like an oyster that it is called the 
oyster  plant4 ,it is grown for kitchen 
use only1 not for stock4 ,like its      
cousin1 the parsnip1 it must be sown in 
deep1 rich soil and given the  whole    
season to mature4 ,salsify can be left  
in the ground all winter1  unless it is 
needed for the late winter or early     
spring market4 ,the  seeds sprout       
quickly and may be sown as early as the 
soil is ready4  ,like beet seed1 the    
salsify seed is really a fruit1 long and
 hard  like a stick1 and it is somewhat 
difficult to use a seed drill in  sowing
 them4 ,an ounce of seed sows only about
 #gj feet of drill2 an  acre requires   
eight to ten pounds and a good yield is 
from #bjj to #cjj  bushels per acre4    

,there are no serious insects or        
diseases4    ,there are two important   
modifications of salsify known as ,black
 ,salsify  and ,spanish ,salsify4 ,the  
regular type is a biennial1 though      
cultivated  as an annual1 becoming wild 
and losing its fleshy root if left in   
the  ground longer2 but the ,black1     
which is grown just the same as the main
  type1 is perennial1 and the roots     
continue to enlarge1 yet to remain      
edible1 though left in the ground more  
than one year4 ,it has broader  leaves  
than the regular salsify and a long     
black root1 yellow flowers  and light   
seeds4    ,spanish salsify is not       
generally known in this country4 ,its   
root is  much lighter in color and not  
so strong in flavor1 but with careful   
cooking it develops other qualities of  
its own that are most agreeable4        
,moreover1 it is easily cultivated and  
yields larger returns than the  regular 
salsify and the average person would not
 know the difference4  ,it is sown and  

cultivated just as salsify is1 and when 
bleached the  young leaves are eaten    
like cardoons1 that is1 as a pot-herb4  
,,horse-,,radish4    ,although          
horse-radish is a perennial1 it gets    
woody the second year1 so  that the     
market gardeners grow it from fresh     
cuttings1 called 8,sets10  every year4  
,these cuttings are taken off the side  
roots1 from three to  seven inches long1
 and from the thickness of a lead-pencil
 to that  of a little finger4 ,the      
cuttings are made when the roots are dug
 in  the fall and may be stored all     
winter4 ,horse-radish grows very easily1
  but as it is a late season crop1 and  
needs cool soil1 there is nothing       
gained by planting it early4 ,it        
requires very deep soil if the roots    
are to grow straight1 long and tender4  
,only long1 large1 even shaped  and     
uniform roots bring any price in the    
market4 ,it may be planted with  early  
cabbage or beets1 and when they are     
harvested1 the horse-radish  takes the  

land4 ,it will grow until freezing      
weather and is the better  for being    
left in the ground as late as possible4 
,sets are planted  either upright or    
slanting1 three to five inches below the
 surface  and from twelve to eighteen   
inches apart in rows4 ,if they grow too 
fast they may be cut down two or three  
times1 as horse-radish stands           
considerable ill-usage1 if it is planted
 deep and in good soil4 ,before  sending
 to market1 wash the roots and trim them
 of all side shoots2 tie  them in       
bunches of six or eight2 or they may be 
sold in bulk or by the  barrel4 ,the    
price ranges from ten to fifty dollars a
 ton1 and in good  rich soil four tons  
can be raised to the acre4 ,the usual   
yield is only  two tons4 ,the extra two 
come from knowing how4    ,but          
horse-radish can easily become a bad    
weed1 for weeds are only  plants        
misplaced4 ,so plow the roots out as    
soon as you have dug your  crop and have
 them removed4 ,although it is next to  

impossible to get  them all out1 they   
cannot do much harm if the ground is    
kept thoroughly  busy with some other   
crop4 ,there is a good deal of the ,old 
,nick in  ,nature1 and wherever she     
finds idle land she sets to work to grow
  weeds4 ,she would just as readily help
 your crops2 so it is for you to  profit
 by her willingness4                    
,,chapter ,,xiv4                        
,,tuber ,,crops4                        
,,potatoes4    ,a heavy yield of        
potatoes may be simply a matter of      
moisture and  frequent tillage4 ,the    
potato likes ,scotland#e and ,nova      
,scotia because  it thrives best in     
deep1 cool1 moist soil1 finely          
pulverized and  containing much potash4 
,knowing the conditions under which any 
crop  grows well1 is equivalent to      
growing a big crop1 to the careful      
farmer1  so if you want some potatoes1  
you may as well get the most possible4  
,the average farmer raises #ge bushels  
to the acre1 but it pays to be  above   

the average4 ,you ought to be ashamed to
 grow less than #bjj or  #cjj bushels   
even taking #ge as a starting point1    
for1 when you consider  that by the     
exercise of brains and labor1 all the   
way from #fjj to #acjj  bushels per acre
 have been produced1 you may well decide
 to prove what  you can do4 ,you have a 
chance to beat the record4    ,potatoes 
should be planted deep and early4 ,if   
they are planted too near  the surface  
they will ripen before they are fully   
grown or maybe get  sunburned and unfit 
for eating4 ,choose your best potatoes  
for seed1  if you plant from your own   
crop2 or buy only the best varieties1 if
  you must buy4 ,but it is well to      
remember that there is always danger  in
 potato seed raised elsewhere than on   
your own patch where you can  watch     
conditions4 ,don't use a potato for seed
 if it has a black thread  running      
through it2 a roughened or irregular    
circle on the skin1 or a  hollow center4
 ,burn all such2 else you will have     

diseased crops and  give yourself no end
 of trouble and expense4 ,plant the     
seeds at least  four inches deep and    
plow them in4 ,the surface should be    
harrowed two  or three times before the 
plants come up1 and the crop should have
  light1 surface tillings five to eight 
other times during the season4          
,potatoes are planted in 8drills0 or    
continuous furrows1 #bg to #db inches   
apart1 at intervals of #i to #ah inches1
 and it requires from #h to #ah  bushels
 of potatoes to plant an acre4 ,most    
farmers plant too sparingly4  ,there has
 been much book discussion as to the    
size of seed cuttings1  but the most    
economical size is one weighing about   
three ounces or  the size of a large    
hen's egg1 with at least one good eye4  
,the potato  cutting is food2 therefore 
the larger the cutting the more food1   
and  the more food the better early     
growth1 and the better the early growth 
the better the yield4 ,bailey claims    
that a piece containing too many  eyes  

means too many sprouts contending for   
that food and each weakening  the other 
in the struggle for its own existence4  
,for early potatoes1 the only ones that 
can pay in a small plot1  remember five 
different things3 7#a7 good site and an 
early soil2 7#b7  land prepared either  
by special plowing the fall before1 or  
by growing  late-tilled crops1 that the 
soil may be in good tilth2 7#c7 free use
  of concentrated1 quick-acting         
fertilizers2 7#d7 early varieties of    
potatoes2 7#e7 sprouting the sets1 so   
that the short1 thick1 firm1  colored   
shoots are secured4 ,to secure these1   
light and a moderate  degree of warmth1 
#dj-ej1 is needed4 ,nothing pays better 
than  sprouting4    ,no crop needs      
spraying more4 ,unless it is frequently 
sprayed1 it is  almost certain to be    
attacked by the potato bug1 the         
flea-beetle and  blight1 and the yield  
cut down4 ,dry ,paris green puffed on   
while the  leaves are damp with dew1    
ends the troubles of the bug1 and       

,bordeaux  mixture can be sprayed for   
blight4 ,no specific has yet been       
discovered  for the flea-beetle1 but it 
does far less damage where ,bordeaux    
mixture  is freely used4 ,i have heard  
of letting the chickens loose on the    
flea-beetles4                           
,,sweet ,,potatoes4    ,the common or   
,irish potato does badly in the ,south1 
except as an early  crop1 because the   
climate is too warm1 but where the      
common potato  suffers1 the sweet potato
 thrives4 ,it requires a warm1 sunny    
climate1  a long season1 and warm1 loose
 soil1 with plenty of moisture during   
growing time1 and less during ripening4 
,it is very tender and cannot  stand    
frost4 ,it is grown extensively as far  
north as the sandy lands of  ,new       
,jersey4    ,the soil must be rich1     
loose1 and well drained and liberally   
fertilized  with well-rotted manure4    
,wood ashes will help the growth of the 
tuber  most satisfactorily4    ,only one
 variety of sweet potato1 the ,spanish1 

is cut and planted like  the common     
potato4 ,all other varieties are grown  
from 8slips10 or1 as  they are sometimes
 called1 8draws40 ,a whole potato is    
laid on a hot-bed  and covered with a   
couple of inches of loose soil or       
leaf-mould4 ,very  soon it begins to    
sprout and when the shoots are from     
three to five  inches high1 they are    
broken off next the tuber1 and planted4 
,their  roots have already begun to form
 and these are the 8slips40 ,the same   
potato or tuber1 will give another set  
of slips if allowed to remain in  the   
ground4 ,in the extreme south no hot-bed
 is necessary to start the  sprouting4  
,another method of obtaining slips is   
from cuttings from the ends of  the     
vines4 ,take cuttings from #aj to #ab   
inches long1 from the earliest  planted 
or the most vigorous vines4 ,having     
removed all the leaves  except those at 
the very tip1 plant the cutting lying   
down with only  an inch or two of the   
tip showing4 ,the rows should be about  

three feet  apart and the slips in the  
row #ah inches apart4 ,the average yield
 is  from #bjj to #djj bushels per acre4
    ,sweet potatoes suffer from several 
fungous diseases which are discussed  in
 ,new ,jersey ,experiment ,station      
bulletins on ,sweet ,potato ,culture4   
,leaf blight may be checked by the use  
of ,bordeaux mixture1 but rotation  is  
the cure for tuber crop diseases4       
,,footnotes3    #e ,ireland is not      
really the land of the 8praties02 the   
average yield  of ,great ,britain is    
higher than of ,ireland4                
,,chapter ,,xv4                         
,,bulb ,,crops4      ,all bulb crops are
 hardy1 liking cool seasons and moist   
rich soil with  a loose top4 ,as a rule 
they are seed-bed crops1 but are sown   
early in  the open field4 ,they grow    
from seeds or bulbs and may be raised as
 main  or secondary crops and treated   
like onions4 ,their tops are often used 
for seasoning4                          
,,leeks4    ,to the average ,american1  

there is but one important bulb crop1   
the  onion1 but the foreign-born use    
garlic1 leek and others also4 ,of these 
the leek is the mildest flavored and the
 best worth knowing4 ,it is  grown from 
seed sown in the early spring1 and      
requires the whole season  to reach full
 development4 ,it produces soft bulbs   
and thick leaves1  both being used for  
seasoning4 ,the leek is stored green1 as
 celery is1  being set in earth in a pit
 or cellar4                             
,,garlic4    ,the garlic is the         
strongest of all the bulb family in     
flavor4 ,it is  grown from 8cloves10 as 
the separate sections of the bulb are   
called1  and is planted early4 ,it does 
not fully mature until the end of the   
summer or early fall4                   
,,shallot4    ,shallot is much like     
garlic1 only it is milder1 and is grown 
in the  same way4 ,there is one         
interesting difference1 however1 between
 the  two4 ,the 8cloves0 of the garlic  
are all encased in one outer skin1      

those of the shallot grow separately4   
,,ciboule ,,and ,,cives4    ,the        
,ciboule or ,welsh onion1 and ,cives1   
are grown for their leaves which  are   
used for seasoning4 ,the ,ciboule is the
 most like the common onion  and grows  
the same way and requires the same      
cultivation4 ,cives grow  in dense tufts
 and are propagated by separating the   
tufts and planting  a section4 ,they are
 perennial1 and make a good border for  
the garden  walk1 combining grace and   
toothsomeness4                          
,,onions4    ,it pays to grow onions    
intelligently4 ,they take lots of care1 
but they  repay the time and trouble4   
,you cannot get the best results from   
onions by beginning now1 at the  moment 
you start your garden1 to sow your seed4
 ,onions require that  you should begin 
last year1 so to speak4 ,the ground     
should be well  plowed in the fall1     
after having been in use with good      
tillage all  the previous season1 and   
the surface soil must be in             

super-excellent  condition4 ,the onion  
is practically a surface feeder1 and as 
the seed  sprouts slowly1 and the baby  
plants are delicate and slender-rooted1 
conditions must be absolutely right for 
a good growth4 ,in fact1 no  other      
vegetable crop1 grown on a large scale1 
requires such fine  surface soil4 ,hard 
or baked soil is sure to give a poor    
crop4 ,the  surface must be kept loose  
and in good tilth1 and low1 level land  
is  the best place for your onion patch4
    ,when the ground has been plowed1 go
 over it carefully and break up all  the
 clods or lumps1 and remove all stones  
and weeds4 ,do not use coarse1  fresh   
stable manures1 as that leaves the      
ground too coarse in texture1  and      
moreover increases the probability of   
weeds1 and weeds are death  to onions4  
,only fine1 old1 well-rotted stable     
manure may be used1 and  this must not  
be plowed under1 as it is the surface   
soil which must be  rich4 ,commercial   
fertilizers1 especially the sorts rich  

in potash1 are  of great value in       
growing onions1 and1 because of their   
potash1 wood  ashes make an excellent   
top dressing for the onion patch4 ,keep 
the soil  finely pulverized and you will
 then have ideal conditions for planting
  your crop4 ,next get good seed4 ,good 
onions often give poor seed1 but  cheap 
seed always means poor onions1 so buy   
the best seed always4    ,reclaimed     
marshes1 freed from roots and peat1 and 
thoroughly  fertilized1 are ideal places
 for growing onions4 ,the rows or       
drills1  which must be #ad inches apart1
 must also be perfectly straight1 else  
the necessary cultivation cannot be     
given4 ,the crop often needs  two       
weedings by hand when the plants are    
very young1 and frequent  cultivation by
 the wheel-hoe4 ,now the wheel-hoe      
cannot do good work on  rough or uneven 
ground1 and its best work is none too   
good for onions1  so you see where you  
are at4    ,the onion crop is divided   
into two classes1 the early crop and the

 main  season crop4 ,early crop onions  
are immature1 green1 and are tied in    
bunches for market2 main season crops   
are dry and are a staple product4       
,early onions may be grown from seed1   
but are usually grown from bulbs4       
,there are three kinds of bulbs for     
planting3 8top0 onions1 potato or       
8multiplier0 onions and 8sets02 the     
first two are distinct types1  but      
8sets0 are only partly grown onions4    
8,top0 onions are really  small bulbs   
which grow on the top of the plant      
instead of fruit2  8multipliers0 are    
onions with several hearts or cores1    
each of which  may be planted and will  
give rise to another bulb1 which1 in its
  turn1 will develop two or three more  
cores4 ,the process is continued        
indefinitely4    8,top0 onions start    
quickly and soon give edible onions4 ,if
 the bulb is  planted out the following 
year it will send up a stalk and produce
 a  new crop of tops4    ,to raise      
8sets10 seeds are sown thickly on dry1  

light ground1 where  they soon crowd    
each other1 and by midsummer anyway1 the
 tops die for  lack of room1 food and   
moisture4 ,the bulbs1 which should then 
be from  one-half to three-quarters inch
 in diameter1 are picked1 cured and     
stored as ordinary onions are4 ,when    
planted in the spring they start to     
grow again and soon produce eatable     
bulbs4    ,the new early onion culture  
is growing onions from seedlings raised 
in  the hot-bed or forcing house1 and   
transplanted as soon as the weather     
permits4 ,by this method the large1     
quick-growing ,southern varieties1      
,gibraltar and ,prize-taker1 come to    
perfection in the ,north4 ,our season   
is too short for this by the ordinary   
open planting4 ,this 8,new ,onion       
,culture10 which is not so new1 after   
all1 except in the middle ,east1  is    
fully described by ,t4 ,greiner1 in his 
book published by the ,orange  ,judd    
,company1 ,n4 ,y4    ,in the main season
 crop1 earliness is not so necessary1   

and less  fertilizer will do1 so long as
 it is the right kind4 ,seed is sown as 
early as possible1 as the onion likes a 
cool season4 ,in the garden1 it  is sown
 thickly because the onion often fails  
to sprout1 but in the  field1 it is sown
 more carefully1 waste of seed and the  
thinning in the  big field being        
expensive4    ,on some land the onion   
runs to tops1 particularly where there  
is too  much moisture1 or the ground is 
too new1 or coarse manures have been    
used4 ,if the tops are still rank and   
green in late ,august or early          
,september1 it is a good thing to break 
them by rolling a barrel over  the rows1
 that the growth may go to the bulbs4   
,the trouble with onions does not end   
with growing them4 ,they are a          
difficult crop to handle and store1     
unless the fall is warm4 ,after they    
are pulled they must dry a day or two1  
either in the field or under            
cover--cover is more expensive but the  
bulbs have a better1 brighter  color4   

,the bulbs must be free from dirt and   
the tops cut off about a  half-inch     
above the bulb1 neither more nor less1  
else the bulb will  suffer in marketable
 value4 ,it must be a clean cut without 
ragged ends1  and the outer skin or     
covering must not be broken4 ,if the    
crop is  uneven in size1 as is quite apt
 to be the case1 sort them over1 because
  one misshapen or under-sized onion in 
a dozen1 will materially lessen  the    
price received for the crop4 ,there are 
so many good vegetables  on the market  
today1 that the consumer is growing     
finicky1 and wants  only the best       
looking as well as the best tasting4 ,be
 careful to give  him what he wants1 and
 he will give you what you want--good   
prices--in  return4 ,the sorter may be a
 very simple contrivance1 consisting of 
a  rack or trough with a slat bottom    
through which small onions will drop4   
,when raised to a convenient height on a
 slant it is easy to work the  bigger   
onions over the end of the rack into    

boxes or baskets below4    ,most farmers
 prefer to sell their onion crop in the 
fall1 because it is  difficult to house 
it4 ,mature onions will not stand       
freezing1 unless  they can be kept      
frozen all winter and allowed to thaw   
gradually in the  spring4 ,but this is a
 risky process and often results in     
heavy loss4  ,they need a steady warm   
temperature1 and many store houses are  
heated  to ensure safety from frost4    
,it takes an ounce of onion seed for    
#aej feet of drill1 or from #c to #e    
pounds to the acre4 ,a good crop for an 
average farmer is from #cjj to  #djj    
bushels per acre1 but an average crop   
for a good farmer is #fjj to  #hjj      
bushels per acre2 and some have grown as
 high as #aajj bushels to  the acre4    
,you can choose your own class4    ,the 
root maggot is the worst enemy the onion
 has1 and there is no  really successful
 method of fighting it4 ,infested land  
should be used  for other crops that the
 root maggot will not feed upon1 until  

he is  starved out4 ,rust and smut which
 also affect onions1 may be practically 
cut out1 or at least held in check1 by  
the use of ,bordeaux mixture1 but       
rotation is the best remedy for smut4   
,,chapter ,,xvi4                        
,,cole ,,crops4      ,cole crops are    
among the hardy plants of the garden and
 field1  requiring plenty of moisture at
 the roots1 a cool season and cool soil4
  ,hence their name1 ,cole meaning cool4
 ,they are mostly seed-bed crops and    
need considerable space in which to     
spread4 ,they are grown for their  tops1
 rather than for their roots or fruits4 
,,cabbage4    ,cabbage culture needs a  
cool deep soil that will hold moisture1 
and  continuous growth from start to    
finish4 ,its other essentials are3      
extra care in the selection of the seed2
 frequent and thorough surface  tillage2
 avoiding the root maggot1 club-root1   
and rot1 by proper  rotation of crops1  
and by destroying the cabbage worm as   
soon as it  appears4 8,a cabbage head0  

may mean a stupid man1 for 8a cabbage   
head0  can't take care of cabbages4     
,the demand for cabbage has increased   
more rapidly during the past ten  years 
than for any other vegetable in the     
market4 ,for sauer kraut alone  the     
demand is enormous4 ,where a few hundred
 barrels would supply all  the demand   
twenty years ago1 tens of thousands of  
barrels are now  needed annually4 ,its  
use was at one time largely confined to 
the ,german  in this country1 but that  
is no longer true4 ,so there is always a
  market for cabbage1 and if you are    
willing to take the pains necessary  to 
grow good cabbage1 you will find it a   
paying crop4 ,cabbage is also  largely  
grown for stock-feeding1 and all the    
animals1 from the horses  to the fowls1 
are glad to get it4    ,there are1 of   
course1 the two sorts of crops now so   
usual in  market-gardening1 the early   
and the main season crops4 ,the early   
crop  is started under glass either in  
the hot-bed or forcing house1 while  the

 main season crop is sown in seed-beds  
or in the open4    ,the best soil       
preparation begins the fall before1 with
 deep plowing and  from #aj to #bj tons 
of manure to the acre4 ,then1 if the    
land is at all  acid or has not recently
 been limed1 it is well to apply lime at
 the  rate of #ajjj pounds to the acre1 
and plow that in along with #ej pounds  
of nitrate of soda4 ,this will supply   
the food for the cabbage1 which is  a   
gross feeder1 and won't thrive without  
plenty of food4 ,farmers who  raise it  
in large quantities1 give it three      
applications of nitrate of  soda after  
it is quite well grown4 ,they use about 
#ej pounds to the  acre each time1 about
 ten days apart4    ,if sown in         
hot-beds1 care must be taken to harden  
the cabbage sprouts  by gradual exposure
 to the air before transplanting1 so as 
not to  cause any serious delay in      
growth4 ,in field-grown cabbage1 likely 
to  be used in part at least for stock  
feeding1 the plants should stand  from  

#bd to #cj inches apart1 in rows not    
less than #cj inches apart4 ,this  gives
 room for the heads to increase in size 
and weight4 ,under these  conditions an 
acre will produce from #gejj to #ijjj   
plants4 ,but on small  areas1 where the 
crop is intended for market1 the plants 
may be crowded  somewhat1 to keep down  
the size and to secure an average weight
 of  four to six pounds each4 ,in this  
way an acre will bear #aj1jjj plants4   
,cabbage should be cultivated once in a 
week or ten days until the heads  touch 
in the rows4 ,if your cabbage is uniform
 in size1 has few outside  leaves1 very 
little stump or core when cut open1     
closely packed leaves  lapping in the   
centre1 freedom from disease or insect  
injury1 and is  true to name and type1  
you should secure the uniform price of  
five  cents a head in good markets4     
,cabbage suffers from many diseases and 
insects1 and the gardener needs  to be  
on the watch constantly if he is not to 
lose his crop after all  his labor4 ,the

 cabbage worm makes its appearance      
early1 and should be  destroyed at once2
 while for club-root1 black rot1 etc41  
rotation is  our only usual remedy4#f   
,different varieties thrive better in   
different localities4 ,you must         
experiment in a small way1 or find out  
what your neighbors have done1  keeping 
a record of the sort that does best     
under your conditions1  and then plant  
only that4 ,near ,new ,york ,city the   
,bergen ,drumhead does  wonderfully     
well1 but in some western parts of the  
country it has  less success4 ,the      
,newark ,flat ,dutch1 on the other hand1
 for an early  cabbage1 does well both  
east and west4 ,for a late season       
variety the  ,premium ,flat ,dutch is   
excellent4    ,to show the possibilities
 of profit in cabbage1 ,professor       
,bailey1 in  his 8,vegetable            
,gardening10 quotes from an expert      
cabbage grower in  ,green ,bay1 ,wis41  
as follows3--,assume that you have      
first-class land  worth #bjj per acre3  

,interest and taxes per year will cost1 
say  #ae4jj    ,forty loads manure at   
#a4jj per load4        #dj4jj           
,plowing and fitting the ground         
#c4jj    #aj1jjj plants at #d4jj per    
thousand          #dj4jj    ,setting and
 watering                          #e4jj
    ,after-cultivation                  
#aj4jj    ,harvesting and marketing     
#ej4jj                                  
--------      ,total                    
#afc4jj    #hjjj heads sold at #c4ej per
 hundred        #bhj4jj                 
--------      ,net profit               
#aag4jj    ,if you get only #hjjj plants
 out of #aj1jjj set1 it is a little     
below  the average return1 and as the   
market price is estimated at only #c    
cents per head1 there is no trace of    
exaggeration in these figures4 ,the     
estimate was made ten years ago4    ,a  
crop of cabbages can be grown and       
harvested in #ajj to #aaj days1 which   
makes possible two crops from the same  
piece of ground in the one  season4     

,there are two ways of planting the     
first crop4 ,one is to use a  good rich 
seed-bed and sow the seed in ,november1 
the favorite variety  being the ,jersey 
,wakefield4 ,when the plants are three  
or four inches  high1 transplant them to
 cold-frames in a protected spot and let
 them  winter there4 ,in the spring they
 will soon start growing and be ready   
for transplanting to the field early4   
,the only drawback to this method  is1  
that the plants being really old when   
spring comes1 you are apt to  lose a    
good many by their running to seed4 ,for
 this reason1 another  method is rather 
to be preferred4 ,use the same variety  
of seed1 but sow  in hot-beds in        
,february1 and as soon as the plants are
 three or four  inches high1 transplant 
to cold-frames4 ,if they are not too    
crowded1  they will be ready for        
planting in rows in the field by ,april 
#a4 ,but  you must remember that the    
cabbage is a heavy feeder and that your 
soil  must be rich and full of humus4   

,one noted cabbage grower in ,new       
,jersey says he plants his cabbage with 
a potato planter1 which makes the rows  
#c feet apart1 distributes the          
fertilizer1 and makes the ridges for the
 plants all at one time4 ,he  levels    
down the ridges with a plank drag which 
covers two rows at a  time4 ,the        
fertilizer is of high grade1 applied at 
the rate of #ajjj  pounds to the acre4  
,if plants are set #bj inches apart1 it 
will require  #aj1jjj for an acre4 ,he  
cultivates thoroughly until the cabbages
 begin  to head2 then while cultivating 
once more1 he applies nitrate of soda   
at the rate of #aej pounds to the acre1 
putting it on the row close to  the     
plants1 but not on the plants4 ,this    
makes the cabbage head up  quickly and  
uniformly1 and makes the heads crisp and
 tender1 besides  increasing the yield  
enormously4 ,this crop should all be    
marketed by  ,july #d1 and the yield    
should be from #hjjj to #ijjj heads per 
acre4    ,for the second crop1 sow the  

seed in a good bed in the open1 about   
the  last of ,may and by ,july #ae at   
latest1 the plants can be transplanted  
to the field4 ,between marketing the    
first crop and transplanting the        
second1 the ground should be again      
thoroughly prepared by the addition  of 
#ajjj pounds of fertilizer to the acre  
and #aej pounds of nitrate of  soda4    
,plant the same as in first crop4 ,the  
variety most used is the  large1 early  
,dwarf ,flat ,dutch4    ,in growing late
 cabbage there is much more danger of   
maggots and other  insects destroying   
your crop4 ,the ,new ,york ,experiment  
,station has  tried a simple device     
which has given satisfaction so far as  
tested4  ,this consists of screening the
 bed completely with cheesecloth which  
protected the plants from maggots4 ,from
 #ahjj square feet of screened  bed     
#ej1jjj plants were transplanted to the 
field1 while from an  unscreened check  
plat intended to plant #dj acres1 only  
enough plants  for four acres were      

secured4 ,the plants were 8hardened0 by 
removing  the screen one week before    
transplanting4 ,there was no more       
wilting  than with plants grown in the  
open4 ,this is cheaper than any form of 
insecticides4                           
,,kale4    ,kale requires much less care
 than cabbage1 and is usually sown where
  it stands4 ,it is probably nearer the 
original type of cole plant than  any   
other1 and even in cultivation produces 
no heads1 but very large1  heavy        
foliage4 ,it is a very hardy plant1 and 
is grown especially for  spring and fall
 crops1 and is much used as greens at   
seasons when other  greens are not to be
 had4 ,in the ,northern ,states the     
seeds are sown  in the spring and the   
plants are ready for use in the fall4   
,when the  crop has been thinned1 the   
plants that are to reach maturity should
 be  from #aj to #bj inches apart1 and  
the distance between rows may depend    
upon the sort of cultivation to be      
given4 ,in large areas of kale1         

horse-cultivation is best1 but in a     
small plot the usual #ab to #ah  inches 
will allow of wheel-hoe work4    ,kale  
is such a hardy plant that frost will   
not hurt it1 and the crop  is often     
allowed to stand in the field until very
 late in the season1  or even all       
winter4 ,the large outer leaves are     
improved by frost4 ,in  the ,south and  
,middle ,south1 kale seed is sown in the
 late summer and  the young plants      
allowed to stand in the field           
unprotected all winter1  but this cannot
 be done in the ,north4 ,there the young
 plants need  cold-frame protection4    
,for this reason there is little        
winter-grown  kale in the ,north1 and   
the extensive supply that comes from    
,virginia  from ,january until late     
spring makes it unprofitable to force it
 for  early spring in the ,north4       
,there is a form of kale called         
collards1 which is much grown in  the   
,south1 especially where the climate is 
too hot for successful  cabbage-growing4

 ,the seed is sown very early in the    
spring in protected  seed-beds1 so that 
the crop may get its growth before the  
hot weather  sets in4 ,it is much like  
cabbage1 and sometimes young cabbage    
plants  are raised for greens1 and are  
called collards4 ,kale is subject to the
  same enemies as cabbage 7which see71  
and requires the same sort of           
cultivation4                            
,,brussels ,,sprouts4    ,brussels      
sprouts are closer kin to kale than to  
cabbage1 although  not exactly like     
either4 ,all cole crops have similar    
needs in soil1  food and tillage1 so    
what holds for one may be taken as true 
for all1  except that kale and ,brussels
 ,sprouts do not exact so much care as  
the others4 ,in the ,northern ,states1  
the seeds are generally sown quite  late
 in the season that the crop may not    
come to perfection too early1  as the   
plants are most prized in late autumn   
and early winter4 ,a large  part of the 
crop's growth is made in the cool       

weather of early fall4  ,if the seed is 
sown in seed-beds in ,june1 the plants  
will be ready to  set out late in ,july 
or early in ,august4 ,where the winters 
are mild  the crop is often left in the 
field until used1 but in the ,north it  
is  usually dug and placed in pits1 like
 leek or celery4    ,the stalk of the   
,brussels sprouts may be from two to    
three feet high1  although where the    
season is short1 the dwarf or half-dwarf
 varieties  give surer crops4 ,all along
 this stalk1 from the root to the crown 
of  leaves at the top1 grow tiny baby   
cabbages1 each of which is called a     
8sprout10 and averaging from an inch to 
two inches in diameter4 ,when  the      
sprouts are small and tender they are   
the most delicately flavored  of any of 
the cabbage family4 ,in many places1    
however1 the demand is  very limited4   
,success in raising a good crop depends 
chiefly upon careful selection  of seed4
 ,there is no crop which runs down so   
quickly1 and in which  greater care is  

necessary in choosing only the best for 
seed4 ,it is  subject to the same       
diseases as other cole crops4           
,,cauliflower4    ,the cauliflower is   
more particular than cabbage1 both as to
 climate and  cultivation4 ,it won't    
head up in the heat and must have a     
cool1 moist  climate to reach           
perfection4 ,it also needs a constant   
water supply  and therefore demands the 
best of tillage4 ,it will grow only from
 the  best of seed1 and as it is easily 
sunburned1 it is grown chiefly for      
early and late crops4 ,for early crops  
the seeds are sown in hot-beds or       
forcing houses1 and transplanted as soon
 as the weather is settled1 so  that the
 crop is off in late ,june or early     
,july4 ,the best varieties for  this    
early cropping are the ,snowball and    
,paris1 variations of the ,early  ,dwarf
 ,erfurt4 ,the fall crop is started in  
seed-beds in the summer and             
transplanted to the garden4 ,for this   
crop some of the larger and later       

growing varieties may be planted4       
,cauliflower is grown to best advantage 
along the northern sea-coast  ,states1  
,long ,island1 the shores of the ,great 
,lakes1 and in the ,puget  ,sound       
region1 and wherever irrigation is      
practiced4 ,where the climate  is at all
 inclined to be sunny it is well to tie 
leaves over the  young heads to blanch  
them1 otherwise they will brown in the  
strong  light and bring a lower market  
price4 ,it is necessary1 too1 to save   
all the moisture there is in the soil by
 the most careful tillage4  ,tillage    
should be shallow but frequent all      
through the growing period4             
8,buttoning0 or the throwing up of      
irregular growths which spoil the       
evenness of the head1 comes from poor   
seed1 or dry soil1 or too great  heat2  
and also from allowing the plants to be 
checked in their growth  and then       
started again by renewed cultivation4   
,the crop requires steady  and          
persistent care1 rather than occasional 

energetic care1 and will  repay you for 
all your effort4    ,the best           
cauliflower seed--and that is the only  
sort worth using--is  expensive1 often  
running as high as #c to #e an ounce1   
and you may be  tempted to choose the   
cheaper sorts4 ,but the best seed is of 
vital  importance in growing            
cauliflower1 the cheaper kind being     
given to  8buttoning10 which lessens the
 price you can get in the market4 ,the  
best seed in the market has so far come 
from ,denmark1 but the ,puget  ,sound   
growers are beginning to rival the      
,danes4 ,there is a family of           
long-season1 late-growing cauliflowers1 
called broccoli1 but they are  little   
known in this country4 ,things that are 
little known are all  right to eat and  
to show1 but they are usually hard to   
sell4                                   
,,kohlrabi4    ,although of the cabbage 
family1 kohlrabi looks and tastes more  
like  turnips and is cultivated like    
turnips4 ,it is grown for the thickened 

stem or tuber which grows above the     
ground1 and if eaten when young  is very
 tender and more delicate in flavor for 
early spring use than  turnips4 ,it is  
also excellent for stock feed and is    
grown extensively  for that4 ,the best  
variety for garden use is the ,white    
,vienna1 and  the tubers should be eaten
 when from two to three inches in       
diameter4  ,like all cole crops they    
need continuous growth1 otherwise they  
become  bitter and stringy4 ,successive 
sowings of the crop may be made and when
  thinned the plants should stand from  
six to ten inches apart4 ,they  require 
from two and one-half to three months to
 mature and may be  planted and tilled  
just as turnips are4    ,cole crops all 
suffer from the same insects and        
diseases and it is well  to get the     
latest advice upon how to deal with     
them4 ,for root maggot1 a  most         
troublesome pest1 read ,cornell         
,bulletin #gh 7published at ,ithaca1    
,new ,york71 though the only really     

effective remedy is well-planned        
rotation4 ,in this bulletin1            
,slingerland recommends placing tarred  
paper cards close to the young plants to
 protect them against the  maggot2      
rubbing the eggs of the maggot off the  
base of the young  plants1 and injecting
 bisulphide of carbon or carbolic acid  
emulsion  into the soil about the       
plants4 ,it is necessary to use a       
syringe made  specially for this        
purpose4    ,the ,cornell ,bulletin     
#ajd1 deals with cut-worms1 and ,new    
,york ,bulletins  #hc 7p4 #feg7 and ,no4
 #add1 tell about the cabbage worm or   
butterfly1 the  common yellow butterfly4
 ,better look them up4 ,they recommend  
persistent  use of ,paris green on the  
first crop1 and a mixture made of five  
pounds  pulverized resin2 one pound     
concentrated lye2 one pint fish oil or  
any  cheap oil except tallow2 five      
gallons water4 ,the same treatment does 
for the cabbage looper4    ,for aphids1 
or lice1 read the ,new ,york ,bulletin  

