The National tribune., 1899-05-11
THE VEGETABLE
GARDEN
A Timely Article Full Of Prac'
tical Suggestions.
BY c. b. GRATEHoUsR, A. NJ.
IRRIGATION.

sufficient moisture by tlllage or any sol
of mulching. 1t then becomes necessar
to water the garden. Where there is con
nection with city waterworks the suppl.
| is ample and easily reached. In othe
| locations various forms of ciSterns an,
| reservoirs are employed. When it is pos
sible the reservoir should be a few fee
| above the level, so that any part of tn,
garden can be reached with a hose or
V-shaped trough. The proper application
| of water appears to be very simple, but i.
| in fact quite difficult.
| In watering, the earth should be thor
oughly wet, so that the moisture will ge
| TO the lower and outer roots of the plants
| In order to check evaporation after sprinls
| ling, the surface should be broken as
soon as dry enough 10 work. The water
| ing should be repeated when it is evident
upon careful watching, that more moist
ure is necessary. 1t must be remembered
| that the small, active roots, which take
| up moisture and plant food, are mos
| numerous at the extremities of the large
| roots and at distance from the stem
The water mus. be so given as to reach
| these small roots.
The best time for watering is generally
thought to be at evening, but Bellair says
''ln the Spring, in the middle OF the day
because the morning and evening, are toe
cool; in the Summer, at evening because
the days are SO hot that a great part O
the water given during the day would bs
evapOrated immediately; in Autumn, In
the morning, because the nights are cold.
Mr.. Saunders says: "Water at any time
when the plants need it, and water thor
oughly. When | am told that watering il
the sunshine ut noon will burn up my
plants, / answer that the plants viii
certainly burn up if do not water them.
KILLING THE WEEDS.
Weeds will be most troublesome wher
| rain is plentiful. The pillow and hoe Ough
to be depended upon mainly. Hand
wedding is necessary in some cases, but
is always slow and tiresome. Various
forms of cultivatorS and wheel hoes are ir
use and have many advantages over the
ordinary field implements. Also, there
are several forms of hand hoes made tt
cut just below the surface and kill the
weeds more effectually and rapidly than
the ordinary hoes will do.
| Several kinds Of ,-asses are the hardest
| TO deal with whe. once they get set in the
ground. The worst of these are witch
grass, or couch grass, and Johnson grass
| Sometimes very troublesome but less i'm
| portant are crab grass, Nimble Will, and
Bermuda grass. The thing TO do with
| these is TO see that they are well killed
out before the garden is planted and not
10 allow them start afterwards.
INSECTICIDES.
Various forms of insecticides are used tc
kill cab5age-worms, potato bugs, and the
like. Hand picking OF worms and brush
ing bugs OFF the plants into baskets arc
primitive means Of protection, but some
times prove the most practicable and
most effective. A flock of turkeys often
proves to be Of great assistance against
insects.
SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FOR SEVERAL vKaE-
TABLES.
Artichoke.-The Jerusalem artichoke in
deep, favorable Ioam, well prepared
will produce at the rate Of 800 to 60G
bushels TO the acre. Two or three tubcrs,
if small, are planted in hill. The hills
are three feet apart each way. Cultiva-
sired, but the plant will produce without
any care whatever. The tubers are ready
Tor use early in October and may be dug
at any time when the ground is not
frozen until late in March. Freezing does
NJ: affect them and they come 10 the
table fresh from the earth in the carly
Spring when other vegetables are likely to
be sale and musty. They are boiled or
steamed till soft and served with cream
sauce; they are also used as salads OF
pickles. They have about the same food
value as potatoes. A pint OF tubers will
plant Is TO 80 hills.
Asparagus.-This vegetable is one OF
the earliest 10 be ready for use. A fertile
sandy soil is best, but any good ground
thoroughly prepared does we'll Sow early
in rows three feet apart; cover rather
lightly. Thin when three or four inches
high to ono foot in the row if the soil is
strong; farther apart on a sandy soil.
Cultivate carefully, and supply a good
dressing of well-rotted manure each
ha
ously. 1t will be ready for use in the
third year, and should be cut until late in
June. 1t should then be well worked and
lett to grow to gather strength for the
next years crop of shoots. A year may
be gained by purchasing the young plants
a year old and setting them out four
inches deep.
Beans-A light, loose soil, fertile and
well prepared, will give the best results
for snap beans. Sow in drills three and
one half feet apart and cover one TO two
inches deep. The plants should stand
five to seven inches apart in the row.
The tillage should be with horse cult
vator.
Beans will be ready for the table in six
to eight weeks from planting. All green
pods should be picked as soon as seed
begin to form. BY "A iudicious selection of
kinds a succession can be secured with
out delaying the planting. One quart
SOWS lUO ieet OF urlll. fcduy IOT use IN
so to go days.
Lima beans are planted In drills three
feet apart and allowed TO stand 20 inches
apart in the Tow. The beans should be
placed with the eye down and covered two
inches deep. Pole beans, both snap and
lima, must bs planted later than the
dwarf varieties, as they are more easily
injured by frost. Three or four plants
should be left in each hill. One pint
sows 100 hills. Ready for use, lima In 30
days, pole in 10 days.
Beets.-Loose, rich soil with consider
able sand is desirable, but beets will grow
The seed should be planted about an inch
deep in drills three and one-half feet
apart. Winter beets are sown in July and
August, and after frost are taken up, the
tops cut of, and the roots stored in the
cellar. Ono ounce OF seed will SOW 90 TO
10 feet of drill.
Cabbage.-The best soil is deep, rich
loan, we'll worked. Positions shaded dur
ing part OF the day are to be avoided, for
cabbages require, abundant light and
warmth. A liberal amount of stable ma
nure or other proper fertilizer will make
good returns. Plants should be in hills
four feet apart. 1t is best to wait for a
rain before setting out, but shallow drills
may be made and soaked with water over
night. A light mulch should be applied
TO the plants when set. In dry, hot
weather water should be given literally
and the plants shaded carefully with
boards or leaves.
Cabbages have several enemies, which
will destroy the crop if left alone. Among
these are root maggots, against which
slips OF tarred paper have been used
successfully; cabbage worms, which may
be destroyed with pyrethrum or kerosene