Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 118, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1918 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE]

HOME TOWN HELPS

STRAIGHT ROWS PROVE BEST Give Most Attractive Appearance to Garden, and in the End Also Save Much Labor. If the garden Is made in straight rows and in beds of uniform size and shape it will not only present a more attractive appearance^thus adding to the gardener’s pride in his work, but it will be much easier to cultivate. This latter fact Is an important item for consideration, as the average city resident has none too much time in which to cultivate his garden and the work must be done If results are to be obtained. Frequent plowing, as' much-work as possible with ±he hoe, and extermination of every weed that shows its head above the ground—all these are necessary if the garden is to produce to the limit of its capacity. To insure that the rows will be perfectly straight all that is necessary Is a length of strong cord sufficient to reach from end to end of the garden’s longest dimension. At each end of the cord fasten a stout stake about two feet long and sharpened at one end so the stakes may easily be thrust into the soil.

In city and town gardens, where the space is restricted, it is best td have the rows run the long way of the garden—north to south If possible —planting several kinds of similarly grown vegetables, like green onions, carrots, radishes, etc., in the same row. If you plant such crops as beets, radishes and onions in beds these can be made four to six inches high by digging narrow paths around the beds with a hoe and throwing the soil upon the' beds. When the drainage of the garden is not good it is well to grow cabbage, cauliflower and similar crops on small ridges thrown up with spade or hoe. Other crops, anong them early peas and celery, should be planted In shallow trenches scooped out with a hoe. When these plants grow the soil is gradually worked back around the roots. Since hoeing must start early and sometimes when the soil becomes caked above the planted seeds it is necessary to break it, a few quickgrowing radish seeds planted with other sorts will quickly spring up and show where the rows are.