#hc 7p4 #feg7 and ,florida  ,bulletin   
#cd 7p4 #bgj74 ,the injection of        
bisulphide of carbon in the  ground1 or 
the application of kerosene emulsion to 
both sides of leaves  when young and    
small2 tobacco2 pyrethrum2 ,persian     
insect powder--any of  these will prove 
more or less effective4    ,new ,york   
,bulletin #hc 7p4 #fhc7 will tell you   
about methods of dealing  with the      
,harlequin ,cabbage ,bug4 ,hand-picking 
is effective1 and with  clean culture1  
should eradicate this pest4             
,club-root is really cured only by a    
thoroughly planned system of  rotation1 
although air-slaked stone lime1 applied 
in the proportion of  #ge bushels to the
 acre1 does good work4 ,read ,new       
,jersey ,bulletin #ih4      ,,footnotes3
    #f ,,note4--,some experts think that
 lime is the one great soil doctor1     
especially in a garden where crops are  
plowed under1 lots of manure is  used   
and there is not much chance for crop   
rotation4 ,heavy doses of  lime will    

destroy many fungous diseases and also  
kill off a good many  insects1          
especially the soft-skinned kind which  
gather as crops are  grown in the same  
place year after year4 ,it would        
scarcely be possible  to grow good      
cabbage in the same spot for a series of
 years without  heavily liming the soil4
 ,it prevents club-root4                
,,chapter ,,xvii4                       
,,pot-,,herb ,,crops4      ,pot-herb    
crops are 8greens10 grown for their     
leaves4 ,unless the growth  be quick and
 continuous1 the leaves will not be     
crisp and tender4 ,quick  and continuous
 growth can be secured only by having   
the soil in good  condition and giving  
the crop careful tillage4 ,furthermore1 
greens are  mostly surface feeders1 so  
that the surface soil must be in        
excellent  tilth1 and contain much plant
 food4 ,they demand cool weather and are
  usually grown as succession- or       
companion-crops1 because they do not    
require the whole season to mature4     

,,spinach4    ,spinach is a spring crop 
and a fall crop1 because spring and fall
 give  the cool1 moist temperature it   
needs to come to perfection4 ,spinach   
belongs to the pigweed family and is a  
cousin to the beet4 ,there are  two     
varieties1 the prickly seeded and the   
round seeded4 ,the prickly  seeded is   
the hardiest1 and is most commonly used 
for fall sowing4    ,farmers in the     
,north used to grow spinach extensively 
under glass1 but  of late years the     
large out-door crops grown around       
,norfolk1 ,va41  have spoiled the profit
 in that1 and the ,southern product     
takes its  place4 ,the spinach for early
 spring is sown in the field or garden  
in  ,september and should be thoroughly 
established before winter1 with a       
spread of leaves at least three or four 
inches4    ,as far north as ,new ,york  
,state it is left out uncovered all     
winter and  does not suffer unless the  
frost causes the ground to 8heave40 ,if 
straw  or litter can be had without     

trouble or expense1 the spinach can be  
covered lightly as that often prevents  
8heaving40 ,if all goes well1 the       
plants resume growth early in the       
spring1 and may even continue growing   
during the winter if the season is mild4
 ,it is ready for market in  ,april or  
,may and should be off the ground in    
,june to make room for the  main crop4  
,southern spinach is marketed from late 
,november until ,april  or ,may4        
,although spinach is a comparatively    
easy crop to grow1 it needs certain     
conditions for perfection4 ,the land    
must be rich and well drained1 and      
liquid fertilizer must be applied after 
the crop gets started4 ,some put  manure
 on the plot in the fall1 and1 as it    
leaches during the winter1  it          
fertilizes the plants and starts them   
growing in the spring4 ,hen  manure may 
be used4 ,but the best way is to apply  
nitrate of soda or  sulphate of ammonia 
in a weak solution so that #ej to #ge   
pounds will be  sufficient for an acre4 

,this is generally used in a sprinkler  
and is  applied two or three times at   
intervals of a week or ten days1 using  
each time1 #ej to #ge pounds of         
fertilizer4    ,spinach is sometimes    
sown in the spring in the place where it
 is to  grow4 ,but in that case1 the    
position chosen must be a warm one1 and 
even then1 although a better stand is   
often obtained1 the crop does  not      
mature quickly4 ,it is still            
occasionally started under glass and    
transplanted to the garden1 and         
sometimes it is grown in frames all  the
 way through to maturity4 ,gardeners who
 want to hasten their crop  frequently  
cover it with glass during ,february and
 ,march1 and it  responds well to this  
treatment4    ,a variety known as ,new  
,zealand spinach1 which is hardly a true
 spinach1  thrives in summer1 but as    
greens are not greatly in demand in     
summer1  it has not become very popular 
in this country4    ,an ounce of spinach
 seed will sow #aej feet of drill1 or   

#aj to #ab pounds  to the acre4 ,it is  
so necessary to have excellent drainage 
for spinach1  that the land is usually  
plowed into low ridges or beds six to   
nine  feet wide4 ,the spinach is sown   
lengthwise of the beds #ab to #ah inches
  apart1 according to the sort of       
tillage to be used4                     
,,chard4    ,one of the best of the     
pot-herbs1 though not so generally      
known1 is the  chard or leaf-beet1 which
 usually requires the whole season to   
mature1  although it will give a        
succession of leaves from early summer  
until  fall4 ,the leaf-blades and       
midribs of the chard are very broad1 and
 are  usually white or slightly tinted1 
instead of green4 ,gardeners often      
blanch them further by tying the leaves 
together while growing4 ,the  seeds are 
sown in the spring as thickly as the    
ordinary beet is sown1  and the plants  
are thinned until they stand six to     
twelve inches apart  in the row4        
,,mustard4    ,mustard is cultivated    

more extensively in the ,south than in  
the ,north1  as it will grow where the  
climate is too hot for other greens4 ,in
 the  ,north it is usually grown only in
 home gardens for family use2 the       
plants run to seed in midsummer1 so seed
 must be sown very early in  the spring4
 ,they are ready for use in ,may or     
,june4 ,some of the new  improved       
varieties of curly-leaved mustard are   
among the best of  pot-herbs4 ,in the   
,south1 the ,southern ,giant ,curled    
,mustard is much  used1 taking the place
 that lettuce and spinach fill in the   
northerly  sections4 ,the ,chinese      
,broad ,leaved is a vigorous variety    
which gives  a large amount of foliage4 
,it is easy to grow1 and even in the    
,north1  if the soil is warm and sandy1 
seed may be sown in the fall and the    
plants will be ready for use early in   
the spring1 even though the  seeds do   
not start sprouting in the fall4 ,the   
seed escapes easily and  sows itself in 
unoccupied areas and spreads rapidly4   

,so1 if it is not  carefully watched to 
prevent too general seeding1 it can     
readily become  a troublesome weed4     
,,dandelion4    ,everybody knows the    
wild dandelion1 and almost everybody    
likes it as a  pot-herb1 but only those 
who have eaten the improved garden      
varieties1  know its real possibilities4
 ,although the dandelion is perennial1  
it  is treated as an annual for the best
 results in cultivation1 and the  seed  
is sown in early spring and the crop    
either harvested that fall  or allowed  
to remain in the ground until the next  
spring4 ,it will  grow anywhere1 and    
often persists in growing in its wild   
type where  you don't want it2 but if   
you want plants with large1 cut or      
frilled  leaves1 you will see that the  
soil is rich and deep1 and that the     
plants have good tillage all the season 
through4 ,the leaves of these  varieties
 are not only good to eat1 but they are 
extensively used for  garnishing4 ,if   
they have been properly cared for1 the  

plants will  often measure #ab to #bj   
inches across1 with a crown or rosette  
of dense  foliage4    ,dandelion seeds  
are usually sown where the plants are to
 stand1  although occasionally they are 
sown in seed-beds and transplanted4 ,as 
soon as they have made a fair growth    
they are thinned to about one  foot     
apart3 the distance between the rows    
will depend upon the sort of            
cultivation the plants are to receive4  
,hand tools require less space  than    
horse tools1 and hand-hoeing less than  
wheel-hoeing1 with more  labor and less 
returns4 ,if the plants are allowed to  
stand through the  winter1 they are     
ready for the market very early in the  
spring when the  demand is briskest and 
the prices best4 ,in harvesting1 the    
plant is cut  off just below the rosette
 and the roots must then be plowed out  
so  that there is no danger of the herb 
becoming a weed4 ,it is not worth  while
 to try to sell the small plants1 but   
they should be cut off1  to prevent them

 going to seed and becoming a nuisance4 
,some growers  take the roots up and put
 them in forcing house or hot-bed for   
growing  greens2 or1 they may be forced 
in the dark1 which gives white or       
blanched leaves4 ,this same effect may  
be obtained in the field by tying  up   
the leaves1 thus securing a blanched    
crown just as is done with  endive4 ,we 
owe much of the improvement of the      
dandelion to the ,french4               
,,purslane4    ,purslane1 or1 as it is  
more generally called1 8pusley10 is     
another herb  that the ,french growers  
have greatly improved4 ,the common      
pusley weed  is a weak1 trailing plant1 
but the ,french1 cultivated variety     
stands  up stiff with large leaves and  
juicy stems4 ,it grows easily in any    
good garden soil1 matures quickly and is
 not hurt by warm weather4 ,the  seeds  
are sown early in the spring and there  
is little danger of the  cultivated sort
 sowing itself and becoming a pest4     
,there are some other varieties of      

greens2 but this book aims only to      
treat of those which are generally grown
 and for which there is a sure  market  
each year4                              
,,chapter ,,xviii4                      
,,salad ,,crops4      ,salad crops are  
close kin to pot-herbs4 ,but a salad is 
eaten uncooked1  while pot-herbs are    
boiled4 ,some plants are used both ways1
 but they  are then classed according to
 their most general use4 ,salad crops   
need  a cool1 moist soil and quick      
continuous growth4 ,as has been         
frequently  said before1 7but not too   
frequently17 this can only be obtained  
by having the soil in good condition and
 plenty of plant food in a  shape that  
the crop can eat4 ,salad crops need     
plenty of water1 clean1  thorough       
culture1 and a good deal of prompt      
attention1 but they mature  so rapidly1 
that the demands are not really         
excessive4 ,having supplied  their      
needs1 you must1 thereafter1 depend upon
 the weather to help you  perfect your  

crop4 ,if you get dry1 tough1 wilted    
salad crops1 you need  not take the     
trouble to harvest them1 for nobody     
wants that sort2 and  that is the only  
kind you can raise if you neglect them4 
,there is no pleasure like the ever-new 
exultation and joy of seeing  the things
 we ourselves have planted come up2 and 
these lovely colored  shoots1 springing 
from the brown earth1 serve to renew our
 faith in the  bounty of ,nature and the
 loving order of the world--as well as  
to fill  our pockets4                   
,,lettuce4    ,the most popular salad   
crop is lettuce1 a hardy1 short-season1 
companion- or succession-crop requiring 
moist1 rich1 mellow soil1 and  plant    
food in quickly available form4 ,it is  
easy of culture and is  chiefly grown in
 the open1 though the demand for it has 
increased to  such an extent that it is 
started in hot-beds or forcing houses   
that  it may be earlier on the market4  
,you can get it in about five weeks4    
,coolness and continuous growth are     

necessary to prevent toughness and      
bitterness4 ,it is little grown in the  
summer1 though the ,cos variety  can    
stand the hot weather very well1 if the 
soil is moist and cool4  ,lettuce does  
better if transplanted and for that     
reason it is usually  sown in seed-beds2
 in transplanting1 it is usual to cut   
off the top  third of the leaves1 unless
 the seedlings are very stocky2 but the 
mid-season and later crops may be sown  
where the plants are to stand4  ,fall   
lettuce should be sown in late ,august  
or early ,september1 and1 as  it is     
easier to control soil conditions and to
 get quick sprouting in  a seed-bed than
 in the field at that dry time of year1 
it is better  to use the seed-bed4 ,at  
any time lettuce does best in a soil    
that is  loose and 8warm10 that is known
 to gardeners as 8quick40 ,heavy1 clayey
  soils are not adapted to lettuce1 so  
see that your soil is pulverized  and   
well fertilized before the seeds are    
sown4 ,it has been found to pay  well to

 treat the soil with nitrate of soda    
after the plants are set1  because of   
the more rapid growth4 ,the soda is     
applied dry1 at the rate  of two or     
three hundred pounds to the acre1 and   
then raked or tilled  in4 ,lettuce seed 
is sown thickly and the plants thinned1 
as they become  edible1 to about a foot 
apart4 ,the thinnings make excellent    
8greens40  ,the rows are usually #h to  
#ab inches apart4    ,when grown as a   
succession-crop1 lettuce may be followed
 by cabbage1  early cauliflower1 celery 
and other things4 ,or1 it may be grown  
between  the cabbages and cauliflower as
 a companion-crop1 since it matures     
before either1 and leaves the land to   
those plants when they need all  the    
space4 ,seed may be sown successionally 
until warm weather1 and you  may count  
upon #ajjj plants for each ounce of     
seed4 ,there are three  well-known      
tribes3 head lettuce1 cut or            
curly-leaved1 and ,cos1 and a  fourth   
variety little known1 called            

narrow-leaved lettuce4 ,there are  about
 #ajj varieties4 ,field-grown lettuce   
has few enemies4                        
,,endive4    ,endive is a summer and    
fall crop1 thriving at a time when it is
 not  easy to grow lettuce to           
perfection4#g ,it is1 therefore1 a good 
addition to lettuce1 and its culture is 
largely the same1 though endive  takes  
longer to mature than lettuce does4     
,endive matures under proper  care about
 fifty days after the seeds are sown4   
,if seeds are sown in  ,june the plants 
will be fit for table use in ,august or 
,september4    ,endive requires about   
the same sort of soil as lettuce1 the   
same  tillage and the same general      
treatment4 ,the plants should stand     
about  a foot apart each way to make    
cultivation easier4 ,it is sometimes    
sown  in cold-frames1 but just as often 
in the open field1 and successive       
sowings will give successive crops1 but 
that which gets its start  during hot   
weather is not satisfactory4 ,the inside

 leaves of the crown  are usually       
blanched by tying them together near the
 tops for two or  three weeks before the
 plants are ready for market4 ,the      
blanched sort  brings a better price4   
,the disadvantages of blanching are that
 the  plants fade and decay quickly     
unless used at once1 and if rain or damp
  weather follows the tying-up1 there is
 great danger of decay while in  the    
ground4 ,so the plants must be examined 
occasionally to see that  they are doing
 well4 ,when endive is used as a        
pot-herb1 as it sometimes  is1 it is    
better to pick the new young plants     
before they have time to  head or can be
 blanched4 ,the coarse1 outer leaves of 
the plant are apt  to be bitter and     
tough1 so that only the leaves of the   
crown are used  for salads4    ,with all
 these crops you can see why nearness to
 market is so  important--even though   
the land is higher priced4              
,,chicory4    ,chicory has various uses 
and is now quite largely grown in       

gardens4 ,as  a salad plant only the    
tender1 blanched leaves of the crown are
 used4  ,the outer1 green leaves are    
often used for 8greens10 like dandelion4
  ,chicory is not a surface feeder like 
most salad plants1 but is grown  as a   
root crop the same as carrots or        
parsnips4 ,the soil must be deep1  that 
the roots may come to perfection by     
fall2 cuttings of leaves may  be made   
during the season4 ,the roots may be    
left in the ground over the  winter4    
,chicory is really a perennial1 but     
under cultivation it is  better to grow 
a new lot of plants each year4 ,when    
wanted for winter  use1 the strong roots
 are taken up in the fall1 and buried in
 a sloping  direction in a pit or       
cellar1 with the crown of the plant     
showing an  inch or so above the sand or
 earth4 ,the growing-place must be kept 
dark1 and in a few weeks the small1     
prized leaves begin to show4 ,when      
chicory plants are covered1 crowns and  
all1 with about two feet of  manure1    

they develop heads resembling lettuce   
heads4 ,the young1 tender  roots of     
chicory are eaten as beets or carrots   
are1 while the dried  root is           
extensively used in place of coffee4    
,this accounts for the  increased area  
devoted to chicory in this country of   
recent years2 it  is less injurious to  
the nerves than coffee4                 
,,cress4    ,there is a delicate 8bite0 
and piquant flavor to cress1 that makes 
it a favorite for salads and for        
garnishings4 ,of the three kinds in     
general use1 the water-cress is probably
 the best liked1 but to bring  it to    
perfection it is necessary to have a    
running brook of clean1 cool  water4 ,to
 grow it in a drain is a good way to get
 typhoid fever4 ,it  is a perennial1 and
 readily propagates itself when once it 
has got a  start1 while the grower can  
increase its spread by scattering seeds 
along the brookside1 or by planting bits
 of stems in the mud4 ,when once        
established it will care for itself1 and

 gives the grower no trouble4  ,although
 it does best along the sides of running
 streams1 water-cress  will grow        
anywhere if it can get moisture enough1 
even though not  covered with water4    
,any moist1 shady garden spot will do1  
if it is  frequently watered1 and       
gardeners often use abandoned hot-bed   
pits1  where the hose can be turned on  
the plants daily4    ,two women made a  
nice profit by sending fine water-cress1
 packed in  oiled paper and cardboard   
boxes1 to select customers by mail4     
,common garden cress is a cool-weather1 
short-season annual1 whose  seeds may be
 sown early in the spring in a cool1    
rich soil1 as its  whole value as a     
salad plant depends upon its quick1     
vigorous growth4  ,the plant runs       
quickly to seed in hot weather1 or if   
left in the  ground until late in the   
season4 ,it is easily grown in pots or  
boxes  in the house in winter2 or1 if   
wanted for fall use1 the seeds may be   
sown in late summer and in early fall4  

,under ordinary conditions1 the  leaves 
are ready for use about six to eight    
weeks after seed is sown4  ,there are a 
number of varieties of the garden cress2
 the sort with  curled leaves being most
 in demand4 ,it is not so well known    
here as  in ,europe4 ,the third variety1
 known as the upland or upright cress1  
is perfectly hardy and common to all    
parts of the ,united ,states4  ,in      
cultivation it is usually treated as an 
annual or as a winter  perennial4 ,seeds
 may be sown late in the season1 when   
the young plants  will be ready for use 
early in the spring2 or1 they may be    
sown in  the earliest spring and will be
 ready for use about fifty-two days     
after sowing4 ,if grown through the     
summer they are apt to be bitter  and   
tough1 unless grown in a shady place4   
,the upland cress resembles  water-cress
 in flavor4                             
,,corn ,,salad4    ,corn salad is not so
 well known here as in ,europe1 where it
 is  highly prized as a fall and winter 

salad and as a pot-herb4 ,it is a       
cool-season crop1 grown as lettuce is4  
,it is hardy and may be sown as  early  
in spring as the soil can be worked4 ,it
 comes to maturity in six  or eight     
weeks1 producing a bunch of leaves      
something like spinach4  ,it may also be
 sown in the fall and protected in      
winter the same as  spinach1 so as to   
have very early plants in the spring1   
or1 if sown  late in the summer1 it will
 give edible leaves in the fall1 and in 
a mild1 open season1 will nourish all   
through the winter4 ,in warm  weather or
 dry places1 it soon runs to seed4 ,it  
is very easy to raise  corn salad in any
 cool soil1 and an ounce of seed will   
give from #bjjj  to #cjjj plants1 which 
should stand about six inches apart in  
the rows4                               
,,parsley4    ,parsley is the most      
popular of all the garnishing herbs1 and
 requires  no special care from the     
gardener1 so long as it is planted in a 
cool1  moist soil4 ,the leaves are used 

for salads and for flavoring as well  as
 for garnishing4 ,parsley seed is slow  
growing1 and unless the garden  soil is 
in excellent tilth and moist to the very
 surface1 it is better  to start the    
plants in a seed-bed4 ,although the     
plant is biennial1 the  foliage is      
usually gathered the first year and the 
plant destroyed1  unless seed is wanted4
 ,in all these green things1 it has been
 found  better to adopt the annual      
treatment rather than let them develop  
into  biennials or perennials1 though   
that may be their natural habit3 we can 
improve the nature of plants1 animals   
and men4                                
,,salad ,,chervil4    ,although salad   
chervil closely resembles parsley and   
may be used the  same way1 it is very   
little known in this country4 ,it       
requires about  the same culture as     
parsley1 and is easy to grow in cool1   
moist soil  in spring or fall4 ,it does 
not thrive well in our hot summers1 but 
with very little protection from        

cold-frames or even from brush1 it  can 
be carried safely through the winter1 if
 the weather is not very  severe4 ,the  
curly-leaved variety is the most        
popular1 whether used  as garnishing or 
seasoning4 ,the salad chervil grows     
nearly two feet  high when it reaches   
full maturity1 but the young foliage is 
the most  prized4 ,it will give leaves  
for cutting in six or eight weeks after 
the  seed is sown4                      
,,celery4    ,all garden or field crops 
are divided into two classes1 those     
whose  seeds are sown where the crop is 
to grow2 and those whose seeds must be  
planted in special conditions1 such as  
seed-beds1 hot-beds or forcing  houses4 
,celery is always a seed-bed crop1 and  
occasionally a hot-bed  or forcing-house
 crop1 according to the time when the   
grower wishes  it to mature4 ,it        
requires a cool1 rich1 very moist soil1 
in excellent  tilth1 where surface      
tillage is maintained throughout the    
whole season4  ,although good celery may

 be grown on uplands by means of extra  
care  and attention1 it usually grows   
best in rich1 moist1 bottom lands4      
,reclaimed marshes1 whose soil has been 
pulverized and fertilized1  are ideal   
celery plots1 because there the moisture
 is sufficient even  during the heat of 
summer4 ,celery cannot stand exposure to
 the direct  heat of the sun1 and on    
exposed places many growers find it     
necessary  to shade the crop4    ,celery
 seeds are very small and slow to sprout
 and are sown broadcast  or in rows4 ,if
 in rows the sowing is very shallow4    
,the seedlings are  tender and delicate1
 so that it is only in a well-prepared  
seed-bed  that the plants can be        
satisfactorily raised4 ,the site of the 
bed  should be selected with great care1
 so as to protect it from hot or  dry   
winds1 and to make it convenient to     
water it every evening4 ,celery         
requires a great deal of moisture4 ,the 
soil must be in such excellent  tilth   
that it will hold moisture up to the    

very surface without the  help of a     
mulch4 ,some growers do use a mulch in  
growing celery1 but it  makes the       
delicate seedlings so much more delicate
 that the loss from  sun-scald upon     
transplanting is likely to be heavy4 ,if
 you do use a  covering of any sort1 be 
careful to begin to remove it as soon as
 the  plants begin to grow1 and take it 
all off before they are up enough to  be
 transplanted4 ,but if you make your    
seed-bed carefully1 you will not  need a
 covering for it4    ,even when you have
 taken so much pains to start your      
celery crop1 the  work is by no means   
done4 ,to secure good1 strong1 stocky   
plants1 they  should be transplanted    
once or twice in the seed-bed before the
 final  transplanting to the garden4 ,it
 is essential in ,north ,carolina1 says 
,prof4 ,massey1 to transplant celery    
once before setting in field or  garden4
 ,this entails so much labor1 that many 
growers are now using the  thinning     
process in place of these various       

transplantings1 and even in  the        
seed-bed the young plants are thinned to
 stand two to three inches  apart and   
the tops are sheared if they grow tall  
too soon4 ,the plants  may be safely cut
 back a third or even a half of their   
growth4 ,in small  garden plots1 shears 
or a sickle may be used1 but1 in the    
large fields1  growers generally use a  
scythe4    ,there is usually a good deal
 of loss in celery seed1 so it is well  
to  sow it very thickly1 and then you   
may reasonably expect from #bj1jjj to   
#cj1jjj plants to the acre4 ,an ounce of
 seed will plant about #bjj feet  of    
row1 and if good1 should give from #ejjj
 to #aj1jjj plants1 although  where     
losses are very heavy the yield is      
frequently only #bjjj to the  ounce of  
seed4 ,one pound of seed should give    
plants enough to set out  four or five  
acres4    ,celery is grown both as an   
early-season and as a late crop1        
depending  upon the location of the     
plot4 ,on the higher lands1 it is either

 an  early or a succession-crop1        
following early cabbages1 lettuce or    
other  short-season crops4 ,but on rich1
 bottom lands1 it is a whole-season     
crop1 as the land there is too wet to be
 worked early in the spring4  ,some     
growers raise two or three crops of     
celery in a season from one  plot1 the  
later or main crop being planted between
 the rows of the  early crop4 ,as celery
 may be set out as late as the middle or
 last of  ,july1 even in the ,northern  
,states1 the main crop does not         
interfere  with the early crop1 which   
may be set out as soon as the ground is 
ready4    ,for two crops1 the soil needs
 more attention than where only one is  
raised1 because cultivation and         
fertilizer must add and preserve the    
moisture which is natural to the lower  
levels4 ,celery needs potash  and       
nitrogen1 and these foods are supplied  
by unleached wood ashes  and well-rotted
 stable manure4 ,coarse1 new manures    
must not be used1  as they make the soil

 coarse and also cause weeds4 ,only old1
 fine1  well-rotted manure will do for  
the celery bed4    ,when tillage is     
given the growing plant1 care must be   
taken not to  disturb the roots4 ,the   
soil may be stirred only at the extreme 
end of  the tiny rootlets1 and if       
fertilizer is applied it must be placed 
at  the same point4 ,some growers make  
tiny trenches between the rows and      
cultivate and fertilize there4 ,celery  
is one of the crops that call for       
thoroughly intelligent care4 ,in many   
localities where the weather is  hot or 
dry1 sub-irrigation1 by means of        
tile-drains1 has supplied the  needed   
moisture for this thirsty crop4         
,there is an entirely new celery culture
 in the sterile sand of ,florida  by    
commercial fertilizer2 but that is a    
subject by itself4 ,the ,florida        
,experiment ,station will give          
particulars4    ,the plants should be   
four or five inches high when           
transplanted and the  stems stocky and  

green4 ,they are set from #aj to #ab    
inches apart in the  rows and the       
distance between the rows depends mainly
 upon the method  of blanching4 ,to     
bring a good price in the market1 celery
 must always  be blanched1 although many
 growers prefer it in its natural       
condition  for their own use4    ,celery
 is blanched in three ways3 ,blanching  
by boarding2 by banking  up with earth1 
or by blanching in storage pits4        
,boarding is generally  applied only to 
summer celery1 as it does not afford    
protection enough  for plants left in   
the field after early ,october4 ,it is  
the simplest  and most economical method
 of blanching1 and where used1 the rows 
may  be two or three feet apart to admit
 of horse cultivation4    ,for blanching
 by boarding1 planks #ab to #ad feet    
long1 one foot wide  and about an inch  
thick are preferred4 ,these planks are  
set on edge  on either side of the row  
close to the root crown of the plants1  
and  tipped until they rest against the 

tops of the plants with their edges     
only two or three inches apart4 ,either 
wire hooks or cleats nailed  across the 
tops are used to keep the boards in     
position4 ,this boarding  or blanching  
process is begun as soon as the plants  
are tall enough to  show a few leaves   
above the board4 ,as the stalks shoot up
 in search  of light1 the leaves fill   
the spaces between the boards and       
exclude  light from the stalks4 ,great  
care must be exercised in warm weather  
that the plants do not rot at the heart 
because of too great moisture4          
,experience will teach you that it is   
well to get good lumber that may  be    
used many seasons1 rather than cheap    
boards which will warp or crack  in one 
season4    ,blanching by banking with   
earth1 often gives a better quality of  
celery1 but it is much more expensive   
and cannot be so safely used  in summer1
 as it tends to rotting at the heart4   
,it usually requires  two or three      
bankings or 8handlings10 as they are    

called1 during the  season4 ,the first  
is given when the plant has spread so as
 to make a  head about eighteen inches  
across4 ,then it is gathered in the hand
  and held1 while earth is banked up    
around it about two-thirds of its       
height4 ,in ten days or a fortnight this
 is done again1 and in the very  tall   
varieties once again4 ,when this method 
is used the rows are from  three and    
one-half to four feet apart4 ,of late   
years large growers use  a 8celery plow0
 for banking4    ,when celery is to be  
blanched in storage it is usually       
8handled0 once  while in the field1 so  
as to start the process of blanching4   
,afterwards  the plants are placed so   
close together in pits or sheds that the
  blanching goes on until the crop is   
ready for market4    ,there is another  
method of blanching celery which is     
particularly  successful in small areas4
 ,it consists of growing the plants so  
close  together that the light is       
excluded and the crop blanches as it    

grows4  ,it is then grown as close as   
six or eight inches apart either way4   
,this  is called the 8new celery        
culture10 and is successful where the   
hose  can be freely used to supply the  
necessary moisture4      ,storing4      
,but the care necessary for growing     
celery does not end even with the       
blanching4 ,it extends to storing1 which
 is also important to the crop4  ,there 
are several well-known methods1 chief of
 which are storing in  outside pits or  
cellars and storing in celery houses4   
,usually the  outside pit or cellar is a
 temporary affair and a very            
satisfactory one  is built like the     
regular vegetable pit3 the way to make  
that is given  in another chapter4      
,if celery is to remain crisp and juicy1
 it must make a very slow growth  all   
the time it is in the store-house1 and  
should be kept just above  freezing     
point4    ,when you prepare your celery 
for market1 be sure to clean it         
thoroughly4 ,this may be done by        

washing1 or it may require scrubbing1   
but be sure to have it clean4 ,remove   
the outside leaves and trim the  roots  
down to a point1 then pack in boxes or  
trays4 ,and right here  comes in another
 reason for studying your particular    
market1 because  the number of bunches  
of celery packed in a box or tray--and  
even  whether you use a box or a        
tray--depends upon the market you       
supply4 ,it  varies with different      
markets4    ,in the 8new celery culture0
 where the plants are set so closely    
together that they blanch themselves1 it
 takes #aej1jjj plants to an  acre4     
,this method of growing requires greatly
 increased quantities of  fertilizers or
 results will be very unsatisfactory4   
,the dwarf varieties  of celery are most
 in demand1 and the favorites for summer
 and fall are  ,white ,plume1 ,golden   
,self-,blanching and ,kalamazoo2 while  
for late winter  and spring1 ,boston    
,market and ,arlington are standard     
sorts4    ,the chief diseases are leaf  

blight and leaf spot and the fungi that 
attack the plants in storage4 ,for leaf 
blight1 dip young plants in weak        
solution of copper carbonate1 and treat 
the young growing plants twice  a week4 
,it is well to read up on diseases2 and 
for blight read the  ,department of     
,agriculture ,report1 #ahhf1 pp4        
#aag-abj2 ,cornell ,bulletin  #acb1 pp4 
#bjc-bje4 ,to avoid leaf-spot1 select   
seed carefully1 treat it  with ,bordeaux
 mixture while in seed-bed1 and continue
 its use if you  fear an attack4 ,read  
,new ,york ,bulletin #ea and ,cornell   
,bulletin #acb4 ,for  dealing with the  
diseases that develop during storage1   
read ,cornell  ,bulletin #acb1 and      
,bailey's 8,vegetable ,gardening10 p4   
#bbi4 ,if you wish  to know all that    
celery specialists have discovered about
 this crop1  read ,greiner1 ,hollister1 
,rawson1 ,vaughan1 ,stewart1 ,von       
,bochove and  ,crider4 ,these books may 
be found in some good public libraries  
or will  be supplied by our house4      

