Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 280, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1918 — Now Is the Time to Start Garden Operations for the Successful 1919 Patches. [ARTICLE]

Now Is the Time to Start Garden Operations for the Successful 1919 Patches.

The home vegetable gardens have been a great success as food producers the past season, despite the fact that most people were late In starting. The planting of a large number of gardens will be even more essential next year If we are to meet the food-production requirements. Now is the time, advises the United States department of agriculture, to start your garden operations for next year by Securing the use of a vacant lot, or other land, having It plowed or spaded and well fertilized this autumn so that it will be In shape for planting as early in the next spring as the weather will permit. By getting possession of the land now, all clearing away of stones and other refuse can be done before winter. If the soil is of a clay formation or has a sod upon it, it should -be broken up this autumn and allowed to lie exposed to freezing and thawing during the winter months. As a rule manure can be more easily obtained in the autumn than in the spring, and there is no objection to applying the manure now and allowing it to He upon the soil during the winter months, working It Into the soil when fitting It for planting. If plenty of manure Is obtainable a heavy dressing should be turned under and then a see ond coating of fine manure applied tc the surface of the plowed or spaded soil. If the land is broken up this autumn it will be milch easier to get In shape for planting next spring. In many sections onions, kale and spinach can be planted this autumn. A garden will help to feed the family. Make a start this fall.