Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1913 — SUGGESTIONS FOR STARTING THE GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SUGGESTIONS FOR STARTING THE GARDEN

The first warm days lure the enthusiast into gardening, though the unexperienced gardener will say there is no use forcing things in the open ground until it is warm and day enough, so that the earth will crumble when the plow or spade tiirns it over.

But peas, onions, lettuce, and radishes will stand quite an amount of cold weather, and a few of each should be planted very early, with the assurance that while they may not prove more than a week or two in advance of the main planting, unless the weather is unusually perverse, they will be ready for the table while the main crop is still in the first stage of growth. A few large onions planted early will provide fresh onions even sooner than they can be obtained from sets, though the earlier ones are grown from sets of the Top onion, planted in the autumn.

In. planting the garden, it pays to lay off a rectangular plot, planting everything in tows. Then then possibly can be worked during the early stages of growth with the one horse cultivator, if you have not the wheel tools.

The latter, however, will prove a splendid Investment, even though the garden is only large efiough for family use. They, work up close to the rows, and enable one to get much more from the same amount of ground by having the rows closer together than it is possible with horse cultivation. Even the best trained horse is liable to make a misstep to the annihilation of some tender plant The wheel-tools, of varied form and methods of work, reduce the soil much more completely than the cultivator; soil so thoroughly worked is able to resist drought. Reserve one of the two rows at the side for perennials like rhubarb, and for the berries. And it is convenient to set aside another for very early planting. Then the main part of the

garden need not be plowed until dry, and still neither division interfere with the other.

The small turnip-rooted radishes are the best for early use, preference being given to either red or white; the olive-colored ones are usually crisp and tender, as well as less inviting in appearance. Among the peas we have found no other early ones so good or so productive as the Gradus. So many of the early varieties are exceedingly dwarf in size and in habit of the peas. For starting seed in the kitchen window, very convenient little pots may be made from flour sacks or any tough paper.

k Cut a piece eight inches square and fold through the middle diagonally (Fig. 1). Fold C on side of AB, making the angle O a right angle (Fig. 2). Fold point A over to D (Fig. 3). Separate the points at B, folding the one along the dotted line CA, as shown in cut, and the other down on the opposite side in a similar manner.

It now opens at CA in a box. Several of these may be filled with rich soil and placed side by side in a window box, and the different varieties of seed planted thus, kept separate.

When the plants need repotting, make individual pots for each in the same manner. This method not only saves buying pots, but when transplanted again the paper can be torn off and the roots remain undisturbed.

If you are running an incubator at the same time when starting the seedlings, the box may be placed on top and. the uniform warmth day and night will Induce speedy germination of the seeds. If this is not available a place near the range may be found, where the temperature Is warm and nearly uniform. After the plants are up, remove them to a cooler, but frost-proof place. Heat causes them to dwindle. Give them plenty of sunshine, and keep the soil moist Allowing it to become dry, give It a shock that retards growth every time, even though we may not be able to realise It The steam usually present in the kitchen promotes robust growth, A few hills of very early cucum-

bers and melons may be started in the house either in Inverted sods, or in paper pots. These are usually less prolific than the latter ones planted in the ground; but they come on decidedly earlier.

If desired, a Couple of seeds may be planted in each hill when the plants are set in the ground. Then, as the early ones prove that their vitality is nearly exhausted, the young plants will take ’heir places, and furnish the pickle supply for the winter.

Plan the garden in advance on paper, separating early and late corn, as well as having cucumbers, melons and squashes far enough apart that pollen from one will not reach another readily. It is a curious exception to the rule that watermelon and muskmelon can be grown side by side without apparent injury, the two varieties of muskmelon or watermelon on adjoining plots result in a worthless mongrel. In planning for horse-cultivation, three feet apart is as near as the rows can be worked to advantage. If the wheel tools are used, onions, radishes, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, parsnips and turnips may be sown in rows from 12 to 18 inches apart.

Bush beans, early cabbage and peas need about two feet; late cabbage need about three feet, and the various vines from four to six feet apart. For convenience in cultivating, it is essential to so ph.nt that the lines may be of uniform width, though it is not necessary to break in order to separate certain varieties. One may combine by doubling the distance in some points.

Thus bush beans or early cabbage work In nicely to break the rows between the cucumbers and melons, the rows being double. The straight line is in the one row unbroken; in the next it Is simply in part left blank. Plan to • have no vacant space. Weeds will soon strive to fill it if there is one. With .plenty of ground, farmers are apt to be wasteful to an extent which makes the city man open his eyes in astonishment Your garden snct is—or should be—exceedingly rich ground, and one cannot afford to let a part of it lie idle.

As the early radisheslkre used, stick in here and there a seed of summer and winter varieties. In this way there is a constant succession. The tender pepper and egg plant may be filled into the spaces rendered vacant by the removal of early onions; and celery can replace peas. Fertilize without stint. Clean out the poultry house, and use the refuse for fertilizing cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers and melons in jthe hill. Many are afraid of this condensed food, yet, -if a quart is thoroughly blended with the soil in each hill, it will do no damage, but will stimulate thrifty growth. Fertilizer from the bam is preferable to commercial fertilizers. Wood ashes help to lighten a heavy, clay soil, and are especially valuable in stimulating the growth of corn.

A Porch Covered With Clematis—One of the Most Beautiful Flowering Vines We Have.