,understanding all this attention and   
care1 you can easily see why there  is  
big money in a successful celery crop1  
and why ,florida's flat sand  lands are 
making their owners rich raising        
celery--or raising rents and  prices4   
,,celeriac4    ,celeriac is a form of   
celery1 or at least is a very near      
relation to  the real celery1 and       
requires about the same soil preparation
 and the  same conditions and tillage4  
,celeriac is frequently sown where it is
  to stand1 but as the seed is as slow  
to sprout as celery1 this is not  really
 a wise plan4 ,sown in a seed-bed and   
transplanted1 the crop gives  far better
 results4 ,in celeriac it is not the    
stalk but the enlarged1  tuber-like root
 which is eaten1 and the plant requires 
no blanching4 ,it  may be eaten raw in a
 salad1 or cooked1 as you like4 ,good   
roots should  be from three to four     
inches in diameter and they may be kept 
through  winter by packing in sand or   
moss as many other vegetables may be    

kept4  ,celeriac is sown in the same    
quantities as celery seed1 the rows     
being  only far enough apart to allow of
 cultivation1 and the plants from six   
to eight inches apart in the rows4      
,being of a dwarf nature the close      
planting does not cause the plant to    
over-shade itself4      ,,footnotes3    
#g ,,note4--,fullerton says that the    
narrow-leaved1 deeply serrated plant    
called endive in this country1 in       
,france is the chicory or succory  known
 to all ,americans as a roadside weed   
with beautiful blue flowers  like a very
 open aster4                            
,,chapter ,,xix4                        
,,pulse ,,crops4      ,peas and beans   
are the pulse plants1 and although they 
are cousins they  are widely different  
in their requirements4 ,in this respect 
peas and  beans resemble children1 who  
though in the same family1 do not always
  thrive under the same conditions or do
 best with the same treatment4  ,both   
these crops are leguminous1 and1        

therefore1 capable of storing  the      
nitrogen from the air in their roots1   
and thus enriching the soil  where they 
grow1 yet it is often necessary to apply
 nitrogen to secure  a quick start for  
early crops4 ,this is especially true   
where the soil  has not before been used
 to grow leguminous crops4 ,the more we 
study  plants the more we learn about   
children and the more likely are we to  
recognize the close relation between all
 forms of life4                         
,,peas4    ,peas are a partial season   
crop1 and do not require very rich soil4
  ,they are so hardy that the seed may  
be sown where it is to stand1 even      
before frosty weather is wholly gone4   
,it is best to plant the seed  from     
three to five inches deep1 which allows 
the roots always to be  in cool1 moist  
soil4 ,a very rich soil tends to make   
the crop run to  vines and leaves1 so   
that a light soil is necessary1         
particularly where  the crop is to be an
 early one4 ,peas should be early or    

late1 because  they like cool weather1  
and are apt to mildew if carried over   
into hot  summer days4 ,the fall crop   
may be planted early in ,august even in 
the  ,northern ,states4 ,the plants     
should be from three to four inches     
apart  in the rows4 ,it takes a pint of 
seed1 of the small varieties1 for #ajj  
to #abe feet of row1 or one to two      
bushels to an acre4 ,where peas are     
grown in large quantities in a field1   
for canning1 the seeds are sown         
broadcast and then it requires from two 
to three bushels to an acre4  ,for early
 crops the dwarf varieties are preferred
 as they mature so  quickly1 and the    
tall1 climbing varieties are planted for
 late crops4  ,planting and tillage for 
both kinds are the same4 ,peas should be
  planted in double rows only six or    
eight inches apart1 so that the  one row
 of supports1 either brush or           
chicken-wire1 preferably wire1  may     
serve both rows in tall peas1 while the 
dwarf plants support each  other4       

,between each two pairs of rows the     
space should be wide enough  to admit of
 tillage4    ,very few farmers          
understand the value of peas to the soil
 or as stock  feed4 ,this is especially 
important for farmers of the ,northern  
,states1  for peas will grow where corn 
will not1 because of the cold2 they do  
not need much soil preparation or       
after-tillage2 they yield a good  crop  
of forage that is excellent for         
fattening2 they take any place  in a    
good system of rotation of field crops1 
although it is most  satisfactory to    
follow them with wheat2 they may be sown
 at intervals  of ten days1 from very   
early in the season to very late1 and   
when the  crop has been harvested the   
ground is in better condition than      
before  it was planted4    ,in ,europe  
they grow peas with delicate pods1      
called edible-podded or  sugar peas1    
which are eaten as string beans are1 but
 these are almost  unknown here4 ,the   
two kinds of peas used here are the     

wrinkled-seed  pea and the smooth-seed  
pea4 ,the wrinkled variety is the best1 
but it  is more likely to decay when    
planted very early4 ,both sorts of seed 
are found in dwarf and tall varieties of
 pea4 ,the most popular of the  very    
early peas are ,first-of-all1 ,american 
,wonder1 ,philadelphia1 ,mc,lean        
,little ,gem1 ,daniel ,o',rourke1 and   
,blue ,peter4 ,among the late peas the  
,marrowfat1 ,champion of ,england1      
,stratagem1 ,telegraph and ,telephone   
are  leading favorites4    ,peas start  
so early that they do not suffer much   
from weeds1 unless  the land is infested
 with the annual wild mustard4 ,this    
will choke the  peas1 but it may be     
destroyed by a spray made of eight to   
twelve pounds  of copper sulphate       
dissolved in #ej gallons of water1 when 
the plants  are only a few inches high4 
,this solution will not materially      
injure  the peas4    ,the insect enemies
 are the 8pea weevil0 or 8pea bug02 the 
pea moth1  and the pea louse4 ,the pea  

weevil lays its eggs on the outside of  
the  pod1 and the grub1 on hatching1    
eats its way into the pea and while     
hiding there changes into a beetle of a 
brownish-grey color1 and about          
one-fifth of an inch long4 ,it does not 
come out until after the seed  has been 
sown in the spring4 ,this beetle spoils 
the pea for seed and  even to a large   
extent for stock feed4 ,where the weevil
 has attacked  the peas1 it is the      
custom to place the seed in air-tight   
vessels or  rooms and fumigate with     
bisulphide of carbon for several days4  
,the  proportion is one pound of        
bisulphide for every hundred bushels of 
peas4 ,great care must be exercised in  
using bisulphide1 as it is highly       
explosive and very poisonous4 ,but only 
the careless or stupid need get  hurt2  
so there's no danger for you4 ,get      
explicit directions from your  nearest  
,experiment ,station1 and follow them   
closely4    ,the pea moth attacks late  
varieties of peas most severely1 and as 

no remedy yet used has succeeded in     
destroying the pest1 or even  in        
materially reducing its ravages1 the    
best thing is to sow early  varieties of
 peas and so escape its worst effects4  
,it is seldom seen  in moth form1 but is
 common enough as a 8worm10 or small1   
whitish1  somewhat hairy caterpillar1   
about a half-inch long4 ,it lives inside
 the  green pods and eats ragged-edged  
holes in the peas1 which it then fills  
with excrement or waste matter4    ,the 
pea louse is pale-green in color1 and   
clings in great numbers  to the tips of 
the shoots1 and sometimes covers the    
whole plant4 ,it  attacks whole areas of
 peas sometimes1 and becomes a serious  
pest4  ,however1 its hold is slight1 so 
that it may be easily knocked off4 ,in  
small garden patches they are brushed   
off in pans and burned1 while in  large 
fields of peas what is called a         
8brush-and-pan0 device is used1         
followed by the cultivator1 which buries
 the lice or aphids4    ,to find out    

more about the culture of peas1 get     
,farmer's ,bulletin  ,no4 #bbd1 ,u4 ,s4 
,department of ,agriculture1            
,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 and for  the best 
methods of dealing with the crop's      
enemies read ,delaware  ,experiment     
,station 7,newark1 ,del47 ,bulletin ,no4
 #di4    ,pea cultivation was recorded  
two thousand years ago4                 
,,beans4    ,all the well-known         
varieties of garden beans are tender to 
frost1  needing a warm season and a     
sunny exposure4 ,the seed is not sown   
until  the weather is thoroughly settled
 and the soil in excellent tilth2  then 
it is sown where the plants are to      
stand4 ,the favorites in this  country  
are the dwarfs2 the chief advantage of  
the dwarf types is the  saving of       
expense in supports1 and the greater    
ease of cultivation4 ,the  early crop is
 usually eaten as string beans1 though  
the best 8string0  bean is the kind that
 has no 8strings to it40 ,this variety  
breaks off  with a clean snap and is    

often known as 8snap0 bean4 ,beans that 
are  well suited to be eaten as string  
beans have thick1 fleshy pods and  very 
little fibrous tissue4 ,in order that   
string beans may be of the  best        
quality1 the crop must make a quick and 
uninterrupted growth4 ,a  succession of 
beans may be had all summer by planting 
at intervals1 and  late in the summer   
season a new crop may be planted for    
late fall use4  ,string beans are always
 in demand2 and now1 because of the     
southern  crops1 the markets of large   
cities are seldom without them all the  
year  around4    ,beans1 like peas1 are 
nitrogen gatherers1 but if the ground   
where they  are to be planted has not   
been used for peas or beans within a    
year  or two1 it is well to apply a     
little nitrogen at first to start the   
growth4 ,the land should really be      
prepared for beans the season before    
you plant them1 because new1 fresh or   
coarse stable manure applied  when      
planted1 will make the crop rank1       

without increasing the yield4  ,this is 
especially true of ,lima beans4 ,spread 
the manure the fall  before1 so that it 
will have done its work before the      
spring planting  begins2 if more        
fertilizer is necessary1 use some of the
 quickly  available commercial          
fertilizers1 those rich in potash or    
phosphoric  acid being the best4 ,the   
soil should be harrowed at least twice  
before  planting and thoroughly         
pulverized4 ,this puts the soil in good 
tilth  and prevents the growth of weeds4
 ,through the whole season tillage      
should be frequent enough to prevent    
weeds getting a footing or a crust      
forming about the roots1 but the plants 
should not be cultivated while  wet with
 dew or rain1 as that renders the crop  
liable to spore diseases4               
,,lima ,,beans4    ,late ,lima beans    
demand such a long season and such      
continuous growth1  that it is not      
always advisable to try to grow them in 
the ,northern  ,states1 especially not  

the true ,lima beans4 ,the ,sieva or    
,carolina bean  is a ,lima that may be  
successfully raised in the ,northern    
,states if due  attention is paid to    
soil and exposure4 ,it is not so high a 
climber as  the large1 true ,lima1 and  
therefore matures before the nights get 
too  cool4 ,it is a comparatively early 
crop1 quite hardy for a ,lima bean1     
truly annual1 with thin1 short1 broad   
leaves1 and a lot of papery pods  much  
curved on the back1 which burst open    
when the beans are ripe4  ,these beans  
or seeds may be white1 brown1 or marked 
with red1 but are  always small and     
flat4 ,challenger is the favorite brand 
of ,sieva bean4  ,the true ,lima is     
larger1 whiter1 and may be speckled with
 red1 brown or  black4 ,the pods are    
fewer1 thicker1 and do not split when   
the seeds are  ripe1 and the vines are  
more easily injured by a touch of frost4
 ,both  the true ,lima and the ,sieva   
,lima may now be had in dwarf varieties4
    ,string and ,lima beans are not the 

only sorts in common use4 ,the others   
are not picked until fully ripe1 when   
the pods cannot be used4 ,they are      
known as 8shell0 beans1 and there are   
several kinds1 all in high favor4       
,these are mostly of the pole variety   
and mature late in the season4 ,the     
preparation of the soil and the general 
culture are the same as for  dwarf      
beans1 the ,scarlet ,runner and ,white  
,dutch ,runner4    ,there are more than 
#ajj varieties of beans and no one book 
could give  in detail all that is of    
interest concerning them1 but the       
gardener  who wants to know more of his 
bean crop may read ,bailey1 ,bulletin   
#hg  ,cornell ,experiment ,station1 and 
,cornell ,bulletin #aae4    ,bush beans 
are sown in drills1 #ah to #bj inches   
apart to admit of easy  and frequent    
tillage1 which is necessary to preserve 
moisture and  destroy weeds2 the plants 
stand from five to ten inches apart in  
each  row4 ,one pint of seed will sow   
from #ge to #abe feet of drill1         

according  to the variety of bean used1 
or at the rate of one bushel up to five 
pecks of seed to the acre1 when sown in 
drills4 ,fall1 or climbing  beans1 and  
all ,lima beans1 are sown in hills1 four
 or five seeds to a  hill1 and the hills
 are three to four feet apart4    ,pole 
and ,lima beans need supports and when  
poles are scarce you may put  strong    
stakes in the ground at distances of #aj
 to #ab feet1 and then run  two rows of 
wire from pole to pole1 one row near the
 ground and one  near the top of the    
stake4 ,then from the top to the bottom 
wire1 run  cords1 up which the beans may
 climb4 ,in small1 home gardens1 growers
  often sow ,lima beans in a semicircle 
of hills around one stake and  then run 
cords from each hill to the top of the  
stake2 but this method  is not suitable 
for a large area4    ,but climbing      
beans1 especially ,lima and ,scarlet    
,runner1 can be  ornamental as well as  
useful1 and the wise gardener looks out 
for all  such possibilities in his      

crops4 ,if you have an old fence or     
unsightly  building1 plant your climbing
 beans against it1 feed them well1 and  
they will make a good growth of green   
vines1 which will be a pleasure  to look
 upon1 at the same time that they give a
 good yield4 ,this is  true intensive   
farming1 as you are getting all there is
 out of your  ground1 and at the same   
time making your place more beautiful at
 no  added expense1 save the use of     
additional intelligence4    ,there is   
still another point to remember in      
planting ,lima beans1 and  simple as it 
may seem1 it is really one of those     
tricks of the trade  which make all the 
difference between profit and loss4     
,plant your  ,lima beans eye down4      
,other beans will stand for anything in 
the way  of planting1 but ,limas are    
particular and insist upon having their 
peculiarities considered4 ,you have seen
 people just like that1 and  you know   
that a little special attention brings  
its own reward4 ,it is  the same with   

,lima beans--or indeed with any other   
crops--give them  what they want and    
they will give you what you want in     
return4 ,that  is nothing more than a   
fair bargain1 and the love of a bargain 
is  ingrained in the ,american nature4  
,commercial bean growing is a           
comparatively recent business1 dating   
back  only to #ahci1 although beans have
 been used for human food for many      
centuries4 ,this branch of farming in   
,new ,york ,state alone means the       
annual production of several millions of
 bushels of dried beans for  commercial 
distribution4    ,the ,northern ,states1
 ,canada and ,california1 are the chief 
bean-growing  sections2 in warmer       
sections the crop suffers severely from 
pests1  so that it is not profitable to 
raise it4 ,southern bean growers use    
northern-grown seed to avoid the ravages
 of the weevil4 ,even in ,new  ,york    
,state some sections suffer more from   
this pest than others2 beans  grown in  
the northern counties being practically 

free from attacks4  ,if you mean to grow
 beans by the acre1 you will do well to 
read up  more fully in ,department of   
,agriculture ,bulletins and in ,bailey's
  8,cyclopedia of ,american             
,agriculture10 ,vol4 ,,ii4    ,the chief
 disease from which beans suffer is     
anthracnose1 which even  the beginner   
may recognize when it has reached the   
stage where sunken  brown spots appear  
on the pods2 and when these spots have a
 tiny pink  centre1 you have seen the   
spore at work4 ,the best known means of 
fighting it1 is to select clean healthy 
seed1 carefully hand-picked2 go  over   
the field as soon as the plants come up 
and weed out the affected  ones2 spray  
thoroughly with ,bordeaux mixture#h to  
which has been added  resin soap4 ,the  
compound should be as follows3 ,bordeaux
 mixture3--#a  pounds vitriol1 #a pound 
lime1 #ab to #ae gallons of water4      
,resin soap3--  pound resin1  pound     
crystallized salsoda1 #a pint water     
7boil until  clear brown solution is    

secured1 then add to ,bordeaux mixture74
 ,apply  first when the third leaf of   
the seedlings is opening1 and repeat at 
intervals of ten to twelve days or after
 rain has washed the mixture  off4      
,illustration3 ,,the ,,rent ,,payer4    
,,footnotes3    #h ,,note4--,unless the 
under surfaces of the leaves as well as 
the  upper surfaces be kept coated with 
the spray1 ,bordeaux will be of  little 
avail4 ,for the commercial grower of dry
 beans1 spraying is not                 
advised4--,samuel ,fraser4              
,,chapter ,,xx4                         
,,solanaceous ,,crops4      ,this is a  
big word1 but it means only that these  
plants belong to the  nightshade family4
    ,this division takes in tomatoes1   
eggplant1 peppers and husk tomatoes4    
,these require all1 or nearly all1 the  
season to mature1 and they keep  on     
making growth1 particularly in the      
,north1 until killed by frost4  ,they   
are all seed-bed crops requiring a great
 deal of quick-acting  fertilizer1      

especially when they are young1 and to  
secure a heavy crop  you must give them 
an early start4    ,they are really of  
the same family as the potato1 yet they 
are not  grouped with that crop1 because
 the parts eaten are the fruits which   
grow on their stems and branches1 rather
 than the thickened stem or  8tuber40   
,they are hot-season plants and are     
usually grown in hills4                 
,,tomatoes4    ,in almost all parts of  
the ,united ,states the tomato is easily
 grown2  yet it requires a long1 warm   
season1 and soil in excellent tilth for 
best results4 ,the seed is sown in a    
seed- or hot-bed1 and the plants  are   
allowed to grow from four to eight weeks
 before transplanting to  the garden1   
although they may be transplanted once  
or twice in the  seed-bed to secure free
 and stocky growth4 ,for the small home 
garden  the plants are usually handled  
in pots1 but for commercial purposes    
they are planted in small flats not more
 than #ab inches square1 holding  about 

two inches of soil4 ,the earlier they   
are started the better1  because they   
are less likely to suffer from fruit-rot
 and frost if they  fruit early4    ,in 
the ,north1 you must have vigorous1     
stocky plants1 well in advance  of the  
season1 and a warm quick soil1 to get a 
good crop of tomatoes4  ,too much fresh 
stable manure will cause rank vine      
growth and delay  fruiting1 so that the 
soil should be fertilized a season in   
advance and  the manure thoroughly      
rotted4 ,at the time of planting it is  
well to  apply a light dressing of      
nitrate of soda1 as this gives better   
results  than twice the application when
 given later at intervals up to ,august4
    ,at the ,south1 tomatoes are grown  
in frames covered with unbleached       
sheeting by night and during cold snaps1
 but in the day this covering  is rolled
 up and the plants are hardened by the  
air4 ,although tender to  frost1 the    
tomato vine is a fairly hardy plant1 and
 will stand earlier  field planting than

 is sometimes given it1 if it does not  
get frost4  ,we have proved by          
experiment that the yield is greatly    
increased by  early transplanting4      
,there is a profit in that4    ,tomatoes
 give earlier and better results where  
the vines are trained1  but that is only
 possible in small gardens4 ,where the  
plants are grown  for canning1 little   
attention is given them after           
transplanting to the  field4 ,losses    
from rot are of course much larger      
there1 but this cannot  well be avoided4
    ,in small gardens they are pruned to
 a single stem4 ,strong stakes  are     
driven into the ground and cords are    
stretched between them  horizontally at 
top and bottom4 ,from these horizontal  
cords you may  run perpendicular        
strings1 to one of which each plant is  
tied4 ,plants  pruned and tied up in    
this way1 may be placed as close        
together as #ah  inches1 while if left  
to spread they require from three to    
four feet of  space4    ,by pruning is  

meant the pinching out of each side     
branch as it appears1  compelling the   
plant to put all its growth into one    
parent stem4 ,some  growers even go so  
far as to cut off the tops of the plant 
as soon as  three clusters of fruit are 
formed4 ,i have cut off whole branches  
where  the vines were too thick1 without
 apparent injury4 ,all this decreases   
the quantity of fruit that each plant   
will produce1 but it greatly  increases 
the earliness of ripening1 and the size 
and quality of the  fruit4 ,besides1 the
 plants may be grown so much closer that
 the loss in  quantity is not so great  
as would at first appear4    ,henry     
,jeroloman of ,new ,jersey1 known all   
over the country as the  8,strawberry   
,king10 has a tomato-planting trick that
 is worth noting4  ,mr4 ,jeroloman1 by  
the way1 raises about #e1jjj worth from 
his eight  acres annually1 and he plants
 tomatoes at the foot of his            
grape-trellis  posts and trains them to 
climb up the posts and along the        

trellis4 ,and  right here is where the  
real trick comes in3 by training the    
tomatoes  to climb up instead of        
sprawling all over the ground1 he is    
able to  plant his low-growing crops1   
like beets or turnips1 close up to the  
vines and lose no space4 ,that is one of
 the reasons why his eight acres  bring 
in more than the average farm of #ajj   
acres4 ,your profit will  depend upon   
similar devices for 8working0 the soil4 
,the best rack for supporting unpruned  
vines1 is a cheap1 rough and  simple    
affair1 constructed by the grower       
himself as follows3--,run a row  of     
stakes on either side of your tomato bed
 and nail a light board to  each row    
about a foot from the ground1 so that   
the distance between  the two rows will 
be about three feet4 ,across this lay   
narrow slats1  loosely4 ,the plants lop 
on the slats1 the fruits ripen          
uniformly1 and  usually with a smaller  
percentage of rot than where they lie on
 the  ground4    ,if your garden is     

situated where frosts are apt to come as
 early as  ,august1 you should plant    
your tomatoes against the south side of 
the  house or out-building and cover    
them at night1--a point worth noting for
  all tender plants4    ,in 8,vegetable 
,gardening10 ,green suggests an         
ingenious yet simple method  of raising 
enough tomatoes for family use where the
 season is too  short to raise them in  
the field or garden4 ,get three or four 
barrels  about the size of a coal-oil   
barrel1 bore several holes in the bottom
  of each1 then sink about one-third    
their depth in the ground in the        
warmest corners of your land4    ,when  
this has been done1 fill each barrel    
about half full of fresh  horse manure  
well tramped down1 and pour over it a   
bucketful of hot  water to start        
fermentation4 ,on top of this put eight 
inches of good  soil1 then a mixture of 
well-rotted manure and good black loam  
in equal  quantities up to about twelve 
inches from the top of the barrel4 ,heap

  manure up around the outside of your  
barrel4 ,plant1 say three stocky  plants
 in each barrel1 trimming them to two   
shoots each4 ,tie one shoot  from each  
plant to stakes or some nearby support1 
and let the other  grow naturally over  
the side of the barrel4 ,give a gallon  
of water a  day to each barrel and you  
will raise enough tomatoes in the season
 for  a family of four or five persons4 
,the ,iowa ,experiment ,station showed  
that untrained tomato vines gave  the   
smallest yield and the largest          
percentage of decayed fruit2 that       
staked vines gave a much larger         
percentage of sound fruit and the least 
percentage of decayed fruit of the whole
 experiment2 that hilling up  did not   
give any striking results in any        
direction2 and that1 while  mulching    
enormously increased the yield1 it also 
greatly increased the  tendency to rot4 
,because tomatoes suffer so from frost1 
it is wise to hasten fruiting by  every 
means1 but if frost strikes before the  

fruits are ripe1 the large  green ones  
may be picked and placed in drawers or  
other dry1 close  places to ripen4      
,generally they color well and develop a
 good quality4  ,if the fruits have not 
reached full size1 the whole plant may  
be pulled  with the fruits on1 and hung 
upside down in a barn or dry building1  
and  they will continue to draw         
nourishment from the plant and sometimes
  ripen4    ,from one ounce of seed you 
may expect from #bjjj to #bejj plants2  
if  planted in hills three by four feet 
apart1 an acre will require #cfcj       
plants4 ,a large yield of tomatoes is   
from #ab to #af tons per acre2 the      
average is much below this4 ,the        
favorite tomato in the ,american market 
is large1 round and smooth1 the ,angular
 and other irregular-shaped  varieties  
bringing a much lower price4 ,varieties 
run out so quickly  that it is not      
advisable to give the names4    ,the    
friend that you make in the seed store  
will be able to keep you  posted about  

such things--you can look in his eyes   
and tell if he  is lying1 which you     
can't do with a catalogue4 ,or you can  
ask the  ,agricultural ,editor4         
,,eggplant4    ,you treat eggplants just
 as you do tomatoes1 except that they   
need even  greater care that the young  
plants are not checked in their growth1 
and  a longer season4 ,eggplant is      
really a hot-climate crop1 and so       
requires  especial attention for early  
ripening in the ,northern ,states4 ,it  
grows  best in the ,south1 but does well
 as far north as ,new ,jersey and ,long 
,island4 ,further north it is seldom    
grown for more than home use4           
,eggplant needs a long season1 sunny    
exposure1 a warm1 loose1 and rather  dry
 but rich soil4 ,it is started in the   
hot-bed and not transplanted  until from
 six to ten inches high4 ,it is such a  
finicky crop that if  the plants are    
crowded or stunted even in the hot-bed1 
the yield is  seriously reduced4 ,for   
this reason1 growers often start it in  

two-inch  or three-inch flower pots1 or 
in old1 small berry baskets1 as it  is  
less likely to suffer a check when      
transplanted to the garden4  ,eggplants 
do not need so much moisture as peas or 
cool-season crops1  and whatever        
fertilizer is applied must be quickly   
available4 ,perfect  tillage is         
necessary from first to last4           
,eggplants are set in rows far enough   
apart to admit of horse-tillage1  from  
#c to #d feet apart1 and two to four    
feet apart in the rows1  according to   
the variety of plant grown4 ,the fruits 
are fit to eat when  they have reached  
one-third their full size1 and are      
desirable until  they are fully ripe1   
when they lose their value as food4     
,although the fruit may be left on the  
plant until fully grown1 a larger  crop 
is secured by picking before their full 
size is reached4 ,for  market1 however1 
they must be well colored4 ,the large   
varieties such as  ,new ,york ,improved 
and the ,black ,pekin bring the highest 

prices in the  market1 but it is        
difficult to grow them to perfection in 
the ,northern  ,states because of the   
short season4 ,some of the dwarfs1      
notably the  ,early ,dwarf ,purple1 are 
more desirable4 ,white eggplants are not
  popular1 because they are usually an  
ugly yellow1 while the striped and      
coiling fruits are regarded more as     
curiosities than as staple market       
products4    ,the eggplant is subject to
 several obscure fungous diseases1      
particularly in the ,south1 and the only
 known remedy is rotation and           
destruction of the diseased vines4 ,for 
the potato bug1 which sometimes  attacks
 eggplants1 it is best to use ,paris    
green1 about one-quarter  pound to #bj  
to #be gallons of water1 and plenty of  
lime4 ,for leaf spot1  use ,bordeaux    
mixture4 ,get ,new ,jersey ,report      
#ahij1 p4 #cee4                         
,,peppers4    ,peppers are started in   
frames and when transplanted are set    
from eight  to twelve inches apart in   

the row4 ,they are cultivated just as   
tomatoes  are1 and1 as they do not      
suffer from pests or diseases1 the crop 
is  more sure4    ,peppers will thrive  
in a cooler season than tomatoes1 and   
will  even endure slight frost1 but in  
all other respects they require  the    
same treatment as tomatoes4 ,they have  
only recently acquired  any importance  
as a crop1 and even now1 their use in   
cooking being  only semi-occasional1    
they are not very staple4 ,italians use 
them  extensively1 and as ,italian      
communities grow1 the demand for peppers
  will increase4 ,we use them mainly for
 making pickles1 for which  purpose the 
small ,cayenne1 ,chili and ,cranberry   
varieties are grown4  ,for stuffing1 the
 favorite sorts are the large sweet     
peppers1 ,sweet  ,mountain and ,ruby    
,king4 ,these peppers are not at all    
similar to the  pepper-berries of       
commerce1 which belong to other         
families4                               
,,husk ,,tomato4    ,the husk tomato is 

an herb which produces a kind of papery 
skin  containing a yellowish1 glutinous 
berry4 ,it is often spoken of as the    
strawberry tomato4 ,it is very easy of  
cultivation on the tomato plan1         
although some varieties1 notably the    
,cape ,gooseberry1 do not ripen well  in
 the far ,north2 the ,dwarf ,cape       
,gooseberry1 however1 does well as far  
north as ,ontario4 ,the soft1 sweetish  
fruits may be eaten raw or cooked  and  
are often used for preserves and        
pickles4 ,there are several native      
species1 some of which are called       
,ground ,cherry4                        
,,chapter ,,xxi4                        
,,vine ,,or ,,cucurbitous ,,crops4      
8,cucurbitous0 is a fine large word1 but
 you don't need to learn it4  ,all vine 
crops are annuals and are tender to     
frost1 although all do  not need a      
hot-bed start4 ,they are warm-season    
crops1 and in the  ,northern ,states    
most of them need a quick start so that 
they can ripen  before the summer is    

past4 ,well-prepared soil and a sunny   
exposure are  desirable4 ,they          
transplant with such difficulty that    
they are usually  sown where they are to
 grow1 but if not1 it is best to start  
them on  sods turned upside down1 or in 
pots or boxes4 ,they are always a main  
crop and are planted in hills4 ,there is
 very little difference in the          
cultivation of any of them1 and if you  
know how and where to grow one1  you    
will generally do well with the rest4   
,where you fail1 you may usually lay it 
to the fact that your soil was  not in  
condition to give the young plants a    
good hold and to get a  quick start4 ,if
 your soil is well prepared1 well       
drained and properly  fertilized1 you   
will have little trouble1 unless it may 
be from pests4  ,the way to fight those 
is to sow seed freely1 and be content to
 lose  the greater part of your possible
 crop4    ,some growers who make a      
specialty of melons or cucumbers1 plant 
squash  and pumpkin seed very early in  

the field that the young plants may     
attract the striped beetle and give the 
farmers the opportunity to kill  the    
pest before the real crops are taken    
from the frames4 ,that is a  method of  
deceiving the creatures1 but the end    
justifies the means4    ,unless you live
 where the climate is cold and the      
season short1 you may  plant squash1    
pumpkin and cucumber in the open fields 
where they are  to grow4 ,otherwise     
start them in frames1 as muskmelons are 
started4  ,the land should be given the 
best of surface tillage1 and every      
effort  should be made to start the     
plants so well that the fruits will have
  set before midsummer4 ,all these vine 
plants need much moisture in  the soil  
and if the preparation-tillage be       
neglected1 no amount of  after-tillage  
can make up for the first loss4         
,watch the vines carefully so as to     
prevent one fruit setting much in       
advance of the others4 ,it is better to 
pick the first one off if it is  much   

ahead of the main crop4 ,otherwise there
 will be no uniformity of  size or      
quality4 ,if your plants run too much to
 vine1 pinch off the  shoots and let the
 vigor go to fruit-making4    ,these    
crops often succeed as early crop and   
main-season crop1 by  starting one about
 two weeks after the other4 ,spade up   
the ground  loosely for a space of a    
square foot or two1 and mix light1 loose
 earth  or barnyard scrapings with it to
 make the hill4 ,it is well to add a    
handful of fertilizer to the earth2 but 
if it seems cold and hard1  remove it   
altogether and replace it by light1 warm
 soil4 ,of course in  the warm1 light   
soils of the ,south this is not         
necessary4                              
,,cucumber ,,and ,,gherkin4    ,there   
are almost no special directions for    
growing cucumbers if the  general       
directions for all vine crops are       
carefully followed4 ,cucumbers  are     
planted in hills1 usually four by four  
feet apart1 though for the  large1 late 

varieties they may be as far as four by 
six feet apart4 ,an  acre contains #bgbb
 hills when the distance is four by four
 feet1 and it  requires two pounds of   
seed to plant an acre1 or one ounce to  
#gj or #hj  hills4 ,that will allow four
 or five plants to a hill4 ,remember to 
plant  freely if the striped beetle is  
at work near your patch4    ,as         
cucumbers are eaten when young1 it helps
 the yield immensely if each  fruit is  
picked as soon as it reaches the table  
state4 ,you should go  over the entire  
patch every two or three days at least1 
to see that no  fruit is ripening at the
 expense of the growth of its little    
brothers  on the vine4 ,if you want to  
keep some for seed1 reserve a whole hill
  for that purpose4    ,for the         
early-season varieties which are planted
 in flats or seed-beds1  the ,early     
,russian1 a small-fruited sort1 is the  
favorite4 ,for the later  sorts the     
,white ,spine1 in various strains1 is   
the standard4    ,gherkins are simply   

immature cucumbers1 very small in size2 
they are  used solely for pickles1      
usually sweet pickles4 ,the fruits of   
the ,west  ,indian or ,bur cucumber are 
also called gherkins4 ,the treatment is 
the  same as for cucumbers1 but the     
fruits are pulled as soon as fully      
formed4 ,it is quite profitable to      
pickle them yourself4    ,on the        
average1 an acre will yield #ajj bushels
 of cucumbers for  pickling1 but this   
yield can be greatly increased by proper
 care and  attention4 ,under the best   
conditions1 #djj to #ejj bushels to the 
acre  are possible4                     
,,muskmelon4    ,the muskmelon is native
 to southern ,asia and was grown by the 
ancients4  ,the melon grows best in     
light1 sandy soil in warm1 sunny spots1 
although it is raised for market in many
 parts of this country1 and as  far     
north as parts of ,canada4 ,new ,jersey 
is an important melon-growing  ,state4  
,melons are planted in hills from four  
by five to four by six feet  apart1     

