The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-21
Notes from a Carolina Garden.

August 4.-Two weeks of constant
rains and warm weather have chang
ed the aspect of the garden. Where
crops like the early and second carry
cabbageS were grown and not entrely
removed the growth of crab grass has
been remarkable. and / have actually
been compelled to make hay from my
cabbage plat before getting it ready
for later crops. / try to keep up
constant succession of crops and to
keep the land clean. but when one
cannot get on the land for ten days
the weeds and grass get the upper
hand. On my strawberry beds one
cannot see a plant. but the crab grass
is nearly waist high, and 1 have got
to NOW it. for if that mass was left
there would be too much to burn Off
in the winter, though burning is about
the best thing for a moderate growth.
since it kills the weed seeds. My seed
stalks of the Giant sugar corn are now
ready to cut for curing. and the
ground will be cleared soon if the
rains will only stop for a day or two.
The later tomatoes. like the Enormous
and others. are now taking the place
of the earlier ones and are far better
in quality. Enormous has the advan-
tage of Ponderosa in the fact that it is
far smoother and is of a brilliant red
color. 1 have not found a misshapen
specimen.
Four years ago when 1 got my pres
ent Garden, l found some treHises
with rows of old Stunted grape vines.
was tempted to dig them all out
and plant new ones, burt finally CON
Guided to try to renOvate the old ones.
Every year | have cut out more OF the
old Stunted wood as | got strong canes
until this season the vines have been
completely renewed and are loaded
with a fine crop of magnificent cllls-
tiers. Canes of 20 feet on the Della
wares showed what that grape could
be made to do If treated right, and
the crop on what we left of these long
canes is remarkable. Concords are
now on the table ana the Champions
remain untouched by anyone. Della
wares color slowly in the wet weather
but ] noticed on the market Delawares
of remarkable beauty from the sand
hill country about Southern Pines
The sandy soil seems to be particular
ly suited to this grape. In our ex-
detrimental vineyard where We have
hundreds of varieties, there are many
now ripening. The Green Moan
tain is about the earliest of
the so-called white grapes,
and we consider it superior in
quality to the Niagara, which is more
snowy. Niagaras also do remarkably
well in the sand Hill section. We will
have some notes on a number nf
varieties as they ripen. But as / have
said before, IL we have the Delaware.
Concord and Niagara they come near
filling the bill. but the Green Noun
tain is desirable for earlinesS and
quality. The plums are nearly over
and the later figs are not yet ripe. The
grapes will now have the field almost
to themselves, for the peaches will be
vanished soon. We are now in the
vegetable garden getting ready for fall
crops. The first sowing OF lettuce will
be made in a few days. This will be
to furnish plants for heading in the
late fall. Then in early September we
hope to make another sowing for
setting in the frames for Christmas
and New Years, and still later a SOW
ing of some Of the larger and later
sorts to remain outside for replanting
the frames for early spring and setting
later in the open ground to wind up
the lettuce season in May. Some
Premium Gem peas will also be sown
now for fall use. We find this variety
to suit us best for this purpose.
The Panmure lima bean is doing
splendidly. The large limas are not
usually good bearers here. but this
one is doing as we'll as could be wish
ed. But our main dependence Is on
the bush lima of the small or sewee
type. 1t not only keeps bearing until
frost, but keeps giving green and ripe
pods. and the ripe ones we are stor-
ing for winter use. AS I have before
said, I believe that the bush lima
beans could be made a profitable mar
ket crop in the South for the dried
beans alone. We have tried, years