according to whether early or           
main-season crop4 ,the early crop  may  
be planted a little closer than the main
 crop1 and is in the field  two or three
 weeks ahead4 ,the quantity of seed is  
about the same as  that used for        
cucumber planting and the same treatment
 is necessary4  ,there are about #aahe  
hills to an acre1 and two or three good 
fruits  to each plant is a good yield4  
,the most important varieties are the   
cantaloupes1 which have hard1 warty     
rinds1 and are little grown in this     
country2 the nutmeg or netted type1     
extensively grown here1 and the  winter 
melons1 which ripen late in the season  
and are as yet little  known here4 ,the 
leading varieties to be found in the    
,american market1  are ,rocky ,ford1    
,osage1 ,montreal ,market and           
,hackensack1 but the melon is  so       
variable that only types1 not varieties1
 are constant4 ,diseases and  insects   
are the same as in cucumber4            
,,watermelon4    ,watermelons are even  

more uncertain than muskmelons1 because 
of their  need of a long1 warm season2  
therefore1 they are but little grown in 
the northernmost ,states1 except a few  
varieties which will ripen as far  north
 as southern ,ontario1 if both soil and 
exposure be warm enough4  ,watermelon   
needs such a long season1 such a warm1  
well drained soil1  such attention to   
detail1 to come to perfection1 that it  
is not a  very profitable crop for the  
average gardener4 ,in the past1 the     
south  ,atlantic and ,gulf ,states have 
held first place as watermelon centres1 
and are likely to continue in that proud
 position even though the               
mid-continental ,states have taken up   
the industry4    ,seeds are planted     
where the plants are to grow1 but all   
danger of  frosts should be past4 ,the  
best soil preparation includes fall     
plowing  that the winter frost may help 
powder the earth4 ,the hills are made   
by mixing several shovelfuls of         
well-rotted manure with the soil and    

then covering the mixture with some     
inches of fine1 soft earth4 ,plant  the 
seeds in this and see that the soil does
 not bake or crust4 ,this  can only be  
avoided by careful surface tillage4 ,the
 cultivation of  watermelons must be    
done solely with hand-tools1 as the     
vines are very  tender and the least    
injury to them affects both quantity and
 quality  of crop4 ,the hills are       
usually ten feet apart each way1 and    
there are  only #dce hills to the acre4 
,it takes four pounds of seed to sow an 
acre4 ,when grown in the ,northern      
,states1 plants may be started under    
glass1 but great care must be taken to  
avoid any injury or check to  the       
growth1 during transplanting4           
,beginners often find it difficult to   
tell when a watermelon is ripe4  ,there 
are three recognized methods1 but to the
 practiced eye none of  these tests are 
necessary4 ,if a melon 8thumps0 right1  
that is1 if it  gives out a dull1 flat1 
dead sound1 it is ripe1 but if it rings 

hollow  or musical it is not yet ripe4  
,the next test is the yellowish cast to 
the side that has lain on the ground1   
along with a hard1 rough1 warty  skin in
 that place2 and the third is the way   
the melon 8gives0 under  pressure of the
 hand4 ,the last test should never be   
applied to melons  intended for the     
market1 because it bruises them inside4 
,what is called vegetable citron in this
 country is nothing but a  variety of   
watermelon with flesh too hard to be    
eaten4 ,it is not the  true commercial  
citron1 which is the fruit of a tree    
like the orange or  lemon4    ,insects  
or diseases the same as in cucumber4 ,if
 you must know more of  watermelon      
culture1 get ,bulletin #ch1 ,georgia    
,exp4 ,station4                         
,,pumpkin ,,and ,,squash4    ,although  
so closely allied1 pumpkins and squash  
do not usually cross1  despite the      
common notion to the contrary4 ,they are
 distinct types of  the same family4    
,the standard variety of pumpkin in this

 country is  the ,connecticut ,field4   
,the fruits are large1 orange-colored   
and smooth  furrowed4 ,they are used to 
make pies for man and as food for stock1
  while to the small boy they are       
chiefly useful as 8jack lanterns40      
,the pumpkin is often grown in          
corn-fields and in ,england they have a 
summer variety called vegetable marrow1 
which is in great demand1 while  our    
summer squashes1 ,crookneck1 ,scallop   
and ,pattypan are also forms of  the    
pumpkin4 ,these are called bush         
squashes1 and may be grown as close  as 
three by four feet in the garden1 while 
the regular pumpkin and  squashes       
require to be planted eight to ten feet 
apart4 ,it takes three  pounds of seed  
to the acre for each1 and a yield of two
 or three fruits  to the vine is a large
 crop4    ,there are several leading    
types of winter or field squashes such  
as the  ,hubbard1 ,marblehead1 ,boston  
,marrow1 ,essex ,hybrid1 and ,turban4   
,to keep  them through the winter they  

should be free from bruises or cracks1  
be fully ripe and have the stem on4 ,a  
touch of frost injures them4  ,they     
should be stored in a dry place with a  
temperature above #ej and  placed on    
shelves or in shallow bins4 ,large      
growers have specially  constructed1    
stove-heated houses for storing them4   
,a third type includes the ,winter      
,crooknecks1 ,dunkard1 ,tennessee ,sweet
  ,potato ,pumpkin1 and some others4    
,the culture of both squash and pumpkin 
is the same as for cucumber4    ,the    
insects from which they most suffer are3
 the squash bug and the  melon louse4   
,to rid the fields of the bug1 keep them
 free from rubbish4  ,trap the bugs with
 bits of squash leaves and every day in 
spring pick  off the old bugs4 ,read    
,new ,jersey ,bulletin #id2 ,new ,york  
,bulletin #ge1  and ,florida ,bulletin  
#cd4    ,for melon louse read ,kentucky 
,bulletin #ec as well as those already  
mentioned4 ,get lice in their winter    
quarters and destroy at first           

appearance4 ,use bisulphide of carbon as
 the bulletin directs4    ,powdery and  
,downy ,mildew are the worst diseases4  
,for powdery mildew1  spray with        
ammoniacal copper carbonate1 and read   
,massachusetts ,state  ,report1 #ahib1  
p4 #bbe1 and ,cornell ,bulletin #ca4    
,for downy mildew1  use ,bordeaux       
mixture every eight or ten days1 until  
frost1 and read  ,massachusetts ,state  
,report1 #ahij1 p4 #baa1 and ,new ,york 
,bulletin #aai4                         
,,chapter ,,xxii4                       
,,unclassified ,,annuals4      ,in this 
division of garden crops come sweet     
corn1 okra and martynia1  which have no 
relation to the other crops1 and none to
 each other1  except that they require  
about the same cultivation4 ,they are   
all  warm-weather crops and are grown   
for their immature fruits4 ,they        
require 8quick0 soil1 are not usually   
transplanted and demand little  care1   
except good tillage4                    
,,sweet ,,corn4    ,although almost     

unknown in any other part of the world1 
in ,america  sweet corn is one of the   
most important crops4 ,one hardly ever  
sees  even a small backyard garden      
without a few stalks of sweet corn1     
while  the canning industry has grown to
 such enormous proportions as to        
require thousands of acres of corn every
 year4 ,sweet corn cannot be  grown in  
the ,south unless the seed is gotten    
from the ,north every year4  ,it thrives
 best in the crisp climate of the       
,northern ,states and of  ,canada4      
,this is the crop that gave rise to the 
famous joke at the 8,world's  ,fair0 in 
,chicago4 ,the ,englishman asked the    
girl in charge1 8,what do you  do with  
so much corn80    8,oh10 she said1 8we  
eat what we can1 and what we can't we   
can40    ,afterwards ,johnny ,bull tried
 to tell the story4 8,so funny10 he     
said2  8she told me that they eat what  
they can1 and what they can't they put  
in tins--why don't you laugh80    ,sweet
 corn requires more attention than field

 corn1 both as regards  earliness and   
the proper development of each plant4   
,for this reason it  is planted in hills
 rather than long drills1 and in warmer 
and quicker  soil1 with quickly         
available fertilizer4 ,ground that has  
been plowed  deep the fall before1 and  
fertilized with well-rotted manure makes
  a good soil2 if the ground be hard or 
cold1 a handful of commercial           
fertilizer may be added to each hill4   
,although corn is a hot-season plant1 it
 is practically a surface  feeder1 so it
 cannot withstand drought as well as    
potatoes or  other crops4 ,that is why  
it is well to plow deep and make a good 
moisture-holding bottom in order to get 
good corn of any kind4 ,that  is also   
the reason for the frequent surface     
tillage given the growing  plants4      
,seed is planted for the early crop as  
soon as the ground is warm  enough1 and 
as corn rots quickly either in cold or  
damp ground1 it is  well to plant       
freely4 ,coating with tar perhaps       

preserves it1 at least  from the crows4 
,the idea is to get as many ears as     
possible from each  plant1 so give      
plenty of room1 the rows being three to 
four feet apart1  and each hill from two
 and a half to three feet apart4 ,for   
early crops  use ,early ,minnesota1     
,early ,vermont1 ,cory and ,crosby and  
other popular  brands4 ,the ,stowell    
,evergreen is the standard for late     
crops4 ,corn may  be sown               
successionally1 at intervals of a week  
or two1 either for the  home garden or  
for market supply4    ,in growing for   
market1 earliness should be borne       
particularly in mind4  ,the whole profit
 in corn may hinge upon even one or two 
days' delay4  ,in fact1 where you are   
competing with many other gardeners1 a  
half day  may make a big difference4    
,you can get ahead only by having quick 
and  well-prepared land1 planting the   
earliest varieties and giving the crop  
good tillage after it has begun to grow4
    ,some gardeners force early sweet   

corn by placing a handful of fine       
manure in each hill1 stamping it down   
hard with the feet4 ,loose dirt is  then
 kicked over it and sprouted seed       
planted--that is1 seed that has  been   
soaked in warm water until germination  
has really begun within it4  ,this is a 
good method where the soil is moist so  
that the seeds may get  a quick start1  
but it is no good in dry soil4 ,the     
manure acts like an  individual hot-bed 
for each hill of corn4    ,where this   
plan is used1 thorough culture must be  
given1 or the corn  roots will remain in
 the manure during growing time and     
suffer from  drought4    ,corn is not   
the only crop that is benefited by the  
use of the feet in  planting4 ,wherever 
the soil must be compacted about the    
newly planted  seed1 the feet can be    
used to advantage4 ,so true is this1    
that ,peter  ,henderson1 the well-known 
,new ,york gardener and seedsman1 wrote 
a  pamphlet called 8,the ,use of the    
,hands and ,feet in ,planting10 which is

  sent free upon application4 ,it is    
well worth reading4    ,when it first   
comes into the market1 sweet corn       
usually brings #be cents  a dozen ears2 
that is the time for the wide-awake     
gardener to sell his  crop4 ,later it   
may fall to five cents a dozen1 and     
usually sells as low  as #aj cents2     
there is no profit in that4    ,if you  
pick the first ears as soon as they are 
well set1 the second  setting will be   
much better for it4 7,very small1       
immature ears are fine  cooked or raw1  
to eat1 cob and all1 but our people are 
not used to  that47 ,it takes about a   
peck of corn to plant an acre in hills1 
and1 if  well attended to1 the plants   
should yield from #hjjj to #aj1jjj ears 
to  the acre4    ,the insects and       
diseases include wire-worms1 cut-worms1 
chinch-bug and  corn-stalk disease4     
,short rotation1 including fall         
cultivation of the  land1 will check the
 wire-worms4 ,see ,cornell ,bulletin    
#ajg4 ,treatment  for cut-worms is fully

 described in ,cornell ,bulletin #ajd4  
,ditching1  plowing and harrowing are   
bad for the chinch-bug and good for your
  corn4 ,read ,ohio ,bulletin #fi1      
,kentucky ,bulletin #gd1 and ,new ,york 
,report  #ae1 pp4 #eca-ecc4    ,it would
 be fruitless to take up your time with 
a discussion of  corn-stalk disease     
here1 when you can get it all by simply 
sending for  ,nebraska ,bulletin #eb4   
,,okra ,,or ,,gumbo4    ,although okra  
is really a ,southern ,states perennial1
 it is cultivated  as an annual1 the    
seeds being sown every spring4 ,it is   
grown for its  pods1 which are cut while
 still young and tender1 and are much   
used for  soups and stews4 ,of recent   
years the pods are also canned and dried
 for  use in winter4    ,okra takes     
about the same treatment as sweet corn1 
the seeds being sown  where the plant is
 to grow1 except in the ,northern       
,states4 ,there the  seeds are often    
planted in boxes1 pots or sods turned   
over1 simply  because the season is not 

long enough to ripen the plants4 ,the   
real  okra is a large-growing plant that
 must be planted from one to three  feet
 apart in rows that are three to five   
feet apart1 but the dwarf  and          
early-maturing varieties that are grown 
in the ,north1 may stand as  close as   
one foot apart in the row4 ,there are no
 important insects or  diseases4        
,,martynia4    ,martynia is grown solely
 for its half-matured pods which are    
used in  pickles4 ,the plant needs a    
warm soil1 sunny exposure1 and much     
room1  as it spreads over three or four 
feet4 ,it thrives under the same        
cultivation as is given corn and okra1  
and may be planted in frames or  in the 
open as soon as the weather is warm     
enough4 ,it is annual and  native from  
southern ,indiana to the ,gulf4         
,,chapter ,,xxiii4                      
,,herbs1 ,,sweet ,,and ,,condimental4   
,a great variety of plants1 medicinal1  
flavoring and decorative1 are  herbs1   
but we will consider only those used for

 cookery and usually  called 8sweet     
herbs40 ,the very name brings memories  
of fragrant smells4  ,if we cannot all  
say1 8,i know a bank whereon the wild   
thyme grows10  yet few who have ever    
known a garden are unacquainted with the
 odorous  bed of thyme1 sage and mint4  
,although there is not such heavy demand
  for them in this country as in        
,europe1 yet their use is growing1 the  
favorite being sage4    ,sweet herbs may
 be divided1 both as to culture and as  
to products1  into two classes3--the    
annuals and the perennials3 those grown 
for  their foliage1 and those for their 
fruits4 ,all are easily grown and       
demand little attention1 and though they
 may be bought at any drug  store1 yet  
they who have once raised their own     
herbs find a pleasure  in them that they
 will not like to miss4 ,annuals and    
perennials may  be grown together and a 
very little plot of ground is enough to 
grow  them all4 ,choose a place where   
they will not interfere with plowing    

and cultivating and let them stay1      
planting the annuals in the same  place 
each year1 and renewing the perennials  
as soon as they begin  to lose their    
aromatic qualities or otherwise to fail4
 ,the annuals  should be sown every     
year1 but perennials may be propagated  
by division  of clumps4 ,discard all the
 older clumps and replant only the      
newer1  younger portions4    ,those that
 are prized for their foliage1 such as  
sage1 thyme1 hyssop1  mints1 tansy1     
horehound and wormwood1 are usually cut 
when the plant is  in full growth before
 the stalks have become woody4 ,cut the 
stems near  the ground1 tie them in     
bunches and hang them to dry in the     
attic1 if  you are fortunate enough to  
have such a treasure-hole1 or in some   
cool1  dry place4 ,you may also cut the 
herbage from time to time during the    
season1 but this weakens the plant and  
necessitates replanting4 ,those  that   
are grown for seeds1 such as caraway1   
coriander and dill1 are  allowed to     

ripen1 but are picked before the seeds  
begin to fall4 ,they  are dried in-doors
 and the seeds threshed out for winter  
use4 ,bailey1  in his 8,vegetable       
,gardening10 has a list divided as      
follows3--      ,,annuals 7,,or ,,grown 
,,as ,,such74      ,anise    ,sweet     
basil    ,summer savory    ,coriander   
,caraway 7biennial7    ,clary 7biennial7
    ,dill 7biennial7    ,sweet marjoram 
7biennial or perennial7                 
,,perennial4      ,sage    ,lavender    
,peppermint    ,spearmint    ,hyssop    
,marjoram    ,balm    ,catnip           
,pennyroyal    ,rosemary    ,horehound  
,fennel    ,lovage    ,winter savory    
,tansy    ,wormwood    ,costmary        
,tarragon4                              
,,chapter ,,xxiv4                       
,,perennial ,,crops4      ,the          
vegetables in this group have little in 
common except their  cultural wants or  
requirements1 but these are so different
 from the  needs of annuals that it is  
convenient to group them together4      

,because  they occupy their places more 
or less permanently1 it is necessary to 
choose a spot that will not interfere   
with the regular plowing and  tilling of
 the farm or garden4 ,perennials need   
tillage in the spring  and fall and are 
fertilized by top dressings1 at both    
seasons4                                
,,asparagus4    ,the chief of the       
perennials is asparagus1 which requires 
a deep1 rich1  moist1 cool soil1 with a 
warm exposure4 ,it originally grew in   
rotten  sea-weed on the shores and is a 
gross feeder1 so the soil cannot be  too
 rich4 ,sub-soiling to the depth of two 
feet is good for asparagus4  ,it used to
 be thought that a layer of salt at the 
roots made a good  fertilizer1 but salt 
is no longer used in that way4 ,it is1  
however1  used to keep down weeds in the
 asparagus bed1 especially the ,german  
salt known as kainit4 ,this kills out   
weeds1 saves cultivation1 and adds      
potash to the soil4    ,if the land you 
have is hard and coarse1 you should     

prepare it by  planting it with some    
crop that needs a great deal of tillage1
 such  as potatoes1 for two seasons     
before you plant asparagus4 ,during this
  time you should apply all the manure  
the land will carry1 because1 as  the   
bed will last for twenty years1 in the  
,northern ,states1 you will  have no    
other opportunity to put the soil in    
proper condition4 ,don't  be afraid of  
making the soil too rich4 ,asparagus can
 take all you can  give1 and will repay 
your generosity4    ,as you make your   
asparagus plantation practically for a  
lifetime1 you  must exercise care and   
judgment in choosing the site4 ,in a    
family  garden a long row1 say #ge to   
#ajj feet1 if you have the space1 at the
  rear of the garden1 is a good place4  
,this not only puts it out of the  way  
of other crops1 but it also gives you a 
good background in summer  and fall1 for
 the herbage of asparagus is ornamental4
 ,asparagus used  to be planted in beds1
 but under new methods of farming1 this 

plan has  been abandoned4 ,rows are more
 satisfactory4 ,when grown as a field   
crop  this allows of horse-tool tillage 
and saves much labor4    ,asparagus     
roots are wanderers and reach out for   
food in every  direction1 even more     
horizontally than perpendicularly1 which
 is why  it is unwise to have rows      
closer together than four feet4         
,seedsmen  sell asparagus plants1 but it
 is usually better to grow your own     
plants1 although they take so long to   
mature4 ,seeds may be soaked in  warm   
water for a day before planting and are 
then sown in drills and  covered about  
an inch deep4 ,the plants should be     
thinned to stand three  or four inches  
apart in the row4    ,give frequent     
tillage throughout the entire season1   
and in the spring  following they will  
be ready to plant in their permanent    
place4 ,here  they are set deep1 in a   
furrow or trench1 say six to ten inches1
 so  that the young crown of the plant  
is covered two or three inches deep     

with loose earth or good fine compost4  
,as the plants grow the trench  is      
gradually filled4 ,if filled at first1  
the young plants might not be  strong   
enough to push their way up4    ,you    
will see from this that the asparagus   
plot must be deeply  sub-soiled1 for if 
you do not have the land properly       
prepared at the  first1 you will never  
have good results4 ,besides1 unless the 
soil is  rich in humus1 asparagus cannot
 thrive at all1 for it requires a moist 
soil at the roots all the season4       
,when you have planted your yearling    
seedlings you must give them  another   
year before you do any cutting4 ,a few  
stray shoots may be  picked off1 but it 
is advisable to wait until the plants   
are in their  third year before cutting4
 ,to cut earlier may permanently injure 
your  crop4 ,it is also possible to     
injure it by continuing it too late each
  season1 although every stalk should be
 removed even if it be too poor  for    
use4 ,the crop should be cut clean1 and 

all cutting should be over  before ,july
 #dth1 in the middle ,atlantic ,states4 
,after that the tops do  the growing and
 the more they flourish the better your 
asparagus will  yield next year1 for it 
is from the foliage which springs up    
that the  roots and crown secure energy 
for the next season's work4    ,the tops
 should be mowed late in the fall1 and  
generally speaking it  is better to burn
 them than to allow them to rot on the  
bed as some  growers do1 because when   
the asparagus berries are plentiful you 
are  apt to have trouble next season    
with seedlings2 and even when this is   
not so1 it interferes with the fall     
tillage which is so necessary4    ,just 
as the young plants were covered with   
earth and manure the first  year and    
thoroughly tilled in the spring1 so must
 spring and fall  tillage be carried on 
every year4 ,the manure put on the      
plants in the  fall1 serves not only as 
a winter protection1 but if not too     
coarse1  may be cultivated under in the 

spring and afford that much more        
fertilizer to feed the crop4 ,if it is  
too coarse for that1 rake it off1       
cultivate thoroughly and then cover     
again with litter or manure1 to  afford 
nourishment and to preserve the moisture
 of the soil as well as  to protect the 
young shoots in case of late frosts4    
,the whole value of asparagus lies in   
its tenderness and succulence1 and  the 
large shoots are most apt to have these 
qualities4 ,the plant cannot  grow large
 shoots unless it has plenty of food4   
,only rich soil and good  tillage can   
supply the food needed4    ,usually     
asparagus is cut off three or four      
inches below the surface  with a long   
sharp knife1 but one noted asparagus    
grower objects to this  practice for two
 reasons4 ,first1 it increases the      
temptation to cut too  low so as to get 
the stalks of uniform length as the     
market requires1  whether or not of     
uniform quality2 and second1 it tends to
 waste and  to the injury of the plants4

 ,he would substitute for this practice1
  careful hand-picking or breaking4 ,the
 gatherer takes two rows at a time  and 
breaks off the shoots just beneath the  
ground at the lowest point  where the   
shoot will break with a clean snap4     
,when set at the proper distance of     
three by four feet apart1 it  requires  
#cfcj plants to the acre1 and #a pound  
of seed should furnish  that many       
plants4 ,but seedlings vary so much1    
that some growers  recommend sowing from
 four to five pounds of seed to every   
acre1 so  that only the best need be    
kept4 ,a good yield is about #djj dozen 
bunches to the acre4 ,asparagus is      
always sold in bunches1 the stalks of   
uniform size and length1 and tied near  
the tops and butts either with  bark or 
string2 though many growers are now     
using rubber bands as being  better for 
the stalks and a saving of time for the 
gardener4    ,asparagus is usually sold 
green in this country1 although if      
artificially blanched it is just as     

tender4 ,when asparagus is grown for    
blanching it should be planted deeper   
than ordinarily4 ,it is hilled  up with 
a furrow plow just as celery is hilled  
up1 and blanches as it  grows4 ,blanched
 asparagus is in higher favor in ,europe
 than here4    ,asparagus is a native of
 ,europe and ,asia1 and has been        
cultivated for  more than two thousand  
years4 ,it belongs to the lily family   
and several  of its very near relations 
are cultivated in greenhouses for their 
graceful foliage4    ,the asparagus     
beetle is the worst enemy and must be   
steadily fought4  ,in young beds1 apply 
fresh air-slaked lime as soon as the    
larvae  appear4 ,it should be put on    
while the plants are still damp with    
dew1  and only the greatest thoroughness
 can accomplish anything4 ,destroy all  
volunteer shoots4 ,as the beds are cut1 
leave some small trap-shoots  upon which
 the beetles will gather2 cut these     
twice a week and destroy4  ,in hot      
weather brush the insects off and they  

will bake on the soil in  the sun4      
,it is so risky to use poisons on       
asparagus that is to be eaten1 that     
,paris green may be used only in very   
rare instances2 then the mixture        
consists of one pound of the poison to  
fifty pounds of air-slaked lime4  ,two  
applications are made1 about a week     
apart4    ,some gardeners turn a hen    
with chickens1 or a number of young     
chickens1  into the asparagus field as  
soon as the crop is cut4 ,this is one of
 the  best ways of keeping down the     
beetles1 and the scratching of the fowls
  cultivates the crop4 ,this will lessen
 your own work and increase the  value  
of your chickens to you4    ,rust is the
 chief disease1 and for this there is no
 sovereign remedy4  ,every effort should
 be made to secure only vigorous plants1
 and in very  dry weather irrigation    
should be practiced1 if possible4 ,early
 in the  autumn1 cut1 carefully gather  
together and burn1 all affected stalks1 
and all asparagus brush whether garden  

or wild4 ,read ,massachusetts  ,bulletin
 #fa2 ,iowa ,bulletin #ec2 ,farmer's    
,bulletin #fa1 p4 #cj4                  
,,rhubarb4    ,of all the perennial     
garden plants rhubarb is the easiest to 
grow1 and  the most inexperienced may be
 sure of success4 ,it is very hardy and 
the  roots remain in the garden all     
winter1 even in climates where the frost
  is heavy and the cold quite severe4   
,but in spite of its hardiness and      
willingness to flourish under ordinary  
conditions1 rhubarb responds  quickly to
 good care and gives such enormously    
increased returns that  it pays to      
attend to it4    ,rhubarb likes a deep1 
rich soil1 thoroughly cultivated and    
fertilized  before the plants are set   
out4 ,it is usually more satisfactory to
  propagate by roots than by seed1      
although some growers prefer to raise   
their plants from seed4 ,like asparagus1
 rhubarb will last twenty years1  if    
given a good start and if the roots are 
occasionally separated4 ,all  this time 

it will yield large1 tender1 juicy      
stalks if the soil be in  good          
condition1 and if a little tillage is   
given to the plant in fall  and spring4 
,set out the plants in rows where the   
soil has been fertilized1 is deep  and  
in good tilth4 ,the best strains of     
rhubarb will not produce good  stalks if
 the land be hard or the subsoil high   
and hard4 ,the rows  should be four feet
 apart to allow of horse tillage4 ,the  
plants may be  from three to four feet  
apart in the row4 ,during the growing   
season  they require the same sort of   
surface tillage that you would give to  
corn or potatoes4 ,if you are making the
 most of your rhubarb bed1 you  will    
give it quite a heavy coat of manure in 
the fall1 to act as mulch  to keep the  
soil from freezing too deep1 and also to
 preserve its  texture4 ,during the     
storms of winter1 the manure leaches    
away somewhat  and fertilizes the roots1
 so that they are prepared to make an   
early  growth in the spring4    ,the    

season for selling is short1 as early in
 the summer the demand for  rhubarb     
gives place to strawberries and other   
small fruits4 ,it is the  grower who has
 it early in the market who reaps profit
 from rhubarb4    ,by means of the ,new 
,rhubarb ,culture1 rhubarb may now be   
forced for  market out of season1 and   
then it brings the best prices of all4  
,roots are left in the garden until they
 have been frozen and are then          
transplanted to specially prepared beds 
and forced for the ,christmas  trade4   
,these beds may be in the open field if 
one has a system of  heating by steam   
forced through trenches1 or they may be 
in specially  constructed forcing       
houses2 or1 simplest of all1 they may be
 in the  house cellar1 even though the  
floor be of concrete4    ,rhubarb       
requires but little moisture and when it
 is being forced1 it  need not go deep  
to find its food1 if the soil it has is 
rich enough4  ,three inches of earth    
will give it all the hold it needs1 and 

if the  light is completely excluded1   
the growth will all go to stalk4    ,if 
you have a cellar bed1 screen it off    
from the rest of the cellar so  that no 
light can reach it2 a small kerosene-oil
 lamp with a chimney  that has been     
thoroughly smoke-blackened1 will give   
all the heat  necessary to start growth4
 ,the stalks begin to shoot up looking  
for  light and will do almost nothing in
 the way of leaf-growth because  of its 
lack4 ,in this way the whole energy of  
the plant is diverted  into             
profit-making stalks4#i ,the roots that 
have been forced for the  ,christmas    
market cannot be used again the         
following season4 ,they need a  season's
 rest4 7,read ,j4 ,e4 ,morse's 8,new    
,rhubarb ,culture407    ,but this       
absence of leaf1 which is so desirable  
in forced rhubarb1  would be injurious  
to the garden rhubarb4 ,in out-of-door  
growth1 the  vigor and fruitfulness of  
the plants in any growing season1 are   
largely  determined by the spread of    

leaves in the preceding season4 ,for    
this  reason1 after the cutting season  
is over1 the plants are encouraged  to  
develop leaves2 the smaller and weaker  
ones being cut off that the  large ones 
may grow still larger1 but all seed     
stalks should be cut1 so  as to preserve
 the vigor for next season's growth of  
stalks4    ,when ready for market1      
rhubarb is tied in bunches of two to    
five stalks  and an acre will produce   
about #cjjj dozen bunches4 ,that is a   
pretty  good return when it requires    
only about a pound of seed to sow an    
acre  in the first place4    ,rhubarb is
 native to eastern ,asia and has no     
serious insect enemies or  diseases4    
,,docks ,,and ,,sorrels4    ,those who  
are fond of very early greens will be   
glad to know of the  garden varieties of
 docks and sorrels which come earlier   
than any other  pot-herbs4 ,they were   
originally imported from ,france where  
they are in  general use4    ,the best  
varieties are the ,spinage ,dock and the

 ,large ,belleville1  really a sorrel4  
,the ,spinage ,dock is a week or ten    
days earlier than  the ,belleville1 has 
larger1 crisper1 greener leaves and a   
less acid  taste4 ,cornell ,bulletin #fa
 says3 8,all these docks are hardy      
perennials1  and are very acceptable    
plants to those who are fond of early   
greens4  ,some1 at least1 of the        
cultivated docks1 can be procured of    
,american  seedsmen40                   
,,artichoke4    ,the ,jerusalem         
artichoke1 the variety best known in    
this country1 and  the ,french ,globe or
 true artichoke1 have little in common1 
yet both  are used for food4 ,the       
eatable part of the true artichoke is   
the  flower-head1 which should be cut   
before it has fully spread1 else it     
will be woody4 ,it is a strong-growing1 
upright1 perennial1 reaching  a height  
of four or five feet1 with large leaves4
 ,it is not always  satisfactory to     
plant from seeds1 as they cannot be     
guaranteed to  reproduce truly4 ,but    

when seed is sown it may be where the   
plants are  to stand or in hot-beds4    
,the advantage of hot-bed sowing is that
 the plants may give heads the  first   
year1 while those planted in the garden 
require two seasons to  produce eatable 
heads4 ,the best means of propagation   
are the suckers  which grow freely about
 the root crowns4 ,suckers are planted  
where the  plants are to mature and give
 heads the second year4    ,although the
 artichoke is perennial1 it weakens     
after yielding two or  three crops1 so  
that it is well to replant part of the  
bed each year1  thus keeping a          
succession of vigorous plants4 ,in cold 
climates the  heads are protected during
 the winter with a mulch of straw or    
litter4  ,when boiled tender and served 
with ,hollandaise sauce1 made of melted 
butter and flour1 the artichoke is a    
delicious vegetable1 but it is          
comparatively little known in this      
country4    ,the ,jerusalem artichoke is
 grown for its tubers1 which are        

underground  as in potatoes1 and it     
needs much the same preparation and     
tillage as  potatoes4 ,it is usually fed
 to stock1 especially pigs1 but of late 
it  is coming to be recognized as a good
 food for man1 too4 8,if you will  feed 
the pig1 the pig will feed you10 but we 
need not go through that  troublesome   
process2 for a varied vegetable diet    
alone is healthy for  most persons--and 
much cheaper4    ,artichokes are really 
more nourishing than potatoes1 and the  
improved  varieties may be used in place
 of potatoes4 ,the plant is perfectly   
hardy1 being native to the ,northern    
,states and ,canada1 and will  take care
 of itself when once started1 although  
it is better for  having its roots      
divided1 by digging them up4 ,it will   
run wild1 if  wholly neglected1 and     
become a troublesome weed1 propagating  
itself  indefinitely by means of its    
straggling1 far-reaching1 tuber-bearing 
roots4 ,the only way to cure this damage
 is by thorough tillage1 the  first of  

which consists of fall plowing and the  
turning of pigs into  the patch to root 
up the tubers4    ,the artichoke is more
 prolific than the potato1 and will     
yield all  the way from #bej bushels to 
#ajjj bushels per acre with only        
ordinary  care4 ,for eating1 the best   
variety is the ,improved ,white ,french4
 ,the  ,jerusalem artichoke is not      
likely soon to supplant any other garden
  crop in this country1 but it might    
well become a regular garden crop1  as  
it will grow on land too poor for most  
other plants1 requires little  care1    
yields heavily1 and is good food for man
 and stock4                             
,,sea-,,kale4    ,sea-kale is one of the
 least known of the perennial garden    
crops1 although where it is known it is 
well liked4 ,it is a low1               
fleshy-stemmed plant whose shoots and   
young leaves are blanched and  eaten as 
asparagus is4 ,the plants may be grown  
from seed2 in which case  all but one   
main stem are to be cut off as soon as  

they appear2 or it  may be grown by     
division of roots4 ,in either case1 it  
is well not to  cut from the plant until
 the second season4 ,the shoots are     
blanched  either by covering the crowns 
with fine1 loose soil for a foot or even
  more1 in the early spring1 or by      
covering the crowns with a box and      
allowing the shoots to grow up in the   
dark4    ,after the young shoots have   
been picked off1 the plants are allowed 
to  grow as they will2 for1 like        
asparagus and rhubarb1 the vigor1 size  
and yield of the next season depend upon
 this season's growth of leaf  and root4
 ,it flourishes best in deep1 rich and  
rather moist soil4 ,the  plants should  
not be less than three feet apart each  
way1 and they are  much benefited by an 
autumn dressing of light manure or      
straw4      ,,footnotes3    #i          
,,note4--,you can get long stalks in the
 garden by putting a small  cask1 or    
half-barrel1 with the ends knocked out1 
over the plant4 ,the  stalks will grow  

to the top and blanch some while        
growing4                                
,,chapter ,,xxv4                        
,,specialties4      ,it is well to grow 
a variety of crops for your own         
experience and your  own table4 ,but for
 profit1 it is best to specialize1      
because if you  read up all you should  
know about several crops1 you will have 
no time  to raise them4                 
,specialization is the rule now in all  
lines of business1 and as the  farmer   
gets to be more and more a business man1
 he will adopt business  methods1 and   
push ahead4 ,the big farm1 partially    
cultivated1 and  covered with a great   
variety of crops which require as many  
varieties  of cultivation to give good  
results1 is a thing of the past1 except 
where some individual farmer is too     
stupid to read the handwriting on  the  
wall4 ,it never paid as it ought1 and it
 entailed tremendous labor4  ,now big   
areas are only cultivated where lots of 
help is employed1 and  diversity of     

crops can only be successfully practiced
 under the same  conditions4    ,today  
the custom of cultivating small areas is
 increasing1 and where  it is done for  
profit1 the grower more and more tends  
to specialize4  ,secretary ,critchfield1
 of the ,pennsylvania ,state ,department
 of  ,agriculture1 said some years ago  
that 8the greatest amount of money in   
farming was to be made in specialties10 
and that the country boy in  deserting  
the farm was 8running away from         
opportunity40 ,this has since  been     
proved true1 and today it is possible   
for either girl or boy to  make a good  
living from even a small piece of land1 
if she or he will  only give intelligent
 attention to the matter4    ,it        
requires labor1 to succeed in farming1  
but so does any other  calling1 if one  
wishes to master it1 and there is no    
calling that  assures so much           
independence4 ,people must eat1 and the 
food must be  grown for them1 whether   
the times be hard or easy2 and even     

should  times be so hard that you can't 
sell your product freely1 you can eat   
it freely1 and you can not be sure of   
food and room if you are in a  shop or  
in an office4 ,the ,american farmer and 
gardener are the nearest  to free       
workers in the world4    ,the most      
unlikely things may bring profits when  
grown as specialties4  ,one man who has 
a farm in ,lewisburg1 ,pa41 is making a 
good living from  raising chestnuts4    
,his profits on their sales average     
several thousand  dollars a year4 ,he   
made a study of chestnut growing1 until 
he knows a  lot about it1 and has       
grafted young trees with ,japanese and  
,paragon  chestnuts1 thus increasing the
 quantity and improving the quality of  
his crop4 ,he has done so well at this1 
that the ,pennsylvania ,state           
,agricultural ,department has issued a  
bulletin setting forth in detail  ,mr4  
,sober's method of chestnut culture4 ,if
 you are interested you can  get the    
bulletin by writing to ,harrisburg1     

,pa41 for it4    ,mushrooms offer a     
pretty good opportunity to make money1  
if careful  attention is given to       
detail1 but they are still mighty       
uncertain  wild things4 ,it is          
impossible to give the details of       
cultivation of  specialties within the  
limits of a book1 but if you apply to   
the  ,department of ,agriculture you can
 get much information4    ,the          
,department publishes three bulletins   
which cover the  subject3--,cultivation 
of ,mushrooms1 ,no4 #bjd2 ,food ,use of 
,mushrooms1  ,no4 #bgi2 and ,growing    
,mushrooms for ,home ,use1 ,no4 a#bcc4  
,some mushroom  farmers near ,wawa1     
,delaware1 according to a report in the 
,philadelphia  ,north ,american1 are    
clearing from #bjjj to #cjjj a year from
 four or  five acres4    ,asparagus1    
celery and many other garden crops lend 
themselves readily  to special          
cultivation and yield a good profit4 ,so
 also do onions and  even potatoes4 ,one
 man at least claimed to have produced  

as many as  #cjjj bushels of potatoes   
from one acre in one year4 ,he published
 a  pamphlet setting out his method1 but
 it is now out of print4 ,so big  a     
yield entails too much labor for the    
average grower1 but a third of  that    
number of bushels would yield a handsome
 income4 ,but1 ordinarily1  it does not 
pay to raise potatoes in a small garden4
    ,mr4 ,c4 ,e4 ,ford1 who lived in    
,cherokee ,county1 northeastern ,texas1 
tells of raising two such incredible    
crops of potatoes annually from  his    
land1 and his method seems simple as set
 out by ,finney ,sprague of  ,chicago in
 a small book which was published in    
#aije4    ,mr4 ,ford had a sandy soil   
with a clay subsoil three feet below the
  surface1 which he says he ridged up   
into dykes2 then he used immense        
quantities of cotton-seed for fertilizer
 as well as liquid manure4  ,one of the 
important features was his rich         
fertilizing1 and though it  sounds      
expensive when compared with the        

ordinary quantities of manure  used1 it 
is really cheap if anything like such   
results can be had4  ,commercial        
fertilizers suited to potato growing may
 be used in place of  cotton-seed1 and  
the grower claims that the method may be
 followed from  ,canada to ,texas       
successfully1 securing at least two     
crops of potatoes a  season4            
,according to his method1 the seed used 
must be of uniform size1 running  about 
#hj potatoes to the bushel1 and         
averaging about  of a pound  each in    
weight1 smooth and bright4 ,half of such
 a potato is used to  each hill1 or if  
the potatoes weigh only six ounces1 a   
whole potato is  allowed for each hill4 
,for intensive cultivation the potato   
must be  sprouted before planting and   
for this purpose you need a 8sprouting  
room40 ,any room1 say #aj  #ab  #g feet1
 if warm1 dry1 double-walled and        
lighted will serve the purpose2 or you  
can construct such a house with  sawdust
 filling between the double walls and   

double ceiling1 having two  windows1 and
 a roof over all3 an old ice house would
 do4    ,lay two rows of two by four    
inch scantling on the dry earth floor1  
near the sides and across the end of the
 room opposite the door1 and  place on  
them a double row of barrels1 each      
filled about three-quarters  full of    
potatoes1 or about three bushels to each
 barrel4 ,when these  have been filled  
this way1 lay scantling across the      
barrels so as to  accommodate other     
tiers of barrels1 until you have about  
#ej barrels in  the room4 ,no earth or  
water must be used in the barrels2 just 
the plain  potatoes4 ,in the centre of  
the room place your heating apparatus1  
which  may be a small 8bake oven0 in    
which one barrel of charcoal will supply
  all the necessary heat during the four
 to six weeks of sprouting2 or a  small 
stove burning coal or wood so that a low
 fire may be kept  day and night to     
maintain a temperature of #hj to #ij    
,fahr41 or1 even a  small oil-stove may 

be used4    ,illustration3 ,a           
,,sheltered ,,suburban ,,garden ,,patch4
    ,here the potatoes will sprout and  
send out rootlets having thousands  of  
small tubers upon them1 from the size of
 a bird's eye to that of a  marble4 ,if 
you start this sprouting four to six    
weeks earlier than the  ordinary time of
 planting1 you will get your crop just  
that much ahead  of the regular season4 
,only the best of seed potatoes are     
used1 and ,early ,rose is the favorite  
variety1 but ,mr4 ,ford says1 8that sort
 is best which is known to grow  best in
 the section of the country where you   
live40 ,in the ordinary  culture of     
potatoes1 it requires about #cj bushels 
of seed to the acre1  and #cjj is a     
large yield4 ,by ,mr4 ,ford's method1 it
 takes #adj to #aej  bushels to the     
acre1 and the returns are claimed to be 
#cjjj 7three  thousand7 and more        
bushels4 ,that is1 using four or five   
times as much  seed1 you get #aj or more
 times as large a yield4    ,if you     

intend to experiment on this way of     
planting an acre1 let it be  as nearly  
square as possible1 which will give you 
about #gj rows1 each  about #bji feet   
long4 ,ideal potato land is so light    
that the soil offers  little resistance 
to the growing of the tuber2 so         
thoroughly tilled  and filled with humus
 as to be quite moist without being wet1
 and so  richly fertilized as to contain
 a very large quantity of plant food4   
,starting on the left side of your acre1
 with a narrow plow1 turn a  furrow to  
the left the whole away across2 then    
turn and go back1  turning a furrow to  
the left as you go1 far enough from the 
first to  leave a ridge about four to   
six inches across between them2 then go 
round the whole thing once more1        
inclining the plow to the left all  the 
way1 and guiding it so as to leave the  
ridge4 ,this will use up the  three feet
 allowed to each row4 ,continue across  
the field after the  same fashion1      
seeing that each row is three feet from 

each other row1  and that the unplowed  
ridges or 8balks10 as they are called1  
are also  three feet apart4    ,mark the
 places for the hills on the top of     
those ridges1 placing each  hill #ah    
inches from each other hill4 ,the plowed
 earth between the  ridges is what is   
turned back to cover seed1 to make the  
hills and to  cultivate with afterwards1
 while the wide ridge affords a good    
surface  for depositing the seed and for
 the expansion and growth of the tubers4
    ,two or three days before you intend
 to plant1 harden off your potato       
sprouts by putting out the fire and     
opening door and windows until  the     
temperature is as nearly as possible    
that of the outside4 ,then1  all being  
ready1 have the barrels carried to the  
potato field1 on a  hand-barrow by two  
men1 not wheeled on a wheel-barrow4     
,knock off the  hoops and staves1 so    
that the sprouted mother potatoes may be
 freely  but carefully handled4         
,separate the mother potatoes with a    

wooden paddle1 as it will do less       
injury than an iron one4 ,the loss need 
not be more than #aj4 ,lift out  one    
mother potato1 being careful not to     
break the sprouts or rootlets4  ,if the 
potato be a #ab-ounce one1 cut it in    
halves lengthwise1 not  crosswise1 so   
that each portion shall have as many as 
#ae little tubers  on it1 so far as you 
can estimate quickly by counting with   
the eye4 ,lay  each portion where the   
hill is to be1 on opposite sides of the 
ridge1  with the roots spread down the  
sides of the ridge1 thus making a double
  hill1 planted with anywhere from #dj  
to #fj little tubers1 ready to  resume  
growth at once4    ,never plant less    
than #ae tubers to each hill1 and if the
 half mother  has less than that number1
 add a portion of another mother until  
you  have that many4 ,only in this way  
can you estimate how many bushels you   
will have4 ,if each half has more than  
#ae tubers plant them all4 ,if you  use 
#f-ounce potatoes for seed1 plant the   

whole mother in each hill4  ,cover the  
seed with two furrows of the turning    
plow4    ,if the ground has been        
properly prepared1 cultivated and       
irrigated  during drought1 practically  
every one of these tubers will grow to a
  uniform-sized potato1 and #ge to #hj  
of them will make a bushel4 ,thus  #gj  
rows with #adj double hills to each row1
 every hill containing #be  matured     
potatoes will1 he says1 give #bde1jjj   
potatoes1 which at #hj to  the bushel   
means #cjfj bushels2 if #cj potatoes to 
each hill1 there will  be #bid1jjj or   
#cfge bushels4    ,if a second crop is  
desired1 have the mother potatoes ready 
when the  first crop has been marketed  
and the ground once more thoroughly     
fertilized4 ,of course1 whether it is   
first or second crop1 the best  tillage 
is none too good4 ,anything that stops  
the growth of the tuber  at any stage1  
is fatal to your hopes of a             
uniform-sized crop1 so be  sure that    
there is no danger from drought4    ,in 

the case of the second crop1 do not     
allow the potatoes to remain in  the    
ground until touched by frost4 ,this    
means pretty close watching1 as  the    
ripening of the potato is largely a     
matter of the last three weeks  of      
growth1 so they must not be dug too     
early1 any more than too late4          
,although this method will give far     
larger results than any other yet       
reported1 it may not be practicable1 nor
 may it give such phenomenal  crops     
always2 still1 it is not the only case  
of enormous crops4 ,as far  back as     
#ahbh crops from #ijj to #acdj bushels  
per acre had been grown in  ,england1   
and in #ahhd the ,editor of the ,rural  
,new ,yorker reported a  yield of #acia 
bushels from an acre on the paper's     
experimental farm4  ,in the light of    
such figures1 the average of #ajj       
bushels looks too mean  to be           
considered4 ,why not grow more8         
,potatoes cease to grow when they become
 dry1 so the grower must see  that the  

land is irrigated1 and liquid manure is 
the best material1  although plain water
 will do1 if the soil is richly         
fertilized4 ,many  growers now plant on 
flat land and hill up only to counteract
 too much  moisture4    ,then there are 
profits in small fruits if intensively  
cultivated4  ,strawberries will always  
find a market if they are large1 ripe1  
sweet  and clean4 ,anybody can grow     
small1 sour ones1 and they will sell1   
but  there is no profit in the price4   
,the market is never so glutted that    
fine1 large fruit will not bring a fancy
 price4 ,be sure in picking1 to  have   
three baskets on a board1 and have the  
picker assort the berries  as picked4   
,usually1 this will about double the    
price that you can get4  ,a good yield  
is #fjjj quarts per acre1 but they have 
been known to yield  all the way from   
#ba1jjj to #ce1jjj quarts per acre4     
7,see 8,a ,little ,land  and a ,living10
 pp4 #ada-adc47    ,the good price is   
for the garden product that is better   

than its kind1  and specializing on one 
thing helps to make you grow the best of
 that  thing4 ,you naturally try to find
 out all you can about it1 and if there 
is an improved method1 or somebody has  
grown a larger crop than you1  you are  
going to know how he did it4 ,grow your 
family vegetables on a  portion of your 
plot1 but if there is room at all1 save 
the rest for  some specialty4    ,if you
 cannot grow crops at all1 perhaps you  
can specialize on raising  animals4 ,you
 have a considerable variety to choose  
from1 because1 as ,i  have shown in 8,a 
,little ,land and a ,living10 and also  
in 8,three ,acres  and ,liberty10 there 
is a market for everything1 from bees   
and poultry  to fish and silver foxes4  
7,the foxes were sneered at1 first off1 
but  the ,department of ,agriculture has
 just published a bulletin on breeding  
foxes47                                 
,,chapter ,,xxvi4                       
,,watching ,,and ,,spraying4      ,now  
suppose you have prepared your soil     

properly1 and planted your seed         
carefully2 that your transplanting has  
been done1 and your crops are  growing2 
do you think your work is done1 and you 
have only to wait for  sun and rain to  
do the rest8 ,if that is your idea1 you 
are not cut out  for a farmer4 ,get out 
of the business as soon as you can4     
,there are  no 8soft snaps0 in farming  
or gardening1 on either a large or a    
small  scale4 ,but the man in love with 
his job1 no matter what it is1 is not   
looking for soft snaps1 nor does he find
 his work hard4 ,there is a  reward in  
tilling the soil and in watching 8the   
green things growing10  as ,riley has   
it1 that is not excelled by the rewards 
of any other  calling4    ,it is        
absolutely necessary that you should    
watch your growing crops1  for only in  
that way can you keep in touch with     
their needs4 ,the parent  who neglects  
to watch his children and to look out   
for their physical  needs1 generally has
 doctors' bills and anxiety4 ,a little  

watchfulness  would have revealed the   
first stages of decay in the teeth2 the 
early  signs of adenoid growths2 the    
symptoms of eye-strain1 or the irritable
  state of the digestive organs1 and the
 trouble could have been stayed4  ,to be
 sure1 the ounce of prevention costs    
something1 but not nearly  so much as   
the pound of cure4 ,it is a question of 
business foresight1  as well as parental
 affection1 to watch the child1 and the 
crop1 and  forestall disease4    ,crops 
need careful watching1 and to forestall 
most diseases there is  nothing better  
than spraying4 ,once upon a time the man
 who sprayed his  crops was a rarity1   
and his neighbors were not sure that he 
had not  taken leave of his senses1 but 
now the man who does not use the spray1 
is the notable exception--a monument of 
foolishness4    ,if you take the pains  
to find out what your soil will grow1   
you will  know what insects and diseases
 are likely to attack your crops1 and   
you  can plan your campaign against them

 with intelligence4    ,begin at the    
beginning1 which is in the winter4      
,first find out what  spraying mixtures 
are best for dealing with the pests you 
are to meet4  ,this can be done by      
writing the ,department of ,agriculture 
or by the  study of books4 ,then study  
agricultural papers and ,department     
bulletins  as to the best spraying      
machines or nozzles on the market1 and  
buy what  you need4    ,where any doubt 
about the quality of seed exists1 it is 
often a wise  precaution to spray it    
before planting1 but you must spray your
 growing  crop on the very first sign of
 insects or diseases4 ,remember that    
bugs  do not like poison1 and will not  
go where it is2 therefore1 you must     
take it to them in good quantities4     
,partial spraying is little better  than
 none4 ,do the job thoroughly1 when you 
start in to do it at all4  ,see that the
 whole plant from root to top is        
thoroughly saturated--stem1  branches   
and leaves4 ,one spot untouched by the  

spray makes a sure  refuge for the bug4 
,don't sympathize with his homeless     
condition at the  expense of your crop4 
,bordeaux mixture is a cure for almost  
every variety of plant disease4  ,it    
consists of sulphate of copper 7blue    
vitriol7 and lime1 diluted  with water4 
,the principal use of the lime is to    
make the mixture stick  to the plant and
 to render the copper sulphate less     
caustic1 and  one thorough spraying1 if 
rain does not come for a day or two1    
will  cling to the plant for a couple of
 weeks4 ,this mixture can be safely     
used even before there is any sign of   
disease1 and it then acts as  a         
preventive4 ,but where disease is       
severe1 apply it every few days1        
because the new leaves and shoots offer 
so many breeding places for the  disease
 spores4    ,to make #ab gallons of     
,bordeaux1 use one pound of copper      
sulphate and  one pound stone lime4 ,be 
sure to use wooden vessels1 as vitriol  
eats  tin2 an oil barrel1 sawed in      

halves1 makes good tubs for dissolving  
the vitriol and slaking the lime4 ,put  
one to one and a half gallons  of water 
in the tub and hang the vitriol over    
night in a piece of  burlap1 which just 
touches the water4 ,slake the lime in   
the other tub  by adding water as fast  
as the lime takes it up1 and no faster4 
,when  both are properly dissolved1 fill
 the spray barrel about one-eighth  full
 of water and add the solution of       
vitriol4 ,add enough water to the  lime 
barrel to make #b or #d gallons and then
 strain the slaked lime  into the spray 
barrel through a wire fly-screen or two 
thicknesses of  potato burlap4 ,fill the
 barrel with water enough to make #ab   
gallons of  mixture1 and stir thoroughly
 for some minutes4 ,if your spray has an
  8agitator0 attachment1 you need not   
trouble further1 but if not1 you  must  
stir the mixture thoroughly every few   
minutes while spraying4    ,bordeaux    
mixture should be made fresh for each   
spraying1 but the  vitriol and lime may 

be prepared ahead in large quantities1  
if they  are not mixed1 and are kept    
covered to prevent evaporation4 ,thus   
forty  pounds of vitriol may be         
dissolved in #dj gallons of water1 and  
forty  pounds of lime slaked in #dj     
gallons of water4 ,four gallons of each 
will make a basis for #ej gallons of    
,bordeaux mixture4    ,the only         
disadvantage to ,bordeaux mixture is    
that it discolors the  plant1 it being a
 8blue whitewash02 and those who object 
to the  discoloration often use the     
ammoniacal carbonate of copper1 rather  
than  the sulphate4 ,but this is not so 
sure a remedy1 neither does it stick  so
 well4 ,it is made by dissolving an     
ounce of carbonate of copper in a  pint 
of water and adding it to a quart of    
ammonia4 ,if the ammonia is  strong1 use
 only enough to thoroughly dissolve the 
copper1 otherwise  it will injure the   
plants4 ,cork the mixture tightly and   
when wanted  for use1 add from #h to    
about #bj gallons of water to each ounce

 of the  copper4 ,this is used          
principally on fruit that is nearly     
grown1 or upon  purely ornamental       
plants1 to avoid discoloration4         
,bordeaux cannot cure internal diseases 
of the plants4 ,these may be  caused by 
insect borers at the roots1 or by some  
incurable bacterial  trouble1 and in    
this case there is nothing you can do   
but root up  the affected plants and    
destroy them1 and then study out how you
 can  prevent its happening again4      
,sprays for insects usually consist of  
some form of arsenic or of  kerosene    
emulsion1 and occasionally whale-oil    
soap is used4 ,the most  common form of 
arsenical poison is ,paris green1 of    
which about #bjjj  tons are used        
annually in this country2 this is mixed 
in the proportion  of one-half pound of 
,paris green to #ajj to #aej gallons of 
water and  one-half pound of fresh burnt
 lime4    ,however1 where the insects   
are very bad1 as potato bugs often are1 
the  same amounts of ,paris green and   

lime may be mixed with only #ej gallons 
of water4 ,paris green is too caustic to
 apply stronger than that1  except in   
very rare1 specified cases4 ,the ,paris 
green should be mixed  with a little    
water till it is smooth1 before it is   
added to the larger  quantity of water4 
,sometimes it can be sprinkled on1 but  
the only sure  results are secured by   
using a spray1 either hand or power4    
,sometimes ,paris green is added to the 
,bordeaux mixture1 and the crops        
sprayed for insects and diseases at the 
same time4 ,when this is done1  you     
regard the ,bordeaux as water1 and add  
the ,paris green in the same  proportion
 as you would add it to water4 ,in this 
case you need not add  the lime1 because
 the lime in the mixture is sufficient4 
,london purple  is sometimes used in    
place of ,paris green for the same      
purposes1 and in  exactly the same      
proportion and ways1 but it is not so   
easy to know  how strong it is as with  
,paris green1 and it is being used less 

and  less each year4    ,another        
preparation is arsenite of soda1 which  
is made of white  arsenic1 two pounds2  
carbonate of soda 7washing soda7 eight  
pounds2  water two gallons4 ,these must 
be boiled in an iron kettle1 which      
should  not be used for any other       
purpose1 for about fifteen minutes1 or  
until  the arsenic dissolves4 ,some     
water will evaporate during boiling1 so1
  before bottling1 add enough to make   
the full two gallons4 ,this will  keep a
 long time if tightly corked4 ,to make a
 spraying solution add  one-half pint to
 #be gallons of water4 ,the quantity    
given is1 therefore1  enough to make #h 
barrels of #ej gallons each4 ,unless    
mixed with  ,bordeaux1 add two pounds of
 slaked stone lime to each barrel4 ,be  
sure  to mark your bottle of solution   
plainly1 8,,poison40    ,arsenate of    
lead clings to foliage better than any  
other arsenical  poison1 and since it   
does not burn foliage it can be used    
alone1 in the  proportion of from one to

 five pounds to #ej gallons of water4   
,it was  first used in #ahib against the
 gypsy-moth and is annually growing in  
favor4    ,all insects which feed on the
 outside of plants are divided into two 
classes--the chewing or biting insects  
like beetles and larvae 7worms71  and   
the sucking insects1 which include the  
various scales1 plant lice1  and squash 
bug4 ,the chewing and biting kinds are  
killed with the ,paris  green solution1 
but the sucking sort need kerosene and  
preparations  which kill by contact4    
,there are many ways of making the      
standard kerosene and soap emulsion1    
but ,bailey recommends the following    
method as the best3--,put one-half      
pound of hard soap into a gallon of     
boiling soft water2 as soon as  the soap
 is dissolved1 add two gallons of       
kerosene or coal-oil4 ,this  mixture    
should be of a milk-like consistency1   
which can only be secured  by running it
 through a pump vigorously for fifteen  
minutes or more4  ,for use on plants or 

trees1 it is diluted with ten to fifteen
 times  its bulk of water4 ,it can be   
used stronger than that on trees in the 
winter4 ,it is sure death to scales and 
plant lice if applied early  enough2    
this is another proof of the value of   
watching your growing  crops4    ,within
 a few years1 pumps have been invented  
which will perfectly blend  water and   
kerosene without the addition of soap1  
and this is by far  the better remedy4  
,without soap1 the proportion of        
kerosene can be  increased to even      
one-fourth the quantity of water1       
without injury to  the plants1 if the   
application is made while the sun is    
shining4 ,this  emulsion is fatal even  
to the dreaded ,san ,jos scale4 ,as     
experiments  are constantly going on    
along this line1 the up-to-date farmer  
or  gardener will keep in touch with the
 latest discoveries4    ,whale-oil soap1
 one pound of soap to four or five      
gallons of water1  used to be a popular 
remedy1 but it is rapidly giving place  

to kerosene  emulsions1 which are more  
easily prepared and less offensive4     
,tobacco  dust will drive away cucumber 
and melon beetles1 if liberally applied1
  and will lessen the ravages of the    
flea-beetle4 ,but ,bordeaux mixture     
well applied will do the same4    ,for  
treating cabbages or other crops late in
 the season1 white  hellebore is often  
substituted for ,paris green1 which is a
 deadly  poison4 ,it may be applied dry1
 alone or mixed with half as much flour2
  or in solution1 one ounce to three    
gallons of water4    ,spraying          
enormously increases the yield of any   
crop1 and indeed  sometimes makes all   
the difference between good crops and no
 crops4  ,so long as insects and        
diseases exist1 any patch in any part of
 the  country is liable to attack4      
,because you have escaped so far is not 
to say that you always will escape1 so  
be ready for emergencies4  ,timeliness  
and thoroughness are two essentials1 and
 these can only  be secured by combining

 watching with spraying4 ,it pays4 ,six 
years of  potato spraying at ,geneva1   
,n4 ,y41 increased the yield #abb       
bushels to  the acre when sprayed five  
times during the season4 ,where only    
three  sprayings were given1 the        
increase was #ic4f bushels per acre4    
,you may be discouraged by these        
infinite details of care and            
management3 but if you have not the time
 or the inclination to attend  to them1 
that is not a reason for neglecting the 
study of ,intensive  ,farming4    ,it is
 a reason for not undertaking a greater 
variety of crops than you  can master2 a
 succession of well-chosen plants will  
fill all the time  you choose to give4  
,i am showing how the best results can  
be obtained1  but the most ordinary     
farmer will find his returns vastly     
increased by  applying as much of these 
methods as he can manage4    ,for       
instance1 at the ,south1 the uneducated 
negro finds that his cotton  crop is    
often increased1 from half a bale per   

acre to two bales on each  acre1 by     
merely putting in a clover crop before  
the cotton4    ,apply what you can      
learn1 as far as you can3 the power to  
learn more  and to use it will come by  
use4                                    
,,chapter ,,xxvii4                      
,,fertilizers4      ,a fertilizer is    
something added to the soil in order to 
increase  the crop yield4 ,chemical     
fertilizers are very valuable when very 
intelligently used--but look out for    
them4 ,people seem to have a great  love
 for all sorts of complicated ways of   
doing things that nature  will do       
naturally1 and any one who proposes     
unnatural processes like  vaccination1  
or like medicining the soil1 should be  
required to make a  very strong case for
 it4    ,besides1 you remember the story
 about the darkey who has been playing  
poker4 ,he said3 8,tell you1 boys1 ,i   
dun los' a heap o' money las' night40   
8,how much1 ,mose80    8,a hunnerd and  
eight-seben dollahs an' fohteen cents40 

8,golly6 dat wuz a heap o' money40      
8,yas1 siree1 and de wust ob it wuz1 de 
fohteen cents wuz cash40    ,so it is   
with the boughten fertilizers4 ,sooner  
or later they have to be  paid for in   
cash4 ,the outgo is certain1 but the    
income not so certain4  ,therefore1 be  
sure you know just what you are doing1  
and why1 before  you buy4 ,of course    
there are times when commercial         
fertilizers are  absolutely necessary if
 only to start the growth1 but we should
 be sure  what we are getting4    ,when 
we try to find out something about      
fertilizers1 we get such  technical and 
complicated explanations about          
phosphates and nitrates  and other      
8ates10 that the ordinary amateur or    
beginner just takes some  one's advice2 
while the professionals mostly stick to 
what they have  been doing4 ,but the    
subject is clear enough if it is clearly
 stated4    ,nitrogen and potash are    
about the best elements in artificial   
fertilizers and perhaps the hardest to  

retain4 ,we have learned that  nitrogen 
can be best and cheapest added to the   
soil by means of certain  cover crops1  
or crops sown only to be turned back    
into the ground as  green manure4 ,it is
 also present in large quantities in    
stable manure1  if it has not leached   
away before being put on the field4 ,but
 this book  could scarcely tell you all 
about the best ways of handling manure  
to get the best returns4 ,the           
,government1 however1 has done this1 in 
,bulletin #aib1 and you cannot do better
 than send for it and study it          
carefully4 ,you will learn from it the  
immense importance of taking  proper    
care of the manure you have1 and how to 
get the best possible  results from its 
use4 ,also1 what sorts of manure are    
best for what  special purposes4    ,if 
the manure is carefully handled1 that   
which is obtained from stock  fed for   
soiling purposes--that is1 especially to
 provide manure--is the  best4 ,it      
contains almost all the elements that   

the growing crops took  from the soil4  
,one well-fed dairy cow will produce #ab
 tons of manure in one year1  says      
,prof4 ,e4 ,b4 ,vorhees1 and this manure
 will contain about #aag pounds  of     
nitrogen1 #gg pounds of phosphoric acid1
 and #hi pounds of potash4  ,this much  
stable manure1 if all the constituents  
are saved by housing  and careful       
handling1 will grow about #gj bushels of
 wheat and the  accompanying straw4 ,as 
all this nitrogen1 phosphoric acid and  
potash  have been drawn from the soil   
first in the crops fed to the cow1 the  
only way to keep up the fertility of the
 soil is to return them to it4  ,in the 
form of commercial fertilizers these    
would cost more than #cj1  or #bj cents 
per pound for nitrogen and #d cents per 
pound for potash  and phosphoric acid4  
,so if you keep one cow and feed her    
well1 she will return to you almost  her
 value in manure each year1 to say      
nothing of the milk and butter  your    
family can have4 ,the family horse1 as  

well as the cow1 will give  you valuable
 returns in manure1 if you know enough  
or care enough1 to  preserve it         
properly4    ,when immediate spreading  
on the fields is not possible1 the      
manure1  both liquid and solid1 should  
be kept in a tight pit1 or under cover4 
,if too much litter has not been used1  
the liquid part will prevent loss  from 
too rapid fermentation4 ,but if there is
 litter enough to make the  manure very 
dry1 some water should be added from    
time to time to let  fermentation go on 
without loss4 ,manure thus cared for    
will be ready  for use on the land at   
any time that it is needed1 and will    
contain  practically all the necessary  
fertilizing properties4    ,a ,german   
proverb says3 8,the manure pile is the  
farmer's bank40 ,all  farmers these days
 know the value of good manures1 which  
accounts for  their buying so much      
commercial fertilizer1 but some day they
 will know  the value of saving the     
whole of the stable and barnyard        

manures1 so as  to avoid the cost of    
commercial fertilizers4 ,then there will
 be less  of that unscientific talk of  
8depleted soils10 and no grumbling about
  8decreased yields40    ,sea-weeds1    
ashes1 8mucks0 and bones are all        
valuable as manures if  handled         
properly4 ,the ,maine ,agricultural     
,experiment ,station1 at ,orono1  ,me41 
has published a bulletin1 ,no4 #gd1 on  
the manurial values of  these1 which    
will be sent upon application1 and is   
well worth the  reading4    ,the farmer 
should remember that commercial         
fertilizers are only to be  used to     
supplement manure1 not to take its      
place1 and that when he buys  any1 it   
must be the best4 ,he cannot afford     
anything else4 ,the man who  says1 8,i  
know my land needs potash1 but ,i cannot
 afford to buy it10 is  making a        
mistake4 ,suppose he should say 8,i know
 my children need bread1  but ,i cannot 
afford to buy flour60 ,his neighbors    
would think he had  gone crazy4    ,it  

is just as foolish to deny his land what
 it needs4 ,he should get  whatever it  
needs2 for if a soil needs any certain  
ingredient1 whether  potash1 phosphoric 
acid or nitrogen1 it is cheap at a high 
price1 while  anything else is dear at a
 low price4 ,your soil must be fed as   
surely  as your children must4 ,you can 
get credit at the store or at the bank  
to buy fertilizer1 when you could not   
get it to buy an automobile4    ,potash 
is really one of the cheapest fertilizer
 elements on the market1  but farmers   
get the idea that it is high because it 
is present in  large quantities in all  
high-grade fertilizers1 and almost      
absent  from cheap grades4 ,just as a   
man's wages cannot be estimated by the  
number of dollars he gets each week1 but
 rather by the amount of the            
necessities of life that he can buy in  
return for the number of hours  he has  
worked2 so the price of fertilizer must 
be judged by the amount  of plant food  
it contains1 rather than by the money   

cost per ton4 ,that  is what makes      
high-grade fertilizer really cheaper    
than the low grades  which cost less    
money4    ,for example1 take the most   
popular of the #be a ton fertilizer1    
8#b-h-b40 ,this contains #ab per cent4  
of plant food1 or #bdj pounds to  the   
ton1 made up as follows3 two per cent4  
nitrogen1 eight per cent4  phosphoric   
acid1 and two per cent4 of potash4 ,this
 brings the cost of  this cheap         
fertilizer to #aj cents per pound of    
plant food to the ton4  ,now if the     
farmer bought a ton of plain muriate of 
potash1 it would  cost him #ej per ton1 
but he would get #ej per cent4 of plant 
food1 thus  making the actual cost only 
five cents per pound of plant food1 less
  than half the plant food price of     
8#b-h-b40    ,few farmers want to buy   
the potash separately1 and they complain
 that  the manufacturer charges high for
 it in fertilizer where it is present   
in large quantities4 ,but a little      
investigation will prove that this is   

not so4 ,take for example1 the 8#b-h-aj0
 grade which sells generally for  #cj   
per ton4 ,here you have #bj per cent41  
or #djj pounds1 of plant food  to the   
ton4 ,that brings the cost of plant food
 per pound to #g cents  instead of #aj  
cents as in the cheap grade4 ,the       
manufacturer has added  #h4jj worth of  
potash to the mixture and has taken out 
some of the  worthless filler1 so that  
the extra cost in money to you is only  
#e4jj4    ,the increase in yield more   
than offsets that extra cost4 ,there are
  still other potash fertilizers that   
contain no nitrogen1 the lower  grades  
selling for about #af per ton1 and the  
higher grades for #bj per  ton4 ,the    
plant food in the lower grade costs #f  
cents per pound and in  the high grade  
only a tiny fraction over #e cents per  
pound4 ,if you are  spending your money 
for commercial fertilizers1 you will    
find that the  best is the cheapest4 ,no
 matter what the mixture1 if you figure 
it out1  you will find that the high    

grade costs less per pound for plant    
food  than the low grade4 ,and it is    
plant food you are after1 not worthless 
filler4    ,the ,new ,york ,experiment  
,station in one of its bulletins offers 
the  following comment on this point3   
8,the high-grade goods sell on an       
average nearer to their actual          
plant-food value than do the low-grade  
goods4 ,in general1 the higher the grade
 of the goods1 the lower the  cost of   
each pound of plant food40    ,before   
you raise any crop you must know your   
soil1 not by chemical  analysis which is
 interesting and often helpful1 but by  
finding out  what it will grow by nature
 and what is the easiest way that nature
 can  be helped2 and the quicker you can
 find out these things the better  for  
your prospects4 ,the simplest and       
quickest method of finding out  what    
fertilizers your soil needs to grow your
 crops1 is by using the  paraffin       
basket4 ,this is a very pretty          
experiment and one in which you  can    

readily interest the children so that   
they may get their knowledge  early4    
,the requirements are galvanized wire   
netting of one-eighth inch mesh2        
paraffin1 which can be bought cheaply at
 any druggist's2 and a pair of  scales  
which will weigh accurately to          
one-fourth of an ounce4    ,cut your    
netting into strips #aj inches long and 
#c inches wide2 fasten  the ends of     
strips together by hooking the end wires
 into the mesh or  with small rivets4   
,then cut the wire at the bottom of the 
cylinder so  as to make lugs about a    
half inch deep and bend the cut pieces  
under to  form a partial bottom4 ,cut a 
circular piece of netting that will fit 
inside and drop it in1 thus completing  
the bottom of the basket4 ,melt  the    
paraffin1 and while hot dip the top of  
the basket into it for about  one inch4 
,draw it out1 that it may cool1 and dip 
again until a solid  rim of paraffin is 
formed4 ,number each basket1 as it is   
easier thus to  keep a record of it4    

,place them on a tray1 or in a shallow  
box1 for  greater ease in handling4     
,gather the soil in small quantities    
from different parts of your field  or  
garden and mix it together4 ,if you took
 it from one spot it would  not be      
representative1 any more than a         
,congress elected entirely  from one    
section of the country could rightly be 
called a ,house of  ,representatives for
 the ,american people4 ,divide this     
whole amount of  soil into equal parts1 
having one more part than you have      
fertilizers  to test1 because you should
 have one basket of untreated soil to   
act  as a check to judge results by4    
,eleven sorts are usually tested1 which 
makes it necessary for you to make      
twelve baskets altogether4    #a4       
,untreated soil4    #b4 ,soil with dry  
manure1 at the rate of five tons per    
acre4    #c4 ,soil with lime1 one ton   
per acre4    #d4 ,soil with nitrate of  
soda1 #bjj pounds per acre4    #e4 ,soil
 with sulphate of potash1 #bjj pounds   

per acre4    #f4 ,soil with acid        
phosphate1 #bjj pounds per acre4    #g4 
,soil with nitrate of soda and sulphate 
of potash1 #bjj pounds each  per acre4  
#h4 ,soil with nitrate of soda and acid 
phosphate1 #bjj pounds each per  acre4  
#i4 ,soil with sulphate of potash and   
acid phosphate1 #bjj pounds each per    
acre4    #aj4 ,soil with nitrate of     
soda1 sulphate of potash1 acid          
phosphate1 #bjj  pounds each per acre4  
#aa4 ,soil with nitrate of soda1        
sulphate of potash1 and acid phosphate1 
#bjj pounds each per acre1 with lime1   
#bjjj pounds per acre4    #ab4 ,soil    
with cowpeas1 #ejjj pounds per acre1    
with lime1 #bjjj pounds per  acre4      
,it is important that the small portions
 of earth be fertilized in the  same    
proportion as is here given for the     
field1 so to #g pounds of dry1  finely  
pulverized soil1 add one ounce of any   
one of these fertilizers4  ,mix very    
thoroughly and pass it through a sieve  
at least twice4 ,this  is still much too

 strong for use1 so take one ounce of   
this fertilized  soil and add it to five
 pounds more of soil1 mixing and sifting
 as  before4 ,then you have soil and    
fertilizer mixed at the rate of #bjj    
pounds to the acre4 ,for testing larger 
applications1 make your first  mixture  
with proportionally larger quantity of  
fertilizer4    ,for mixing lime with    
soil1 take only #aa ounces of soil to   
one of lime  for the first mixture2 for 
cowpea vines1 four ounces of soil to one
 of  vines1 and only #a ounces of soil  
to one of manure4 ,one ounce of each  of
 these mixtures to five pounds of soil  
will give the right proportion  of each 
to the acre1 or1 one ton of lime1 five  
tons of cowpea vines1  and ten tons of  
manure to the acre4    ,after you have  
added the fertilizers to the soil1 it is
 left standing  in pans or boxes for    
several days1 being watered with rain   
water or  melted ice water and          
frequently stirred4 ,do not use well or 
hard water1  for those contain lime or  

salts1 only rain water4 ,moisten the    
soil at  the end of a few days until it 
is in the best condition for planting   
seeds4 ,you soon learn to judge this4   
,divide the soil in each pan into five  
equal parts and put one part in  each of
 five wire baskets1 pressing it down at 
the bottom and sides4  ,after this is   
done1 brush off the soil that has been  
forced through the  mesh of the netting4
 ,the basket should be filled to within 
one-half  inch from the top4 ,the       
baskets are now ready for planting4     
,a couple of days before planting1 put  
wheat grains between moist  cloths1     
cover with wet sand and place in a warm 
spot to start  germination4 ,take from  
these sprouted seeds those that are of  
the same  size and development1 and     
plant six in a straight line in each    
basket1  being careful to plant all to  
exactly the same depth4 ,then cover the 
soil in the basket about one-fourth inch
 deep with clean1 dry sand1 dip  the    
whole basket1 down as far as the rim you

 have already coated with  paraffin1    
into melted paraffin2 cool1 and dip     
again and again until it  is completely 
covered with hardened paraffin for about
 one-sixteenth of  an inch1 and you have
 nearly completed your task4    ,see    
that the pots have the best possible    
conditions of light1  temperature and   
moisture1 as nearly as you can make it  
like what they  would have in the field1
 being careful to keep all the baskets  
of one  set together4 ,water them       
frequently4 ,if you have weighed some of
 the  baskets as soon as planted1 you   
will know how much water to supply1  for
 you must keep weight as close as       
possible to what it was at the          
beginning4    ,fifteen or twenty days   
are enough to show you what fertilizer  
your soil  most needs1 and you can then 
go ahead and get it ready for crops4    
,this  is a test solely for soil needs1 
not for plant requirements1 so it is    
not necessary to grow the plants any    
longer than just to show which  basket  

flourishes best4 ,it holds good in the  
field as well as in the  basket4    ,one
 thing must be borne in mind1 that      
weight must be accurate4 ,if the  farmer
 hasn't time or patience probably his   
wife would make the test4  ,she has time
 and patience for everything that is put
 upon her4                              
,,chapter ,,xxviii4                     
,,more ,,about ,,fertilizers4      ,in  
the past we believed that fertilizers   
acted as plant foods and that  the      
substances to be applied must contain   
one or more of four elements  which are 
probably the most important to the      
plant1 namely3 ,nitrogen1  phosphorus1  
potassium and calcium4 ,several other   
elements go to make up  the plants2 but 
these are considered most difficult for 
the plant to  secure from the soil and  
were therefore of the most importance   
for the  farmer4    ,trials1 by         
experimental work with different plants1
 soon showed that  the forms of         
combination of these elements make a    

great difference4 ,for  example1        
nitrogen is now applied either in the   
form of nitrate of soda  and of         
potassium1 which is called saltpetre1 or
 in the form of sulphate  of ammonia2   
or1 it may be applied as organic matter 
in dried blood1  tankage1 hoof- and     
horn-meal and even muck4    ,both the   
nitrate and sulphate forms are readily  
dissolved1 but the  nitrate form is the 
one in which plants take up their       
nitrogen1 so that  either nitrate of    
soda or saltpetre is specially valuable 
for forcing  a quick growth4 ,the effect
 may be seen upon plants in a very few  
days  after it is first applied4 ,but   
sulphate of ammonia1 although it will   
dissolve1 must be changed into a        
nitrate1 in the soil1 before the  plants
 can use it1 and this probably takes    
several days1 hence1 it is  not quite so
 quick acting4    ,the organic forms of 
nitrogen vary much in their usefulness4 
,the  nitrogen of dried blood or tankage
 is the most easily absorbed4 ,these    

substances are sometimes sown at        
seeding-time1 and become useful later   
in the season when the soil becomes     
warm4 ,other forms1 however1 as  muck1  
leather parings1 etc41 are used         
considerably in making some  low-grade  
fertilizers4 ,notwithstanding the       
tradition that you must bury  an old    
shoe at the foot of the vine1 the       
nitrogen in these may never be  of very 
much value4    ,the phosphorus is found 
in fertilizers both in forms that will  
dissolve  and in forms that won't4 ,acid
 phosphate and dissolved bone contain a 
large portion of phosphorus in the form 
of a soluble phosphate of lime2  this is
 often marked on the bag as being equal 
to #ab1 #ad1 or #af per  cent4 of       
phosphoric acid4 ,ground phosphatic     
rock1 also called 8floats10  and raw    
bone-meal contain phosphorus combined   
with lime in the form of  an insoluble  
phosphate4    ,basic slag is still      
another form of phosphate of lime1      
which1 although  insoluble1 readily     

becomes available as plant food in the  
soil4    ,potassium occurs in various   
forms of combination1 one of the most   
common being muriate of potash2 another 
form is sulphate of potash4  ,kainit is 
another fertilizer which contains       
potassium1 and wood  ashes contain a    
small percentage4 ,in all of these the  
potassium is  generally spoken of as    
potash and the first two are said to    
contain the  equivalent of #ej per cent4
 potash4 ,kainit usually contains #ab to
 #ad per  cent4 ,wood ashes may contain 
about #c to #f per cent4 ,kainit and    
muriate  of potash have an acid effect  
upon the soil1 and it is wise to apply  
them some time before the crop is to be 
sown1 even the fall previous1  if the   
soil retains plant food fairly well4    
,the commonest kind of calcium is       
quick-lime or lump lime4 ,when this is  
8air-slaked0 it becomes what is called  
carbonate of lime4 ,fifty-six  pounds of
 lump lime contain the same amount of   
calcium as #ajj pounds  of air-slaked   

lime1 and in using these it makes very  
little difference  whether we apply the 
quick-lime or the air-slaked1 provided  
we apply  equal amounts of calcium and  
that the particles are equally small in 
both cases4 ,in other words1 #ef pounds 
of quick-lime or #ajj pounds of         
air-slaked lime may be used1 but both   
should be in as fine powdered  form as  
possible before they are sown4    ,like 
every other fertilizer1 lime is of no   
use until it is dissolved1  and the     
finer it is ground before it is applied 
the further it may be  spread and the   
sooner it will dissolve4 ,it is seldom  
wise to apply more  than from one-half  
ton to a ton of quick-lime per acre at  
any one time2  and it is safer to apply 
this quantity every three or four years 
rather  than larger quantities at       
shorter periods4 ,lime should be applied
 to  the land when there is a crop upon 
it which can use it with advantage4  ,a 
crop like clover or alfalfa1 which      
covers the land completely1 will  make  

the best use of lime4 ,it may injure    
potatoes1 because it makes the  land    
more favorable for the growth of scab1 a
 disease which attacks  potatoes4       
,much money can be lost by the unwise   
use of fertilizers1 and the best  way   
one can positively know whether it is   
wise to use them is to try  it thus1    
say1 with radishes1 lettuce1 or beans2 a
 patch containing two  or three rows may
 be fertilized in one way1 the next one 
in another1  others with various        
mixtures and1 in order to determine the 
values of  these it will be wise to     
leave untreated 8check plats0 between   
some  of the strips4 ,the following     
outline will show how to make such an   
experiment on about half an acre3       
,plat #a4--,nothing#aj                  
#b4--bjj pounds nitrate of soda per acre
 in                    two or three     
applications4                           
#c4--fjj pounds acid phosphate4         
#d4--,nothing4                          
#e4--ajj pounds muriate of potash4      

#f4--ajj pounds muriate of potash and   
#bjj                    pounds nitrate  
of soda in two or three    #aih feet4   
applications4                           
#g4--,nothing4#aj                       
#h4--ajj pounds muriate of potash and   
#fjj                    pounds acid     
phosphate4                              
#i4--ajj pounds muriate of potash4      
#fjj pounds acid phosphate4             
#bjj pounds nitrate of soda4            
#aj4--,nothing4                         
#add feet4    ,one hundred pounds per   
acre is one pound for #dh square yards1 
a strip1  say1 one yard wide and #dh    
yards long4    ,it may be necessary to  
repeat the experiment several years1    
before we  can be sure what will give   
the best results2 but we shall learn    
much  that will help even during the    
first year4    ,in mixing fertilizers1  
care must be taken not to mix those     
which  injure one another2 thus nitrate 
of soda and muriate of potash1 both     
take up moisture from the air quite     

readily1 and when mixed with other      
substances are liable to make the whole 
mass pasty1 or even to run  together and
 bake in the bag2 these should be mixed 
but a short time  before they are to be 
applied4 ,nitrate of soda and acid      
phosphate1 when  they are mixed and     
allowed to stand1 become damp and act   
chemically  upon each other1 and the    
result is loss of fertilizer elements   
into the  air2 the same is true when    
basic slag and sulphate of ammonia are  
mixed  together4    ,we are frequently  
advised to apply fertilizers to the crop
 while it is  growing4 ,nitrate of soda 
is generally used in this way1 and to   
aid in  spreading it1 it is often mixed 
with acid phosphate4 ,now both of these 
substances1 as well as muriate and      
sulphate of potash1 are likely to  burn 
the foliage of plants with which they   
come in contact2 hence1  broadcasting   
these over growing plants on a damp     
morning is liable to  do serious injury 
to the foliage2 it is safer to apply    

them with a  drill4    ,value in        
,fertilizers4--,in estimating the value 
of fertilizers it is  the custom to     
speak of the unit of valuation4 ,a unit 
is one per cent4  of a ton1 or1 in other
 words1 #bj pounds4 ,for example1 if    
kainit  contains #ab per cent4 of potash
 and is sold at #ab4jj per ton1 then    
there are #ab units and they cost       
#ab4jj2 therefore one unit costs  #a4jj1
 and since the unit is #bj pounds1 the  
actual cost of the potash  is #e cents  
per pound4 ,if muriate of potash1       
guaranteed to contain the  equivalent of
 #ej per cent4 of potash1 is selling at 
#dj4jj a ton1 then  we find that #ej per
 cent4 potash is #ej units2 if #ej units
 cost #dj4jj1  one unit will cost #hj   
cents1 or in this form #bj pounds cost  
#hj cents2  therefore one pound will    
cost #d cents4    ,now1 if these are    
prices free on board the cars at ,new   
,york1 and potash  is the thing we need1
 we must remember that in order to get  
equal  amounts of potash delivered to   

our own farm1 we must pay freight and   
haul four tons of kainit instead of one 
ton of muriate of potash4 ,in  other    
words1 with these figures the           
higher-priced fertilizer1 counting  in  
dollars per ton1 is really the cheaper  
article1 counting in value4    ,any one 
who will secure the latest fertilizer   
bulletin from the  nearest ,experiment  
,station will usually find the          
approximate values  of one pound of     
nitrogen1 phosphoric acid and potash in 
the different  fertilizers worked out in
 some part of the bulletin4 ,these may  
be  used in deciding whether it is      
better to buy and mix the fertilizers   
at home2 then one may know what is going
 on the land and the form of            
combination it is in4    ,manure        
contains all of the elements we have    
discussed in more or less  fixed forms4 
,the liquid manure from animals contains
 a large amount of  the nitrogen passed 
from the body and is of particular      
value4 ,the most  useful parts of the   

manure are the ones which are easiest   
lost2 hence1  if manure is piled and    
allowed to ferment1 or if the water from
 the  roof of the barn is allowed to    
wash it1 serious loss occurs4    ,a ton 
of fresh manure has all the value it    
ever will have1 and if there  is a piece
 of land upon which it can be spread1 it
 should be done at  once4 ,the liquid   
manure should be soaked up by the       
bedding1 and applied  at once to the    
land4 ,the holding of manure in piles or
 pits always  causes loss of valuable   
elements4 ,sometimes we may have to hold
 it1  but every effort should be made to
 arrange the crop so that it can be     
applied somewhere each day as made4     
,manure has a special value because  it 
furnishes humus1 which greatly helps the
 physical condition of the  soil1 and   
the bacterial and other microscopic life
 in the soil4      ,,footnotes3    #aj  
,,note4--,if the yields of plats #a and 
#g do not agree closely1 the  effect of 
the fertilizer can be closely estimated 

by comparing the  yield of each with the
 check plat nearest to it4 ,another     
interesting  experiment is to lime      
one-half of each plat4                  
,,chapter ,,xxix4                       
,,root ,,houses ,,and ,,vegetable       
,,pits4      ,in the ,north1 we have to 
protect our gathered crops and to store 
them  safely for a profitable market1   
but we do not need an expensive barn or 
cellar for that4 ,a root house or       
vegetable pit will do instead4    ,this 
is the way to make one3 in a warm1 sandy
 or gravelly soil a pit  is dug from one
 to two feet deep and sixteen or more   
feet wide1 the  length depending upon   
the crop you have to store4 ,the sides  
of the pit  are lined with one or two   
planks placed edgewise and held in place
 by  stakes driven into the ground4     
,stakes are then driven into the bottom 
of the pit throughout its entire length2
 these support the ridge-pole  four or  
five feet above the floor of the pit4   
,boards are laid from the  edge of the  

pit to the ridge-pole to form a sort of 
gable roof4 ,the  support of these is   
strengthened by another girder carried  
by stakes  driven half way between the  
margin and the ridge-pole4 ,then longer 
boards1 from twelve to fourteen feet in 
length1 are laid from the edge  of the  
pit to the ridge-pole1 slightly         
overlapping each other1 and  nailed     
lightly in place at the top ends4 ,the  
pit being only a temporary  structure1  
the boards are not securely nailed1 as  
the same lumber will  do for another pit
 next season4 ,at distances of about ten
 feet some  boards are left without     
nailing to serve as entrances1 and at   
each  place a stake is driven to mark   
the opening4    ,such a pit will protect
 crops until severe freezing weather4   
,after  that1 the board roof should be  
covered with straw1 grass or other      
litter1 and where the weather gets very 
cold1 manure and earth are  often added 
as the outer layer4 ,the advantage of   
this pit is that it  contains a large   

body of air which secures uniform       
conditions from  day to day1 and celery1
 leek1 ,brussels sprouts and even       
cabbage may  be stored by setting in    
compact rows1 so that they may make a   
slight  root-hold and avoid shrivelling4
    ,but there are many varieties of    
pits used for storing vegetables1 and   
in ,kalamazoo1 the ,american celery     
centre1 the favorite celery storage     
house is a permanent structure with     
windows at regular intervals along  the 
roof1 to give the necessary light for   
the workmen4 ,these houses  have wooden 
ventilating chimneys1 and are usually   
heated with stoves so  that the         
temperature may not fall below freezing 
point4                                  
,,chapter ,,xxx4                        
,,some ,,small ,,fruits4      ,the home 
garden would scarcely be complete       
without a strawberry  patch1 and hardly 
anything gives better returns4          
,strawberries grow  in various kinds of 
soil1 but a light1 sandy loam gives the 

earliest  berries1 because that is the  
earliest1 warmest soil4 ,it takes only  
a few well-developed1 well-cared-for    
plants to supply a family with  berries 
enough1 and the care is no greater than 
would be given corn4  ,but you should   
make a careful selection of your plants4
 ,small1 weakly  plants1 or plants that 
have already been in bearing1 are no    
good for  your purpose4 ,therefore1 buy 
from an honest dealer4 ,plants for      
setting  should have been grown for that
 purpose purely1 and not have been      
allowed even to blossom1 as the         
important thing is to have a vigorous   
root growth1 and well-formed crown4     
,this sort of strawberry plant will     
yield large1 delicious berries  about   
ten to fourteen months after setting    
out1 and although a plot  containing    
#ajj plants requires not more than a    
half-hour's work a week  to keep the    
plants in condition1 after they have    
been well started1 yet  the yield will  
be about a quart to each plant4    ,to  

get such a return1 you must first put   
your soil in good condition  for        
planting4 ,have the soil finely         
pulverized and thoroughly fertilized    
with well-rotted manure1 ground bone or 
wood ashes4    ,having prepared your bed
 and got good strong plants1 it is now  
time to  set them out4 ,before doing so1
 trim the roots even1 and cut off all   
but a leaf or two on each plant4 ,the   
easiest way is to take them in  bundles 
of #be1 fasten together and cut the     
roots of all at once4 ,but do  not      
expose the roots to sun and air during  
planting4 ,keep them covered  with a    
damp cloth4 ,lay the roots carefully in 
the ground1 spreading  them out         
fan-shape1 and see that the crown of the
 plant is level with  the surface of the
 soil1 and firm the soil well around the
 roots4 ,a  properly set plant begins to
 grow at once1 becomes larger and has   
more  fruit crowns than a carelessly set
 plant4 ,so be careful to start right4  
,set the plants out in rows #ah to #bd  

inches apart1 and #ae inches apart  in  
the row4 ,if each plant is set in a     
little hill by itself as you  would set 
corn1 you will find it easier to        
cultivate and also to keep  the weeds   
down4 ,it is as necessary to keep       
strawberries clear of weeds  as it is   
any other crop4    ,cultivate as soon as
 all the plants are set1 and continue to
 do so once  a week during the whole    
season4 ,pinch off all blooms the first 
year  and cut off the runners4 ,by so   
doing the plant will spend its energy   
on root growth and in producing more    
fruit crowns for bearing the next  year4
 ,it never pays to crowd strawberry     
plants4 ,give them room and  keep them  
in hills with cultivation and you will  
get both pleasure and  profit from your 
patch4    ,it pays to mulch             
strawberries4 ,as soon as the first hard
 frost has  come1 cover the bed with    
about three inches of litter of salt hay
 or  straw4 ,this prevents the ground   
freezing and thawing during the winter4 

,in the spring you clear a space over   
each plant for the leaves to come       
through1 but leave the mulch on the     
ground4 ,it not only keeps the soil     
from drying out1 but it also keeps the  
fruit from getting dirty from  sand or  
mud4    ,from the first ripening1 pick  
your berries as soon as they redden1    
every day if necessary1 and let the     
picking be done in the early  morning1  
before the sun has dried them4 ,the     
berries keep longer and  have a better  
flavor4    ,as soon as the plants cease 
fruiting1 remove the mulch and          
cultivate4 ,a  handful of bone-meal     
mixed with the soil between each plant  
will have  a good effect4 ,in a few days
 the plants will put out runners4 ,allow
  one runner to grow from each plant1   
and layer this between the old  plants  
in a straight row4 8,layering0 is       
covering the runner at one or  more     
points with earth1 or really planting   
it4 ,it will develop roots  at these    
points and become a strawberry plant4   

,in from two to three  weeks it will    
have got a good start1 and then you can 
take up the old  plants4 ,in this way   
you can renew your own strawberry patch 
every year  at little trouble or        
expense1 if you get good plants to start
 with4    ,some reference to the        
possible yields of strawberry beds has  
been made  elsewhere in this book1 so it
 will not be necessary to repeat here1  
but  you will be making your own records
 soon1 if you follow these simple       
rules4    ,raspberries and blackberries 
succeed in any soil that is not too wet 
and heavy1 and there are good profits in
 their growing4 ,if you intend  to take 
up the culture of these fruits1 you will
 do well to read 8,bush  ,fruit10 by    
,prof4 ,f4 ,w4 ,card4 ,the bushes of    
both should be cut back and  pruned in  
the spring1 the raspberry being easy to 
handle with ordinary  hand-shears1 but a
 blackberry hook is better for dealing  
with the sharp  thorns of that bush4    
,as soon as the fruit is gathered the   

fruiting canes of the season  should all
 be removed2 then in the spring1 cut    
back all canes4 ,this  makes them       
stockier and stronger4 ,they should be  
supported by wires  stretched on either 
side and fastened to crossway pieces    
attached to  stakes driven at each hill1
 for these fruits should be planted in  
hills1 too4    ,plantations are         
generally renewed every five or six     
years1 although  with good care yearly1 
they last longer4 ,the yield varies from
 #abjj to  #aj1jjj quarts an acre2 the  
difference lies partly in the canes1 and
  partly in the cultivation4    ,the    
home garden would scarcely be complete  
without currant and  gooseberry bushes4 
,they are easily grown1 the gooseberry1 
in  particular1 requiring very little   
care and yielding large returns4 ,it    
can be grown in clayey soil1 though like
 the currant1 it prefers a  deep1 moist1
 rich soil1 especially a rich soil4     
,strong one-year-old plants are the best
 to set out1 and two- or  three-year-old

 canes yield the best and largest       
quantity of fruit4 ,all  wood older than
 that should be carefully pruned4 ,the  
same cultivation  applies to            
both--well-rotted stable manure and     
shallow spring tillage4    ,the worst   
pest is the currant worm1 which eats the
 leaves almost as  soon as they unfold4 
,dust the bushes with powdered hellebore
 when the  leaves are wet1 or mix the   
hellebore with water and apply4 ,then   
there  is the leaf blight1 which attacks
 the leaves as soon as the fruit is     
ripe1 and almost strips the bushes of   
foliage4 ,this should be sprayed  with  
,bordeaux mixture to stop its ravages1  
because if allowed to  progress it      
weakens the bush1 and the fruit next    
year will be small and  of poor quality4
    ,the grape-trellis is a common sight
 in the gardens of the ,new ,england    
and ,middle ,states1 but not so common  
as it will be when the gardener         
understands how comparatively easy it is
 to grow this fruit4 ,a well  drained1  

thin soil1 with a warm southern exposure
 will provide for  starting a good      
grape-vine4    ,the vine needs a trellis
 support always1 and the pruning must be
 looked  after1 else the numerous       
runners will draw from the plant so that
 it  cannot fruit properly4 ,keep the   
runners pinched off during the fruiting 
season1 and in the fall cut off the old 
canes1 leaving only the new1  vigorous  
canes for next season4 ,it may be two or
 even three or four  years before much  
pruning is needed1 but after that it    
must be attended  to regularly4    ,each
 new cane must have plenty of space1    
light and air1 to prevent rot  and      
mildew of the fruit1 so that the number 
of canes you can allow to  grow1 depends
 upon the strength of the vine1 the     
space to be covered  and the root       
growth4    ,you may fancy other small   
fruits that you have room for in your   
garden4  ,any good agricultural paper   
will give you the information or name   
the  book you need4 ,fruits are another 

means of making your plot pay1 so you   
might as well grow a few at least4      
,,chapter ,,xxxi4                       
,,the ,,poultry ,,run4      ,even the   
hen is intensively cultivated these     
days1 and that makes room  for her and  
her chicks on the small patch4 ,it is   
perfectly amazing how  little the       
ordinary farmer knows about poultry1    
although he has raised  some1 more or   
less1 from time immemorial4 ,the modern 
farmer is too wise  to be caught with   
the extravagant stories found in some   
poultry papers1  of the profits to be   
made from a hennery1 though at the same 
time he  is not wise enough to believe  
that with careful attention and improved
  methods1 the hennery can be made to   
pay well4    ,it is for the benefit of  
the farmer who is neither too wise nor  
too  ignorant to be taught1 as well as  
for the villager and the intensive      
farmer1 that this chapter is written4#aa
    ,one of the new systems1            
,philo's1#ab extensively advertised1    

makes it  possible for people with but  
little room to keep a small flock4 ,by  
this  system1 the hens are always kept  
in confinement2 but with some extra     
care and proper treatment they do well  
and yield great results2 which  is in   
harmony with the modern theory of       
intensive culture4    ,the first thing  
to be decided is what kind of poultry to
 keep4 ,chickens  are the most popular  
of the various domestic animals suitable
 for the  intensive farmer4 ,turkeys and
 guineas do not thrive well in          
confinement  and are difficult to rear  
in a commercial way4 ,farmers who have  
free  range1 especially if they are     
adjacent to woodland1 may do well with  
a few of these less domesticated birds4 
,on the other hand1 ducks and  pigeons  
do even better than chickens in         
confinement1 but there is less  demand  
for the product4    ,the first essential
 for success with poultry1 as with      
crops1 is to  secure good stock2 the    
very best possible4 ,to buy fowls simply

 because  they are cheap is poor        
economy4 ,much better buy well-bred     
stock at five  dollars and upwards1 for 
they will not only give more eggs1 but  
their  brood will be worth more1 so that
 in a year you can build up a fine      
flock of your own4    ,the second       
essential is to keep them in small      
companies1 not more than  six hens in a 
pen2 still better results can be had    
with four4 ,these  are the days of      
intensive culture and chicks will       
respond to it as  surely as field crops4
 ,like the crops1 they need abundance of
 food1 to  force growth and vigor and   
egg production4 ,care must be taken in  
the  selection of food1 but you are     
always safe on lots of oats1 wheat-bran 
and green stuff1 with some lean beef now
 and then4 ,corn should be fed          
sparingly to heavy fowls1 but is an     
excellent diet for ,leghorns or for  any
 chickens on free range4 ,running water1
 or plenty of fresh water  should be    
furnished4 ,an open water vessel is     

best1 although almost any  self-feeding 
fountain is good4 ,place it about ten   
inches from the floor  that no dirt may 
be scratched into it4    ,fresh air and 
sunshine are necessities1 but drafts    
should be avoided4  ,cleanliness is     
vital2 if only a few hens are kept1 all 
droppings should  be removed every      
morning1 and sand or lime or ashes      
sprinkled on the  roosts and boards4 ,if
 the food is good and well balanced1 the
 premises  kept scrupulously clean1 and 
the fowls protected from storm and wind 
you will not be greatly troubled with   
disease or weakness4 ,daily care1  never
 slackening1 is the price that must be  
paid for success4    ,the poultry house 
should be in a sunny spot1 on a hillside
 sloping to  the south1 if possible2 but
 no one need be kept from chicken       
raising if  such a spot cannot be had1  
for many successful plants are not so   
well  situated4 ,a light sandy soil     
offers the same advantages as a southern
  slope4 ,such locations or soils are   

not only much dryer but also much       
warmer1 for the snow melts and the frost
 leaves the ground earlier in  the      
spring than on northern slopes or in    
clay soils4 ,the advantage of  this     
earlier season is just as real as in a  
more southern latitude4    ,one of the  
main defects of poultry houses has been 
that they were built  for people1 rather
 than for hens2 being too high1 they are
 not easily  kept warm in winter4 ,the  
house itself should be well built to    
exclude  storm and wind1 but the        
southern side should be largely enclosed
 with  muslin1 which is much better than
 glass1 as it affords an entrance for   
air without draughts1 and furnishes     
plenty of light4    ,the roosting room  
may have a ceiling close above the      
roosts2 this can  be made of round poles
 or narrow boards1 laid an inch or more 
apart1  and over these there should be  
spread a covering of hay or straw4 ,this
  will give ventilation1 and yet retain 
most of the heat1 especially if a  thin 

muslin curtain is placed before the     
fowls during the night4    ,in the      
warmer localities1 on the ,atlantic     
coast from ,new ,york south1  and in the
 ,mississippi ,valley anywhere south of 
,st4 ,louis1 curtain  fronts are not    
necessary1 but1 instead1 a part or all  
of the south side  of the poultry house 
is made of poultry netting4    ,if      
chickens are to be raised in large      
numbers1 incubators must be used2  those
 holding two to three hundred eggs are  
most commonly used4 ,after  the chicks  
are hatched1 comes the serious question 
of brooding them1  especially during the
 winter4 ,all kinds of little chicks    
need air and  sunshine even more than   
older folk1 and not many buildings allow
 of  either2 consequently1 we must      
consider brooding out of doors1 where   
air  and sunshine can always be had4    
,fortunately1 the experimenting has been
  done by others1 so now we may avail   
ourselves of the knowledge they  have   
gained1 as many successful people are   

doing4    ,with properly constructed    
brooders and brooder coops1 it is       
perfectly  practicable to care for      
chickens from hatching to full growth1  
out of  doors1 at any time of the year1 
without artificial heat4 ,this does     
away with all danger from fire and      
over-heating1 and gives the chickens  a 
vigorous constitution that will enable  
them to withstand all the ills  to which
 chickens are liable4    ,these         
suggestions are not given as great      
discoveries1 but they are a  brief      
summary of the practical points of      
chicken raising1 and are all  workable4 
,some of them are given by the ,rev4 ,w4
 ,w4 ,cox1 as the results  of years of  
personal experience in the business4 ,he
 is now making a  specialty of raising  
,white ,orpingtons1 and is brooding out 
of doors1  with success4    ,there are  
many branches of the 8chicken-tree10 the
 more important ones  being breeding    
stock1 or fancy poultry2 egg farming1   
broiler farming  and roaster growing4   

,running a public hatchery1 and selling 
day-old  chicks1 is the latest          
development1 and is indeed so intensive 
that  it links manufacture to farming1  
for the building site is the only       
ground required4 ,these branches are    
recommended to the inexperienced        
poultryman in the following             
order3--#ast1 ,egg farming2 #b;d1       
roaster  growing2 #c;d1 fancy poultry2  
#dth1 broiler production4    ,egg       
farming1 properly conducted1 is         
profitable in almost any locality4      
,roaster farming has proved a great     
success near ,boston1 but has not  been 
largely introduced into other           
localities4 ,fancy poultry is a         
money-making game for those who are     
successful in winning prizes at the     
show1 and getting well advertised as    
breeders4 ,the broiler business1        
seemingly the most profitable branch1   
has in practice been a source of  loss  
to many investors4 ,the cause of failure
 in the broiler business1  lies chiefly 

in the difficulties of artificial       
incubation1 especially  in the winter   
season4    ,incubation is to the chicken
 raiser what the hot-bed is to the      
tomato  raiser4 ,if incubation is a     
failure1 the whole business must fail4  
,for the poultryman with a few dozen1 or
 even several hundred fowls1  hatching  
with hens is to be recommended1 unless  
he keep ,leghorns  or ,minorcas2 these  
varieties not being good brooders4      
,convenient  arrangements for setting   
hens in large numbers will be a more    
successful investment than incubators4  
,for duck farms or ,leghorn egg  farms1 
or any poultry business on a large      
scale1 artificial incubation  is a      
8necessary evil40    ,the ,central      
,hatchery1 only now being established   
here1 although in  use in ,egypt for    
centuries1 promises to solve this       
difficulty4 ,the  advantage of          
centralizing the hatching is that it    
admits of better  methods than are      
available on a small scale1 and also    

allows one man  to devote his entire    
energies to this feature4 ,such         
hatcheries may  be handled either by    
private individuals1 or1 as in the case 
of the  creameries1 may be co-operative 
institutions run for the good of the    
whole community4    ,a continuous house 
can be built with small compartments for
 each flock1  and separate runs for     
summer use1 though the colony plan is   
preferred  by some1 and has its         
advantages1 among them being the fact   
that the  flocks are more widely        
separated1 so there is less danger of   
any  disease spreading2 and if any      
particular house becomes infected1 it   
can  be cleansed without disturbing the 
whole plant4    ,the colony plan        
requires considerable less expense in   
housing and other  equipment than the   
yarded plan4 ,the expense for food is   
also decreased1  because of the greater 
number of insects and green food that   
the hens  get from the range4    ,the   
following plan of poultry keeping is1   

perhaps1 the simplest known1  and for   
that reason1 the most successful4 ,by   
8successful0 ,i do not  necessarily mean
 the most profitable1 but the surest of 
paying a  reasonable profit4 ,the plan  
is that of using inexpensive colony     
houses1  which are located in a large   
yard or small field4 ,these houses are  
built very light2 they are floorless1   
and are moved frequently1 either  by    
team or by a pole-pry4 ,by this method  
the droppings are distributed  directly 
on the soil without the usual laborious 
work of scraping the  dropping-boards4  
,in the poultry field some green crop is
 kept growing as much of the  year as   
possible4 ,as a general rule a crop     
cannot get a start in a  poultry range1 
and so a plan of rotating the chickens  
in two or more  fields1 is desirable4   
,no more profitable combination of      
8small0 farming  can be found than that 
of rotating poultry with the leafy      
vegetables  7lettuce1 spinach1 cabbage1 
etc47 which utilize to the greatest     

advantage the rich1 nitrogenous manure4 
,under this system1 the hens  are fed   
grain1 chiefly corn1 and beef scrap in  
hoppers1 and water  is supplied in the  
simplest way possible1 preferably from a
 running  brook4 ,the chief point to be 
kept in mind is to cut down the number  
of  necessary visits to the poultry     
houses1 thus reducing the labor cost4   
,the custom of raising chickens on fresh
 ground every year is of value  to the  
farm1 but the one disadvantage has      
always been the expense of  fencing4 ,in
 a recent issue the ,rural ,new ,yorker 
told of the plan of  one wide-awake     
chicken raiser which can be followed by 
anybody4 ,his  plan is to sow sunflower 
seed with a drill1 at the earliest      
possible  moment in the spot where you  
wish the fence to be2 then drive stakes 
at  intervals along the row and stretch 
two-foot chicken wire over them4  ,even 
the wire will confine the chicks when   
they are small1 and by the  time they   
have grown big enough to get over that1 

the sunflowers have  grown up and made a
 8chicken-tight0 combination4 ,hens are 
too stupid to  think of flying over such
 a barrier1 yet the poultry raiser can  
come  and go as if there was no barrier4
    ,this is not only a cheap fence1 but
 it affords the necessary shade for  the
 fowls in hot weather4 ,they lie about  
among the stalks scratching  in the cool
 earth and getting a dirt bath at any   
time in the day4 ,then  late in the     
season the sunflower heads are cut down 
and the pullets do  the harvesting of   
that crop in short order4 ,no other     
variety of fence  can be used for food  
when its usefulness as a barrier is     
past4 ,you  could easily put up this    
sort of a fence yourself1 and as the    
sunflower  is a very hardy plant1 you   
might even try sowing the seed in the   
fall1  so as to get an early start in   
fence building in the spring4    ,you   
must be willing to give your time and   
attention if you are to  succeed4 ,one  
man who has had a good deal of          

experience writes me  about the new     
method of chicken raising as            
follows3--8,no doubt it is  a valuable  
contribution to the subject of intensive
 cultivation of  poultry4 ,it involves1 
however1 the most intensive and         
persistent labor1  to which very few men
 are willing to subject themselves1 and 
,i am  one of that class4 ,i have had   
enough4 ,still1 ,i need more income1 and
  ,i am thinking1 just a little1 of     
,indian ,runner ducks1 which demand     
cheaper buildings and less care than    
chickens4 ,yet ,i cannot raise much     
enthusiasm on the subject1 and ,i shrink
 from the constant attention to  details
 which even they require40    ,but even 
if you are not prepared to raise fowls  
after this fashion1  there is no reason 
why you should not keep a few hens and  
raise a  few chickens for your own      
family use4 ,if you hatch in incubators1
  use eggs that are laid the day you put
 them to hatch1 and with good           
management practically all of them will 

produce vigorous chickens that  can be  
induced to lay early1 if pullets1 and   
can be fed for market1 if  cockerels4   
,eggs are more profitable than chickens1
 especially if you can produce  them out
 of season1 and this depends upon the   
time of hatching1 the  feed and care4 ,a
 flock of #be fowls will produce eggs   
and chickens  enough to add a tidy sum  
to the income1 if you feed and house    
them  right4 ,and the feeding need not  
be much of an expense1 if you save the  
table scraps and give corn1 cabbage and 
other green stuffs1 buying  whatever    
wheat and oats you can't raise4 ,in     
winter1 change their  drinking water    
frequently and see that it is slightly  
warmed4 ,if you  cannot provide running 
water1 then you must give them clean    
water many  times a day all the year    
around4    ,as a matter of fact1 the    
amount of effort expended is pretty     
closely  related to the profits to be   
derived4 ,whether you raise hens1 ducks1
  geese1 squabs1 or any of the many     

animals now raised for profit on the    
home acre1 you must study their needs   
just as you must study plant  needs1 if 
you are to succeed4 ,only by the use of 
intelligence can you  expect to reap    
profits1 and to natural intelligence    
must be added  study4 ,a man could not  
expect to be a successful teacher of    
mathematics  unless he had studied all  
the authorities in his special line1 and
 kept  himself in touch with all the new
 theories as they were advanced4 ,so it 
is with the farmer4 ,if he does not read
 the papers that deal especially  with  
his calling1 he cannot keep in touch    
with the improvements and  discoveries  
constantly made in his line4 ,he should 
take in at least two  standard          
agricultural papers4 ,in a community    
where there is no public  library1 the  
farmers might agree among themselves to 
take one or more  different papers each1
 and then exchange4 ,in this way they   
could keep  in touch with all1 at the   
expense of only one or two4    ,it will 

not be worth while for anybody to take  
up this work with any  hope of success1 
who expects to go at it with 8a lick and
 a promise0  idea4 ,it is only by       
thorough1 careful1 intelligent and      
persistent  effort that anything worth  
while can be accomplished4 ,for the     
person  who will undertake the task in  
that way1 there is an opportunity2 but  
he will need to have patience and some  
money while getting started and         
learning the business4 ,by all means1   
start in a small way1 and find out  a   
lot of things which only experience can 
teach you2 after that you can  gradually
 increase your plant with comparative   
safety4      ,,footnotes3    #aa        
,,note4--,this chapter has been         
specially revised by ,milo ,m4          
,hastings1 the author of a new and      
thorough work1 8,the ,dollar ,hen40 ,mr4
  ,hastings was formerly the commercial 
poultry expert of ,u4 ,s4 ,dept4 of     
,agriculture4    ,it will be impossible 
in the brief space available to go into 

detail  concerning all the up-to-date   
methods of poultry production4 ,i can   
only  call attention to the system by   
which the industry is being modernized  
and by which1 also1 it may be made to   
yield handsome profits to the           
intelligent and aggressive poultryman4  
#ab ,,note4--,these systems mean small  
numbers together4 ,a few eggs in  the   
incubator2 a few chicks in a brooder2 a 
few youngsters in a colony  coop2 a few 
layers in a small house4 ,the ,philo    
poultry plant covers #dj   #dj feet4    
,,chapter ,,xxxii4                      
,,organization4      ,we hear a great   
deal about the farmer waking up to the  
fact that his  calling is a business    
that must be conducted upon business    
principles1  if it is to pay4 ,anybody  
who knows anything about the farming    
methods1  or lack of methods1 of the    
past1 will recognize that this awakening
 has  not come a moment too soon4       
,neither is the farmer wide enough awake
  even yet4 ,but the feeling is growing1

 and much of the credit is due to  the  
farm papers1 the agricultural colleges  
and the writers of books on  farming and
 gardening on a small scale4            
,somewhere1 hidden in the heart of      
almost every man1 is a longing to own  a
 bit of land and grow vegetables or     
fruits2 and it is to this man that  the 
new order of things means most4 ,he has 
had business experience1 and  will      
naturally apply business principles to  
anything he takes up4    ,it is not many
 years since agricultural colleges were 
looked upon  with amusement1 if not with
 scorn1 by the very people whom they    
were  intended to help4 ,the            
8scientific0 farmer was classed with    
that other  hopeless being1 the 8book   
farmer40 ,but the colleges and books    
kept on  doing their work1 and the      
college-bred and book-made farmer kept  
on  doing wonderful things with soils   
and crops1 and now there is scarcely  a 
farming community that does not number  
among its leading members a  farmer of  

one or both sorts4 ,so does time work   
changes4    ,boys who intend to be      
farmers are now sent to agricultural    
colleges1  and the wise farmer takes in 
good agricultural papers and reads      
agricultural books4 ,he has organized   
himself into granges and other          
associations and is fast learning the   
value of co-operation4 ,all  this tends 
to elevate his calling1 a calling which 
is naturally more  dignified than any   
other1 and to make himself and his labor
 of more  real value to himself and to  
his fellows4    ,but even yet there is  
too much haphazard arrangement of the   
farmer's  work1 and for this reason he  
is always struggling and finding little 
leisure4 ,it is partly due to the lack  
of organization in his work4 ,if  he has
 not too much land1 and if every month  
has its appointed tasks1  the farmer    
will move along from task to task1 with 
at least as much  leisure as his city   
brother4 ,so get your work mapped out1  
and attend to  things as they need      

attention1 instead of leaving a lot of  
small things  to pile up and in the end 
cause hurry and confusion4    ,plan your
 work and work your plan4    ,in the    
month of ,,january prepare for spring   
work in your garden4 ,whether  you      
devote your plot to vegetables or fruit1
 lay it out now in your  own mind or1   
better still1 on paper4 ,get catalogues 
from seedsmen who  advertise4 ,most of  
them get their catalogues out in        
,january4 ,they are  business men and   
know the value of an early start4 ,make 
up your mind  what you want to grow1    
being sure to plan for plenty of the    
things you  eat1--and then select the   
things you mean to experiment with      
during  the coming year4 ,follow a      
well-arranged planting-table1 such as   
was  published in ,suburban ,life1 of   
,new ,york ,city1 in ,march1 #aijh4     
,if you have fruit trees on your plot1  
this is a good time to begin to  spray  
them4 ,if you don't get ahead of insects
 and diseases1 they will  soon get ahead

 of you4 ,if you intend to do any       
grafting1 secure the  scions now and    
keep them buried in sand in a cold      
cellar1 or even out  of doors1 until the
 sap begins to rise in the trees4 ,then 
you are ready  to work without loss of  
time4 ,if there are holes in the trees1 
clean  them out and fill with cement4   
,you won't have time for this in the    
spring1 and the gypsy-moth1 or some     
relative of his1 will select the  hole  
as a ready-made breeding-place4 ,paint  
all wounds or breaks in the  bark with  
good paint or tar4 ,on warm days do the 
necessary pruning4    ,look out for your
 live stock1 even it if be only the     
family horse and  cow4 ,they will serve 
you better for careful attention4 ,warm 
the bit on  cold mornings before putting
 it in the horse's mouth1 and look out  
for  signs of possible toothache4 ,he   
suffers from that as well as you4 ,have 
him sharp-shod for slippery weather4 ,if
 the barn is cold1 blanket your  cow as 
well as your horse1 give her plenty of  

warm bedding and see that  she and the  
horse have salt at hand at all times4   
,don't give either  animal ice-cold     
water to drink4 ,take the chill off it4 
,a hot mash will  not do either of them 
any harm on a cold day4 ,you like hot   
food in  winter4    ,look after the     
comfort of your poultry4 ,dust them well
 for insects4  ,give them fresh1        
slightly warmed water every few hours   
during the day4  ,vary their food       
somewhat and give some corn and         
meat-scraps4 ,be sure  the meat is good1
 as spoiled scraps lead to disease4 ,see
 that they have  green food1 and as much
 exercise as possible2 keep their house 
clean  and well ventilated1 but free    
from draughts4 ,if you are going to     
raise  broilers1 get your incubator     
busy1 but it is too early for hatching  
chickens for layers4 ,if you have no    
incubator1 but mean to get one  later1  
read up all about them now4 ,don't buy  
blindly4    ,get out your fencing stuff1
 if you have fences to build2 and read  

up  all you need to know about your     
soils and the value of fertilizers1     
etc4 ,don't wait until spring to know   
what it is best to do with your  plot4  
,learn that in advance1 so that when    
spring comes you may put your  knowledge
 into practice without delay4           
99       99       99       99       99  
,the same general instructions hold good
 for ,,february4 ,give constant  care to
 your stock whether many or few4 ,see   
that your tools1 planters1  sprayers1   
plows1 etc41 are all in order4 ,many    
valuable hours are lost  in             
gardening-time because of neglect of    
this precaution4 ,repair those  that    
need it and are worth it1 and consult   
catalogues for the new  machinery you   
must buy1 and buy only the best of its  
kind4    ,if you are using hot-beds or  
even cold-frames1 you can prepare them  
and  begin to plant some seed during    
,february1 such as radishes1 lettuce and
  early cauliflower4           99       
99       99       99       99    ,,march

 is still too early for out-door        
planting in the ,north1 because if  the 
seeds get chilled1 they will be slower  
in growth than those planted  later2 but
 well-made hot-beds are getting in their
 good work at this  time4 ,eggplant1    
tomatoes1 early cabbage1 onions1        
parsley1 peppers1  etc41 are all to be  
started before this month is out4    ,if
 the ground softens up so that you can  
go out on it at all for  working1 you   
may sow your grass seed and spring oats 
and barley that  they may get the       
advantage of spring rains and be well   
grown before the  dry1 hot weather sets 
in4 ,you find many farmers neglecting   
their stock  at this time of year1 but  
it is bad policy4 ,keep up their        
rations4    ,if the storms of winter    
have strewn your plot with branches of  
trees  and other wreckage1 clean it all 
up2 the wisest plan is to burn it4      
,clean the out-buildings2 sort over your
 seed1 and see if any insects  have got 
at them during winter2 test them between

 moist papers or  cloths as described1  
to see which are worth planting2 clean  
out  vegetable bins1 burying all decayed
 vegetables4 ,be ready to take          
advantage of the very first of the      
out-door-planting weather4 ,every day   
of preparation now counts for three in  
results4           99       99       99 
99       99    ,,april is a busy month  
in farm and garden4 ,preparation-tillage
 is in  order1 if the ground is not too 
moist4 ,too much stress cannot be laid  
upon the importance of thorough         
preparation of the soil before the      
planting begins4 ,what you neglect in   
this line cannot be made up later  in   
the season1 and you will suffer in field
 and pocket4 ,be sure that  your soil is
 neither too wet nor too dry when you   
begin operations1 and  when you are     
through1 be just as sure that it is     
thoroughly pulverized  and fertilized1  
so that it can retain moisture and      
afford the right bed  for the tender    
seeds4 ,then plant all the hardy crops  

as directed in the  chapters on crop    
raising in this book4    ,get your      
neighbors to co-operate with you in     
clearing out neglected  roadside corners
 and in destroying weeds4 ,it will pay4 
,all the crops in  the neighborhood will
 profit from this action4 ,don't turn   
the stock out  to feed until the grass  
has made some growth4 ,you don't want   
the roots  gnawed out4           99     
99       99       99       99    ,even  
in the northernmost parts of the ,new   
,england ,states1 much of the  out-door 
planting is done in early ,,may and the 
rest a little later  in the month4 ,now 
is when you begin to realize the value  
of having  done all your preparation    
work early4 ,planting potatoes1 peas1   
beets1  cabbages1 turnips1 to say       
nothing of beans1 corn1 pumpkins1       
squashes1  cucumbers1 etc41 will take   
all your time every day that is not     
spent  in cultivating and using the     
wheel-hoe4 ,besides1 your strawberry    
beds  will be needing a good deal of    

attention1 and your chicken-run should  
have its location changed for awhile4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,there are no idle times for the        
intelligent farmer1 but the beautiful   
month of ,,june is generally the        
busiest4 ,indeed1 it is often so busy   
that the farmer does not have time to   
know how beautiful it is4 ,but you  can 
have time4 ,arrange your work2 drive it 
instead of letting it drive  you1 and   
you will be surprised how much time you 
have to look up and to  realize that it 
is a glorious thing just to be alive4   
,but this cannot  be if you have        
neglected your work from month to month4
 ,the smell of  ripening strawberries1  
of new-mown hay fill the air before this
 month  is gone2 the sky is the bluest1 
the grass the greenest1 the trees the   
freshest of any month in the year4      
,don't lose those delights without      
having known that they have come4       
,cultivate yourself as well as your     
soil1 and life will be better worth the 

living4           99       99       99  
99       99    ,,july is the real haying
 month in the ,northern ,states4 ,there 
are scores  of things to do4 ,many of   
the fall-crop vegetables are to be sown 
this  month1 and the ground must be put 
in good condition as soon as the  early 
crop is off4 ,but busy as you are1 it is
 good to take a day off  occasionally   
and see what your neighbor is doing4    
,perhaps he has some  scheme by which he
 has forced his crop ahead of yours4 ,if
 so1 compare  notes and learn what you  
can4           99       99       99     
99       99    ,in ,new ,england they   
sow the winter crop of turnips in the   
early days  of ,,august4 ,be careful    
that the root maggot has not got into   
the ground  where you plant them1 for1  
if he has1 you would better save        
yourself  the labor of planting in that 
spot4 ,you want to starve the maggot1   
not  to feed him4 ,cultivate all your   
crops carefully this month4 ,perhaps    
they didn't get all the attention they  

needed during haying1 and as the        
weather is apt to be pretty hot and dry1
 you must do all in your power  to keep 
the moisture4 ,therefore1 good          
maintenance-tillage is in order4  ,cut  
down the weeds on the roadside that have
 escaped you before4 ,it is  a costly   
mistake to allow them to go to seed4    
,you will have to work a  good deal     
harder and get less for it next year if 
you let them go to  seed this year4     
8,one year's seeding is seven years'    
weeding40           99       99       99
       99       99    ,if you have fruit
 trees1 ,,september is one of the finest
 months in the  year1 both for the looks
 of your place1 if it has been properly 
kept1  and also for your profits4 ,the  
early fruit brings good prices1 and if  
you have shown foresight in planning out
 your garden1 you have planted  some    
fruit trees that will pay you4          
,harvesting begins this month1 and  you 
want to be sure that everything is in   
readiness4 ,have your bins and  cellars 

thoroughly cleaned and aired1 so that   
there may be no delay  when crops are   
ready to be stored4           99        
99       99       99       99           
,,october calls for extra care for your 
fruit trees1 because frosts are  to be  
expected4 ,winter apples should be      
picked before they are fully  ripe and  
kept in a cool place1 but where they    
cannot freeze4 ,if you  intend them to  
last all winter and into the spring1 you
 should sort and  pack them carefully1  
seeing that no bruised fruit gets into  
your barrel  or box4 ,one bruised apple 
in a barrel may cost you half a dozen or
 more  of the finest4           99      
99       99       99       99           
,although in some places it may be      
necessary to begin fall plowing  earlier
 than ,,november1 yet1 generally        
speaking1 this is the month for  that   
work1 and unless frosts come early1 you 
can plow about all through  the month4  
,it is the month for finishing up the   
fall work and getting  ready for winter4

 ,there is no better time for gathering 
up whatever  rubbish may have           
accumulated--all the vines and garden   
waste that you  cannot use for plowing  
under--and making a bonfire of it4 ,that
 is a  work the boys will delight to    
help in1 and if you will save the actual
  burning for evening1 you will make    
them extra happy1 and glad to do  some  
more cleaning up4 ,work is best done in 
the way that brings the  greatest amount
 of pleasure4           99       99     
99       99       99    ,,december has  
its joys and its work as well as ,june4 
,the stock are  almost always shut up   
now and get only what you give them1    
either to  eat or drink4 ,be careful to 
keep their troughs scrupulously clean1  
and  occasionally feed both horses and  
cows a little molasses4 ,to keep the    
stable well ventilated1 take out a      
window and fit in a frame covered  with 
muslin or cotton sheeting4 ,this will   
help out the ventilation and  shut out  
the draughts4 ,if it is hinged at the   

bottom1 so that it can be  opened on    
clear days1 it will be all the better4  
,and now just a word for man's other    
faithful friend1 and the children's     
guardian1 the dog4 ,he feels the change 
in the weather1 too4 ,if he  should     
begin to scratch his ears or rub them on
 the ground1 clean them  carefully with 
lukewarm water in which bran has been   
boiled1 and add a  little white castile 
soap4 ,when you have rinsed and dried   
them dust a  little dry boric acid into 
them4 ,he'll be more comfortable and so 
will  you4 ,stonehenge or ,youatt 8,on  
the ,dog0 will tell you all about him4  
,see that your farming tools are all    
well housed where neither rain nor  snow
 can get at them4 ,if you were too busy 
to thoroughly clean and oil  them before
 putting them away1 do it now4 ,the long
 winter evenings will  afford you plenty
 of time to read up on any matter in    
which you are  interested4 ,at the end  
of the year you will be astonished to   
find how  much you have accomplished    

without being rushed or overworked1 just
  because you organized your work and   
followed a definite plan4 ,like all     
other good things1 it pays4    ,when we 
are exhausted or rushed1 it shows that  
either we have been  doing the wrong    
thing1 or doing the thing wrong4        
,,chapter ,,xxxiii4                     
,a ,,few ,,practical 8,,don',,ts40      
,don't imagine that you cannot do       
anything with a bit of ground4 ,you can4
    ,don't run away with the idea that  
the farmer's life is all fun or all     
labor4 ,it isn't4 ,it is a mixture of   
both1 and fun and labor are equally     
healthful and profitable4    ,don't     
think that breaking up the surface soil 
for an inch or two is  the same as      
plowing4 ,it is not4 ,the old proverb is
 good advice for the  farmer--8,plow    
deep while sluggards sleep40 ,to plow in
 the fall is to  lessen your spring work
 by at least a third4 ,spring plowing is
 easier  because of it1 and the work of 
the harrow is lighter4    ,don't        

begrudge manure4 ,all forms of life     
require food4 ,if you want your  plants 
to grow1 feed them4    ,don't plant     
tiny1 tender seeds in hard1 cold1 lumpy 
soil and expect  them to grow4 ,they    
won't4 ,pulverize your soil1 warm it    
with sun1 air  and manure2 make a cosy  
little bed for your seeds1 and while    
they  snuggle into it1 they will be     
sending out little sprouts all the time 
to see what the rest of the world is    
like4 ,just as it is good business      
policy to treat your hired help as if   
they were human beings with  feelings1  
instead of mere tireless machines1 so it
 pays to make your  seeds comfortable4  
,don't forget that your plants like air1
 and that what they get by their  stems 
and branches is not enough4 ,the roots  
have to breathe4 ,so keep  the earth    
about them stirred somewhat1 that the   
air may get to them4    ,don't skimp the
 supply of moisture4 ,although you don't
 want to drown  out the seeds by soaking
 the ground1 yet you must so till it    

that it  holds all the moisture the     
plant needs4 ,you find your craving for 
water  greater in summer than in winter1
 especially if you are working hard4    
,well1 the plant is working hard1 if it 
is growing4 ,see that it has its  drink 
of water always at hand4    ,don't      
decide to let the weeds on the roadside 
grow1 just because they  seem 8nearer   
the other fellow's plot0 than yours4    
,there are no 8other  fellows0 in a     
matter of this kind4 ,it does not take  
long for the weeds  he has to get to    
you4 ,if he doesn't know the importance 
of cleaning  even the road1 and you do1 
just set him the example4 ,he'll soon   
ask you  why you did it4 ,after that1   
he'll probably do his share4 ,at any    
rate  you will have done yours4         
,don't try to grow more and better crops
 than your neighbor1 just for  the 8fun 
of getting ahead of him40 ,grow them to 
prove how much can be  done with your   
facilities1 and to show him1 as well as 
yourself1 how  much more pleasure and   

profit he can find in gardening than he 
has  known before4 ,next year he'll     
probably show you a thing or two4       
,don't think you have to emigrate to    
some far-away spot to make a living     
from the earth4 ,all soil can be made to
 produce if you use brains as  well as  
labor4 ,begin where you are1 no matter  
how small the plot4  ,learn to do it in 
little before you try it in large4 ,if  
you have no  plot where you live1 try to
 get the use of a vacant lot in your    
town  or city4 ,put up a tent and live  
in it4 ,you and your family will be the 
better for roughing it a bit4 ,there's  
lots of fun in camping if you go  about 
it in the right spirit4    ,don't be    
afraid to ask advice from the           
,department of ,agriculture4 ,they  are 
conducting their experiments for your   
sake1 if that's the sort of  knowledge  
you want4 ,if it were not for you and   
thousands like you1 they  would not need
 to discover so many of ,nature's       
secrets4 ,get the benefit  of their     

discoveries4    ,don't think you can    
farm without proper tools1 any more than
 a man  could print a paper without a   
printing press4 ,the old-fashioned1     
small  hand-press1 would stand a poor   
show beside the new power presses4 ,so  
with old-fashioned1 hand-gardening      
tools4 ,you can do more work with a     
wheel-hoe than with ten hand-hoes1 and  
it isn't so painful either4 ,get  only  
the tools you need1 but be sure to get  
them1 and get the best of  their kind4  
,don't let your tools stand out in all  
weathers1 and don't forget to  clean    
them and see that they are oiled4 ,a    
dirty farm implement may mean  the      
spread of disease2 unoiled bearings may 
mean injury from rust or  breakage4     
,save time and expense by a little care4
    ,don't expect eggs from dirty or    
ill-fed fowls4 ,the natural returns from
  such conditions are vermin and        
sickness2 and you'll get them4    ,don't
 expect to take everything out of the   
soil and put nothing back4  ,the soil is

 like a bank account1 so long as you    
keep adding to it1 you  may draw from   
it4 ,but if it is all 8draw0 and no     
8add10 then you will  soon come to the  
end of your resources4 ,feed your soil  
and it will feed  you4    ,don't plant  
poor seed4 ,you can't afford it4 ,the   
best is cheapest4 ,if  you have poor    
seed on hand1 throw it away--or perhaps 
it might do for  the chickens4 ,no loss 
can be so great as the loss of planting 
it4    ,don't forget that women are apt 
to make good gardeners1 because they    
are willing to 8fuss over0 necessary    
small matters4 ,if you do not like  to  
attend constantly to 8little things10 if
 you 8hate details10 you  will be       
unlikely to make a big success of       
intensive culture4 ,the man  who does   
best is the one who loves to compare    
soils and fertilizers and  seeds1 and to
 try how many seeds sprout and how long 
they take2 who is  interested in the    
temperature of every hot-bed2 who       
watches for just  the day to use the    

wheel-hoe on this row and the hand-plow 
on that2 who  finds the time only too   
short while he sets out onion seedlings2
 who  enjoys putting up nice bunches of 
vegetables or packages of fruit4 ,in    
short1 the man or woman whose interest  
is in watching the crops instead  of the
 clock1 is the one who succeeds in      
garden work4    ,don't delude yourself  
into thinking that you must have a fine 
house  before you can take up gardening4
 ,a shack is as good as a palace1 and   
better1 if you can afford the one and   
not the other4 ,anything that  can be   
ventilated and made weather-proof will  
be enough4 ,after you  have made your   
fortune1 if you have not in the meantime
 learned the  value of simple living1   
build your fine house1 and be as        
splendidly  uncomfortable as even the   
worst ,philistine could desire4 ,but    
while you  are earning your fortune1 be 
comfortable4 ,it pays4    ,don't think  
you must throw up your job and rush into
 farming for a  living1 unless you have 

had some experience1 or have a snug     
little bank  account to depend upon     
while you are learning4 ,get your       
experience on  a small piece of land    
first1 while still holding down your    
present  job4 ,be sure you like the work
 and that you are willing to give all   
necessary time and attention to it4     
,don't think that this list exhausts all
 the 8don'ts10 practical  or otherwise4 
,there are dozens of others4 ,but it is 
well to leave  something to the         
imagination and to experience4 ,you'll  
learn them for  yourself and remember   
them better for it4 ,nevertheless1 it   
will do no  harm to attach the rules for
 farm buying submitted to the ,american 
,jewish ,association4 ,they run as      
follows3    ,don't think about buying a 
farm if your wife won't live in the     
country4    ,don't believe in agents    
when they tell you gold-brick stories4  
,don't chase after big farms4    ,don't 
buy a farm unless you have money enough 
left to buy a cow4    ,don't run too    

much in debt when you buy your farm4    
,don't pay a deposit on your farm until 
you have consulted a lawyer4    ,don't  
forget to insure your farm buildings in 
a reliable company4    ,don't buy a farm
 unless you are able to meet the        
mortgages4    ,don't buy a farm unless  
you have consulted those who know4      
,appendix ,i4      ,the island of       
,guernsey in the ,english ,channel1 only
 from four to  seven miles long1 and    
three to four miles wide1 supports a    
permanent  population of #da1jjj and an 
additional visiting population each year
  of about #cj1jjj persons4 ,only       
#aa1fbc acres are under cultivation1 but
  if the glass houses and frames were   
placed in line they would extend  for   
twenty-eight miles1 or all around the   
island1 and up the centre for  almost   
its entire length1 and would average    
about #aj feet in width4 ,the  farming  
lands are valued at twelve hundred      
dollars 7#abjj7 an acre1 and  are rented
 at #aj per cent4 of their value4 ,the  

exports of this land in  fruits1        
vegetables1 flowers and cattle1 amount  
to more than two and  three-quarters    
millions 7#b1geb1jjj7 annually4 ,in     
addition to this1  the farmers produce  
all that the #ga1jjj persons consume1 as
 well as  hay1 oats and forage for      
horses and cattle2 and about #ejj1jjj   
worth  of butter1 poultry1 eggs1 pork   
and beef4 ,at a conservative estimate1  
the island produces about four and a    
half millions' 7#d1ejj1jjj7 worth  of   
farm and garden stuff each year1 or a   
little less than four hundred  dollars' 
7#djj7 worth to the acre4    ,don't you 
think we ,americans1 with our improved  
machinery and  intelligence1 can get    
much more out of our land--when we try8 
,if the ,state of ,new ,york were all   
cultivated and populated at that rate   
it would produce nearly #ae1jjj1jjj1jjj 
worth annually and sustain  #bcc1fda1dgc
 people1 or about three times the       
population of the entire  ,united       
,states4 ,so we are not going to suffer 

from 8over-population0 or  8pauper      
labor0 just yet4                        
,appendix ,,ii4               ,french   
,gardening1 and ,other ,gardening ,under
 ,glass4      ,intensive cultivation    
reaches its climax for the present in   
what is  called the ,french ,system1 in 
vogue in and about ,paris1 and in some  
parts of ,england1 where rents are so   
enormously high that even an  inch of   
space counts1 and must be made to       
produce its utmost4 ,it has  not been in
 favor in this country1 because1 so far1
 the pressure of  rent has not compelled
 people to look so much after the       
inches4 ,but1  if the present           
land-tenure system continues1 there is  
no telling when  the ,french system of  
cultivation will become a necessity4 ,in
 its  simplest terms1 the ,french system
 is hot-bed cultivation with perfect    
fertilization and irrigation1 usually   
without artificial heat4 ,the  secret of
 it is--manure1 unlimited quantities of 
it1 of the finest  quality and rotted to

 about the condition of leaf-mould4 ,the
 beds are  made on the top of the earth1
 the foundation being fresh stable      
manure  that has been turned several    
times and thoroughly sweetened4 ,cover  
an  area sufficient to accommodate the  
number of frames you intend to use1     
with great quantities of manure1 so that
 after it has been tramped1  pressed and
 rolled flat1 it will be from #f to #h  
inches deep at least4  ,sometimes it is 
made two feet deep4 ,the frames are then
 placed on  this bed1 the manure        
extending well beyond them on every     
side1 and a  distance of #ah inches is  
left between the rows of frames4 ,a     
layer of  fine1 rich1 dark soil1 mixed  
with manure that has been rotted during 
the previous season1 is then spread on1 
to the depth of six inches1  pressed    
down and raked4 ,the bed is then ready  
for planting4 ,generally  four crops are
 grown in each frame1 radish1 lettuce1  
carrots and  cauliflower being the usual
 combination4    ,the radishes are sown 

first1 quite thinly1 then a thin layer  
of  carrot seed4 ,these are covered with
 about half an inch of fine soil  well  
pressed down4 ,cabbage-lettuce is next  
set out1 the plants being  placed nine  
inches apart1 and1 so far1 three crops  
are growing at the  same time4 ,the     
fourth1 cauliflower1 is not planted     
until the radishes  are off1--in about  
three or four weeks1--the lettuce has   
been cut and  the carrots are showing   
well above the ground4 ,then three or   
four  cauliflower plants are set in each
 frame between the carrots4    ,but one 
of the most interesting parts of this   
work is the growing of  the lettuce and 
cauliflower plants for transplanting to 
the hot-bed  frame4 ,these are grown    
under 8cloches0 or bell-shaped glasses  
#ag inches  across the bottom and #ae   
inches high1 on a seed-bed prepared just
 as  the hot-bed was prepared1 except   
that the manure foundation is anywhere  
from #ab to #ae inches deep after being 
pressed down4 ,these beds are not       

covered with frames1 but the cloches are
 placed on them in two rows1  and within
 the circles made by them the seed is   
sown4    ,as soon as they come up1 they 
may be transplanted from the cloches  to
 the hot-bed direct1 or they may be     
pricked out under other  cloches1 four  
plants to a glass1 usually one ,cos     
lettuce and three  cabbage-lettuce4     
,these are again transplanted to the    
hot-bed where  the radish and carrot    
seed were sown1 and follow the radish in
 being  picked4 ,lettuce seed is also   
sown in cold-frames about the first of  
,october and successive sowings are made
 until the end of that month4           
,immediately after the lettuces are     
picked the bed is watered and  weeded1  
and among the growing carrots the       
cauliflower is set out4  ,cauliflower is
 grown under cloches1 the seed being    
sown as lettuce seed  is1 under the     
glass or in the open seed-bed1 from     
,october to ,november1  and pricked out 
under the cloches as soon as the plants 

are well up4  ,they can be planted out  
in the hot-beds in ,february1 and are   
ready for  market between the middle of 
,may and the first of ,june4 ,about     
,april the  process of hardening begins1
 and by the end of that month the frames
  and sashes are removed and the beds   
stand in the open4 ,during the time  the
 crops are growing under glass1 they    
need a great deal of attention1  that   
neither the sun nor the frost may injure
 them4 ,for this reason  they are       
covered1 uncovered and recovered several
 times during each day  with mats or    
frames4    ,when the cauliflower is off1
 the bed is forked over and planted with
  endive1 spinach1 celery or other      
garden crop4 ,when the season's crop    
has been harvested in ,october1 the soil
 is gathered up in a great heap1  and   
the beds are topped with decayed manure 
in the leaf-mould state4  ,this is the  
best thing to plant in1 and if one had  
enough of it1 the  crops could be grown 
on a concrete floor2 because in such    

soil plants  find all that they need4   
,to bring it down to the fine point1 the
 ,french system consists of  manure1    
more manure1 irrigation1 availing of    
every ray of sunlight1 and  unremitting 
care4 ,it requires three years to get   
the system in good  working order1 and  
here such intensive cultivation seems   
unnecessary4  ,it shows what man will do
 in the way of developing the           
possibilities of  nature1 when by law or
 custom he is debarred from free access 
to the  land1 and must needs make a very
 small portion yield a great return4    
,we are not in much danger of ,malthus's
 over-population1 and the               
much-talked-of 8pressure of population40
 ,where so tiny a piece of soil  can be 
made to support so many and give them a 
good living1 too1 it is  foolish to     
argue that the cause of poverty is found
 in the increase of  population4 ,this  
country alone could support many times  
the population  of the whole world today
 if natural opportunities were free4 ,it

 has  been said that #hj1jjj1jjj1jjj    
could then be more comfortably supported
  here than #hj1jjj1jjj now are4 ,to    
find the cause of most of the poverty1  
and even crime1 in the world1 we must   
look beyond the population  statistics  
to the restrictions and monopolies that 
prevent population  from providing for  
its own needs from natural sources4 ,and
 when once  you begin to investigate    
monopolies1 you will find the mother of 
them  all--,land ,monopoly4           99
       99       99       99       99    
,a new sash for use in hot-beds and     
cold-frames has been placed on our      
market within a year or two1 for which  
its makers claim many desirable  things4
 ,it seems as if their claims were being
 well sustained by the  experience of   
those using the ,sunlight ,double ,glass
 ,sash1 as it is  called4 ,the frames   
are made of red cypress and are fitted  
with rustless  springs and stops to hold
 the glass in the grooves and thus do   
away  with the expense and bother of    

glazing4 ,there is a space of dead air  
between the two layers of glass1 which  
resists the cold from without1  and     
prevents the escape of heat from within4
 ,the sash are sufficiently  air-tight  
for ordinary weather1 and when the      
thermometer falls1 the  moisture which  
has gathered between the two layers of  
glass1 freezes  and seals the sash      
practically air-tight4    ,the makers   
claim that ,sunlight ,double ,glass     
,sash save more than half  the labor1   
worry and expense of growing plants in  
cold-frames and  hot-beds1 and insure   
better plants1 and1 therefore1 better   
crops1 than  can be secured under the   
same conditions from single-layer sash4 
,they  do away with the necessity of    
covering the frames with mats or boards1
  being warmer than the single-layer    
sash even though covered with mats  or  
boards4 ,frames or beds filled with     
half-hardy plants1 such as  lettuce1    
cabbage or cauliflower1 need no extra   
covering even in zero  weather2 and as  

far north as northeastern ,ohio1 with   
the thermometer  nearly down to zero1   
even tomatoes1 peppers and eggplants    
have been  raised without additional    
covering1 although this may not always  
be  done4 ,light is never excluded from 
the growing plants by night or day1  and
 in the short winter days of this       
climate1 there is some advantage  to    
that4 ,even when snow and ice lie on the
 sash1 there is some light  getting to  
the plants1 and in clear weather the    
heat from the sun's  rays during the day
 is stored up in the bed and held by the
 double  glass with the air-space       
between4 ,that is why even in zero      
weather the  half-hardy plants need no  
extra covering4    ,it is quite possible
 that the gardeners of this country may 
make a  system of their own for         
intensive cultivation1 to equal and     
perhaps  excel the ,french system with  
its repeated covering and uncovering of 
the frames4 ,the sash are made in       
,louisville1 ,ky4                       

,appendix ,,iii4      ,at ,maylands1    
,mr4 ,joseph ,fels' 8colony0 in         
,england1 all the land is  under        
intensive cultivation1 and the rules for
 getting the best results  from hot-beds
 are simple enough for anybody to       
follow4 ,they emphasize  the advice     
given in this book and are1 therefore1  
printed as an  appendix1 so they may be 
easily consulted4 ,they are furnished by
 the  superintending gardener of        
,maylands1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,f4 ,smith1     
,maylands1  ,essex1 ,england1 for this  
book1 and are as follows3--             
,,general ,,instructions ,,to ,,maylands
 ,,smallholders4    8,it is possible to 
put the frames to a variety of          
profitable uses  during the winter and  
spring1 but under the special           
circumstances of  our community1 and the
 arrangement for co-operation1 it will  
be best  for all to follow one plan1 and
 the produce can then be handled in     
bulk4 ,to this end1 ,i suggest that the 
frames be used for radishes  and        

cabbage-lettuce1 then cleared for       
pricking out tomato plants2  afterwards1
 during the summer1 used for cucumber or
 melons4    8,during the last week of   
,september1 prepare a bed of about a    
square  yard by digging4 ,break it up   
fine2 cover it with two inches of       
prepared1 sifted1 well-rotted manure and
 soil in equal proportions4  ,sow       
broadcast1 thinly1 a few inches of      
cabbage-lettuce seed--,watkin           
,simpson's ,early ,french ,gold ,frame  
will be very suitable4 ,cover with      
inch prepared soil and press evenly all 
over4 ,place a wooden framework  round  
the bed and cover with a sash4 ,do not  
water4 ,if the sun shines  brightly in  
the middle of the day1 cover the sash1  
and uncover as soon  as the sun's power 
is gone4 ,in #d or #e days the plants   
will be up1 and  as soon as they can be 
handled they must be pricked off in     
frames  standing on beds prepared in a  
similar way to the seed-bed1 except     
that the soil inside must come half way 

up the board4 ,prick them out #b  inches
 apart1 and do not water4 ,they will    
stand here during the winter  and the   
work now is to watch them carefully1    
remove any decayed ones  or any showing 
mildew4 ,if any mildew shows1 dust over 
lightly once or  twice with flowers of  
sulphur4 ,keep as dry as possible4 ,in  
hard1 frosty  weather cover the frames  
with mats1 but remove these whenever    
possible1  and give air on very mild    
days4    8,towards the latter end of    
,january prepare the hot-beds1 by mixing
  well together equal quantities of old1
 dry manure and fresh manure4  ,in both 
cases this must be #8long4'#ac ,shake   
out the lumps and lay  the manure down  
to the depth of #ah inches4 ,keep level 
and beat down  gently with the back of  
the fork4 ,make the beds wide enough to 
extend  at least #i inches beyond the   
frames4 ,tread the manure down and level
  up any hollows4 ,lay the frames on    
straight and level4 ,fill up inside     
one-third the depth with similar manure 

to that used for the bed1 then  add #b  
inches or so of the prepared soil4 ,rake
 the soil well1 to leave  it level and  
remove lumps4 ,put on the sashes and    
cover with mats4 ,any  of this work must
 be finished the same day it is begun   
and covered up4  ,this is of importance1
 as frost1 snow1 or rain might set in1  
and spoil  the bed4 ,the remaining beds 
must be made in the same way1 all       
joining  up so as to form one entire bed
 without any spaces between4 ,the frames
  are butted together at the ends1 and  
are set #a foot apart between rows4     
8,two or three days after finishing the 
first bed1 it will begin to get  warm1  
which may be seen by the damp inside the
 glass4 ,now sow radishes  7,french     
,breakfast ,radishes--white-tipped7     
thinly broadcast4 ,cover them  up       
lightly with dry prepared soil1 well    
sifted2 press down evenly4  ,set out the
 whole bed with lettuces at #i in4      
apart4 ,before planting1  the lettuces  
must be carefully examined1 all decayed 

leaves removed1  and doubtful plants    
rejected4 ,use only the strongest       
plants4 ,handle  very tenderly1 so as   
not to bruise them4 ,cover the bed every
 night  with mats4 ,when the radishes   
are up1 give a little air on the        
opposite  side to the wind1 but be      
careful not to overdo this1 as the      
lettuces  thrive better with very little
 air4 ,if any decayed leaves are seen on
  the lettuces1 remove them4 ,if the    
heat in the frames slacks1 as may be    
seen by the radishes not moving quickly 
enough1 place littery manure  all round 
and between the frames up to the lights4
 ,the radishes will be  ready for       
gathering the fourth week from sowing1  
and should be cleared  off a bed within 
#aj or #ab days4 ,when they are all     
gone1 water the bed  well between the   
lettuces with a fine #8rose'-nozzle     
hose4 ,choose a  dull1 mild day for     
this1 between #aa and #ab o'clock4 ,the 
lettuces will  be ready for marketing   
five or six weeks after planting1 which 

will be  about the middle of ,march4    
8,about the beginning of ,march1 make up
 a hot-bed for one frame of three       
lights or sashes4 ,make it two feet     
thick1 and at least a foot beyond  the  
frame all round4 ,fill up the inside as 
before1 and pack round  outside4 ,when  
the heat is steady1 sow the tomato seed1
 thinly1 in rows  about #a inches apart1
 keeping at least  inch between the     
seeds4 ,cover  and press down1 then     
scatter lightly all over1 a sifting of  
fine rotted  manure4 ,water well1 cover 
up1 putting mats on4 ,in seven or eight 
days  the seed should be germinated4    
,keep a watch on it and remove the mats 
the moment it is seen to be breaking    
through4 ,water gently with a fine      
rose1 using chilled water4 ,give all the
 light possible now1 and water  as      
required1 keeping the soil just nicely  
moist4 ,as soon as the first  pair of   
rough leaves show1 begin to prick off2  
if the pricking off is  not commenced   
early the plants will be getting        

#8drawn' before it is  finished4        
8,after cleaning the beds from which the
 lettuces were taken1 fork over  lightly
 and add #c inches more soil2 press all 
down very firmly and  prick out tomato  
plants #c inches apart4 ,do not water4  
,keep close for a  few days until the   
plants begin to move1 and cover at      
nights4 ,as the  plants show growth1    
water gently and give air on mild days1 
gradually  giving more water and air    
until the first week in ,may1 when the  
lights  may be taken off on all mild1   
genial days4 ,by the middle of the month
  leave air on at night1 and the last   
week the lights may be removed          
altogether4 ,the weather must be        
carefully watched1 as ,may is a very    
changeable and treacherous month2 it is 
very usual for frosts and cold  weather 
to return about the middle of the month1
 and protection must be  given if       
necessary4    8,the ground where the    
tomatoes are to be set out1 should have 
been  prepared during the winter by     

digging or deep ploughing2 a moderate   
dressing of natural manure should have  
been added if the ground is  poor1 but  
the ground which has previously been    
heavily manured and  cropped with       
vegetables will be preferable1 no manure
 being added for  the tomatoes4 ,after  
digging1 give a dressing of basic slag  
#aj cwt4 to  the acre4 ,have all        
finished not later than end of          
,february4    8,about the middle of     
,may1 if the ground is dry1 dress with  
sulphate  of potash #a hundredweight and
 sulphate of iron1 ground fine1         
hundredweight to the acre1 then go over 
all with a hoe and chop down  all weeds 
and level all hollows2 do not rake4 ,at 
each end of each row1  where it is      
intended to plant the tomatoes1 drive in
 a pointed stake  of #b by #d in4       
broadway to the row1 at a slight angle  
away4 ,the stake  should enter the      
ground #b ft4 and stand out #a ft4 #i   
in4 ,then in direct  line with the      
stakes1 at intervals of #aj ft4 drive in

 studding boards   inch  #b in4  #b ft4 
#f in4 long1 to stand out of ground #a  
ft4 #i in4  ,the narrow way of the board
 should be in the line of the row4 ,now 
fix  #afs gauge galvanized wire to the  
stake at one end1 and draw tight and    
fix to stake at the other end4 ,fix wire
 to top of stakes by small wire  staple4
 ,this should all be done before the    
plants are set out4    8,during the last
 week in ,may and first week in ,june1  
the plants should  be set out4 ,water   
well in the frame1 then gently pull the 
plants and  place as many upright in a  
basket as it will hold4 ,drop about     
twenty  at #ah in4 apart2 then one      
person with a small1 thin graft1 or a   
garden  trowel1 should insert it about  
#d in4 into the ground at an angle1 and 
press upwards1 slightly raising the soil
 without disturbing it4 ,a  second      
person should insert the damp roots of  
the plant in the nick  and tuck them    
carefully to the bottom1 into the damp  
soil2 remove the  tool gently and press 

the soil firmly on to the plant with the
 heel4 ,do  not water4 ,i have tried    
many ways of planting tomatoes in the   
fields1  and this ,i found to be the    
best method where large numbers have to 
be  planted4 ,where only a small        
quantity are being handled it is best to
  grow them in strawberry baskets or    
pots1 and put the plants out with  the  
roots undisturbed4    8,in a week or    
two1 if the weather is genial1 growth   
will be observed1  and then a dressing  
of nitrate of soda may be given1 about  
#b  hundredweight to the acre4 ,it      
should be crushed fine and mixed with   
three times its bulk of dry earth or    
ashes4 ,at the end of ,june the  plants 
should be thoroughly sprayed with       
strawsonite4 ,after spraying1  it will  
be time to go over the plants1 and      
remove all the side shoots1  keeping the
 plants to one stem only4 ,when the     
plants have grown long  enough to reach 
#f in4 above the wire1 they should be   
again trimmed of  shoots and tied to the

 wire1 resting the stem of the leaf on  
the wire  before tying4 ,leave the tie  
rather slack for expansion of stem4     
,after  trimming and tying1 spray again 
with strawsonite4 ,this work should all 
be completed by the beginning of        
,august1 if the season is suitable to   
growth4 ,if rain falls immediately after
 spraying1 repeat it4    8,the fruit    
should begin to show color by the middle
 of ,august1 but this  varies           
considerably with the season and the age
 of the plants when set  out4    8,as   
soon as the fruit shows pink1 it should 
be gathered and taken to  the packing   
shed4 ,do not gather the fruit green if 
it can be helped1  but wait for a change
 of color4 ,these gatherings should be  
continued  at least twice a week so long
 as the fine weather continues4 ,if the 
weather changes to wet after a long dry 
spell1 it is very probable that  many of
 the fruit will crack1 and then it is   
advisable to gather the  fruit green1 if
 quite fully matured2 this will save    

them from cracking4  ,if the weather is 
cold and dull1 the plants should be     
sprayed with  ,evans' ,aseptic ,spray4  
,this will not leave a stain on the     
fruit4 ,after  the second week in       
,august1 the plants may be topped1 as   
this will help  the fruits to swell1 and
 fruit setting after this date will     
probably be  useless4 ,keep the side    
shoots removed1 and remove and shorten  
bottom  leaves to let the sunlight into 
the plants4 ,remember this3 plants      
allowed to grow close and crowded are   
much more liable to disease1  and       
spraying does not thoroughly cover them2
 also plants with many  shoots make less
 fruit1 of a smaller size1 and take     
longer to ripen2  therefore anyone      
taking the trouble to raise plants and  
set them out1  and neglecting them      
afterwards1 is acting very foolishly4   
8,continue to gather the fruits as      
ready1 keeping a sharp look-out after   
the end of ,september for signs of      
frost4 ,when this is feared1 gather  all

 the full-grown fruit on the plants     
whether green or not--they will  ripen  
in-doors2 but exercise some judgment1   
and do not gather fruit  which is not   
full grown4 ,this may color1 but even if
 it does1 it will  be shrivelled and a  
bad color1 and will spoil the market for
 better  fruit4 ,it is better to leave  
the immature fruit on the plants1 as    
the frost may pass without doing any    
material damage1 and there may  be      
several weeks more of mild weather1     
which will give several more  pickings  
of full-grown green fruit4 ,i have      
picked in this way until the  first week
 in ,november1 some years4    8,the     
fruit must be graded into #8best        
smoothing1' #8small smooths1'--which    
description does not include very small 
fruits1 but only those just too  small  
for an even sample1--#8seconds1' and    
#8thirds4' ,seconds are good  sound     
fruit1 but include all the misshapen    
ones4 ,thirds are sound odds  and       
ends--it is better to avoid the grade if

 possible4 ,the fruit is sent  to       
markets in baskets4    8,tomatoes may be
 obtained from the open in ,july by     
sowing the seed a  month earlier1 and   
growing on with more room in pots4 ,if  
each plant has  #i in4 square of space1 
and is properly attended to1 it will    
have small  fruits set when planted out1
 and ripe fruit can be gathered in      
,july4    8,ridge ,cucumbers4 ,prepare a
 good hot-bed as for tomato seed1 and on
  the last day of ,april1 sow the       
cucumber seed1 two together1 at #a in4  
apart all over the bed2 cover with soil1
 press down1 do not water1  close up and
 cover with mats4 ,the seed will be up  
in #b or #c days4 ,give  water1 plenty  
of light1 but no air2 cover at night4   
,have ready a mild  hot-bed--the bed the
 lettuces were removed from1 if forked  
over1 will  probably do4 ,as soon as the
 rough leaves are showing1 lift each    
pair  of plants gently with a little    
soil and pot into large #fjs1 burying up
  to seed leaves4 ,water as required4   

,harden gradually by end of ,may1 and   
plant out first week in ,june at #b ft4 
apart in rows1 and #d ft4 between  the  
rows4 ,a bed into which a heavy dressing
 of manure has been dug  during the     
winter will do very well4 ,as soon as   
set out1 the plants  must be protected  
by some means1 such as placing a        
flower-pot at night  over each plant1 or
 with paper cones pegged down4 ,it is   
also advisable  that hurdles covered    
with straw be run down every #c or #d   
rows to break  the wind4 ,if the plants 
are helped in this way for a week or    
two1 they  will repay it later on4      
,after planting they should be watered1 
and this  should be repeated if the     
weather continues dry4 ,before they     
begin  to run1 mulch all down each side 
of the rows with long straw stable      
manure4 ,fruit should be ready middle of
 ,july4    8,for using the frames after 
the above plants have been removed1 ,i  
recommend ,frame ,cucumbers4 ,melons    
would do equally well1 but are  rather  

more difficult to grow1 and ,i advise   
cucumbers for a year or  two until      
experienced4 ,make up a hot-bed         
precisely the same as for  ,ridge       
,cucumbers4 ,fill as many #fjs pots as  
are needed half-full of  prepared soil  
after covering the drainage hole with   
broken china4 ,put  one seed of         
,telegraph ,cucumber on the soil in each
 pot1 fill half the  remaining space    
with soil and press down with the bottom
 of a pot4  ,the soil should be of a    
nice dampness when used1 as the seeds   
are  better unwatered2 the pots1 if new1
 should be soaked in water before  use4 
,cover up close and keep mats on until  
seed is up1 then only mat  at night4    
,give no air1 water with tepid water as 
required1 shade from  strong midday sun 
and keep interior of frame moist by     
dewing over early  each morning4 ,give  
the plants room for the leaves to       
spread4 ,as frames  are emptied of the  
tomatoes and ridge cucumbers1 without   
waiting for  all of them1 fork them over

 lightly and raise slightly in centre2  
on  this mound put half a bushel of     
prepared soil1 which should consist     
mainly of chopped sod with the grass    
removed1 a little decayed manure1  and a
 little finely sifted burnt earth or old
 mortar rubbish4 ,cover  up close for a 
day or two for the sun to warm the soil1
 and then put  two plants in the middle 
of the light1 about #f in4 apart4 ,pinch
 out  the centres1 allowing only one    
shoot to grow from each plant4 ,these   
should be taken from one plant upwards  
and the other downwards in the  frame4  
,keep the growth thin2 remove old       
leaves1 one now and then2 avoid         
overcrowding2 if this seems likely1 cut 
some of the shoots right out4  ,keep the
 frame moist1 give plenty of tepid      
water1 whiten about half the  glass in  
the centre and splash the remainder4 ,if
 these instructions  are carried out1   
there will be an abundance of cucumbers 
to cut for  market4    8,the frame      
cucumbers are packed in flats1 numbered 

according to size1  but usually #c to #d
 doz4 ,put a little hay at the bottom1  
then cover with  paper1 put one layer of
 fruit very carefully on this and a     
sheet of  paper over1 a little more hay1
 another sheet of paper1 then a layer of
  fruit and so on4 ,three layers        
generally fill the flat4    8,ridge     
cucumbers are generally sold by count or
 in bushels1 but when  grown especially 
fine may be sent in flats as above40    
,,footnotes3    #ac ,,note4--8,long0    
manure contains a good deal of litter   
that has not  decayed1 so that the      
manure does not break up into fine      
particles as  8well-rotted0 manure does4
                                        
,appendix ,,iv4      ,the ,farm ,journal
 for ,november1 #aijh1 gives the        
following condensed  list of the short  
courses offered by the various ,state   
,agricultural  ,colleges3               
,specialized knowledge is the keynote of
 modern farming success4 ,why    not    
give your boy or girl a chance to       

acquire some of this knowledge8    ,in  
winter there will be a let-down of farm 
activity1 and many of ,our    ,folks    
could1 if they tried1 attend one of the 
short agricultural    courses provided  
free by nearly every ,state4 ,in many   
cases the only    expenses are for      
board1 books1 etc41 and the total cost  
of a few    weeks' course is thus very  
small4 ,many grown farmers attend these 
courses2 there is no age or citizenship 
limit in most ,states4      ,for        
catalogues and full information write to
 any of the addresses    given1         
mentioning this book4 ,for instance1 if 
you live in ,alabama1    direct your    
letter as follows3 8,j4 ,f4 ,duggar1    
,alabama ,state    ,agricultural        
,college1 ,auburn1 ,ala40      ,alabama4
 ,j4 ,f4 ,duggar1 ,auburn3 ,offers a    
nine-month course in    agriculture1 and
 a two-year course4      ,arizona4 ,r4  
,w4 ,clothier1 ,tucson3 ,offers a       
two-year course in    irrigation1       
engineering1 farm management1 dairying  

and vegetable    gardening1 designed    
especially to equip students for farming
 under    ,arizona conditions4          
,arkansas4 ,john ,n4 ,tillman1          
,fayetteville3 ,short winter course in  
agriculture begins first ,monday in     
,january1 lasting two weeks4            
,california4 ,e4 ,j4 ,wickson1          
,berkeley3 ,five different short courses
    covering special branches of        
farming4 ,write for particulars4        
,colorado4 ,b4 ,o4 ,aylesworth1 ,fort   
,collins3 ,a short practical course in  
agriculture and domestic science is     
offered by this institution4            
,connecticut4 ,c4 ,l4 ,beach1 ,storrs3  
,dairy and creamery short course of     
twelve weeks4 ,pomology course of twelve
 weeks4 ,poultry course of six    weeks4
 ,all courses open ,tuesday1 ,january   
#eth4 ,a six-week forestry    course    
begins ,november #b;d4      ,delaware4  
,h4 ,hayward1 ,newark3 ,offers a        
six-week special course1 from           
,january #dth to ,february #aeth2 and a 

special 8,farmers' ,week0 from          
,january #dth to #hth1 inclusive4       
,florida4 ,andrew ,sledd1 ,gainesville3 
,a two-year course specially    adapted 
to the farmer's boy4 ,the instruction is
 of an applied nature    with sufficient
 technical research to lead the student 
to question    well the reasons for the 
various farm operations4 ,college moved 
from    ,lake ,city to ,gainesville4    
,idaho4 ,h4 ,t4 ,french1 ,moscow3 ,short
 courses are offered in dairying1       
extending one year2 and farmers' short  
courses in dairying and    horticulture1
 extending six weeks1 beginning about   
middle of ,january4      ,illinois4     
,eugene ,davenport1 ,urbana3 ,offers a  
two-week course in    agriculture1 and  
also in household science1 beginning    
,january #acth4      ,indiana4 ,j4 ,n4  
,skinner1 ,lafayette3 ,four courses of  
eight weeks each1    beginning ,january 
#ahth1 as follows3 ,agriculture and     
horticulture2    animal husbandry2      
dairying2 household economics4          

,kansas4 ,e4 ,r4 ,nichols1 ,manhattan3  
,offers a ten-week farmers' short       
course1 beginning ,january #eth2 a      
ten-week short course in dairying1      
beginning ,january #eth4      ,kentucky4
 ,clarence ,w4 ,mathews1 ,lexington3    
,the college is now    occupying its new
 building2 offers a ten-week business   
course in    agriculture1 beginning     
,january #dth4 ,tuition free to         
residents of the    ,state4      ,maine4
 ,w4 ,d4 ,hurd1 ,orono3 ,offers an      
eight-week course in dairying1    farm  
crops and horticulture2 a special       
poultry course2 and a    8,farmers'     
,week40      ,maryland4 ,r4 ,w4         
,silvester1 ,college ,park3 ,ten-week   
course in    agriculture begins         
,tuesday1 ,january #eth4 ,terms3 ,board1
 #dj for whole    course2 tuition free4 
,massachusetts4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foord1         
,amherst3 #a1 dairy farming2 #b1        
horticulture2 #c1 general agriculture2  
tuition free2 begin first    ,wednesday 
in ,january and continue ten weeks4 ,bee

 culture2 begins    fourth ,wednesday in
 ,may and continues two weeks4          
,michigan4 ,r4 ,s4 ,shaw1 ,east         
,lansing3 ,eight-week courses in general
    agriculture1 horticulture1 creamery 
and cheese making1 beginning    ,january
 #eth4 ,no charge for tuition2 board and
 lodging cheap4      ,minnesota4 ,e4 ,w4
 ,randall1 ,university ,farm1 ,st4      
,paul3 ,farmers' short    course opens  
,january #aeth and continues four weeks4
 ,dairy school    opens ,november #afth 
and continues four weeks4               
,nebraska4 ,a4 ,e4 ,davisson1 ,lincoln3 
,the winter course opens ,january       
#dth and closes ,february #bjth4        
,new ,hampshire4 ,fred ,rasmussen1      
,durham3 ,a ten-week course in dairying 
begins ,january #eth4      ,new ,jersey4
 ,e4 ,b4 ,voorhees1 ,new ,brunswick3    
,offers three short    courses1         
beginning ,december #ast and closing    
,march #eth1 as follows3    ,general    
agriculture1 dairy farming1 market      
gardening and fruit    growing4         

,north ,carolina4 ,c4 ,l4 ,newman1 ,west
 ,raleigh3 ,the seven-week course in    
agriculture begins ,january #aath2 the  
one-week course in agriculture1         
,january #dth4      ,north ,dakota4 ,j4 
,h4 ,worst1 ,agricultural ,college ,p4  
,o43 ,winter short    courses in cooking
 and sewing are offered for the young   
ladies4 ,also    winter lecture courses 
for the men about farming1 stock        
raising1 etc4      ,new ,york4 ,l4 ,h4  
,bailey1 ,ithaca3 ,five winter courses1 
in general    agriculture1 in dairying1 
in poultry husbandry1 in horticulture   
and    in home economics4 ,these courses
 begin ,december #hth1 close ,february  
#bdth4 7,see also ,new ,jersey47        
,ohio4 ,h4 ,c4 ,price1 ,columbus3       
,offers a ten-week course in            
agriculture1    and a similar course in 
dairying2 both begin ,january #aath4    
,also a    four-week course in domestic 
science1 beginning ,february #ast4      
,oklahoma4 ,j4 ,h4 ,connell1            
,stillwater3 ,several instructive short 

courses are offered4 ,write for         
particulars4 ,five hundred students     
attended these courses last year4       
,pennsylvania4 ,alva ,agee1 ,state      
,college ,p4 ,o43 ,five winter courses  
in    agriculture1 beginning ,december  
#ast and continuing for twelve weeks4   
,write for particulars4      ,tennessee4
 ,h4 ,a4 ,morgan1 ,knoxville3 ,an       
excellent series of short    courses are
 planned for the new year4 ,write for   
particulars4      ,texas4 ,s4 ,e4       
,andrews1 ,college ,station ,p4 ,o43 ,a 
two-year course in    practical farm    
work4 ,send for details4      ,utah4    
,registrar1 ,agricultural ,college1     
,logan3 ,offers winter courses    in    
agriculture or forestry1 domestic arts  
or mechanic arts1 beginning    ,january 
#eth4      ,washington4 ,e4 ,e4         
,elliott1 ,pullman3 ,offers an          
eight-week course in    dairying and a  
twenty-week course in agriculture4      
,wisconsin4 ,h4 ,l4 ,russell1 ,madison3 
,offers a twelve-week dairy course1     

beginning ,november #dth2 a general     
course 7fourteen weeks71 beginning      
,december #eth1 and a ten-day farmers'  
course1 commencing ,february #bnd4      
,wyoming4 ,j4 ,d4 ,towar1 ,laramie3 ,the
 winter course of eight weeks    begins 
,january #dth4    ,information regarding
 the short courses of several ,state    
colleges  was not received in time for  
insertion here1 and so such ,states are 
necessarily omitted from the foregoing  
list4          ,,transcriber',s ,,note  
,illustrations in this e,book have been 
positioned between paragraphs4          
,obvious typographical errors and       
punctuation errors have been  corrected 
after careful comparison with other     
occurrences within the  text and        
consultation of external sources4       
,some hyphens in words have been        
silently removed1 some added1 when a    
predominant preference was found in the 
original book4    ,except for those     
changes noted below1 all misspellings in
 the text1  and inconsistent or archaic 

usage1 have been retained4          ,pg 
#aaa3 #8,,leek' replaced by #8,,leeks'4 
,pg #aab3 #8cultivaiton' replaced by    
#8cultivation'4      ,pg #bgb3          
#8profitble' replaced by #8profitable'4 
,pg #bhb3 #8cions' replaced by          
#8scions'4