The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-19
FALL GARDENS.

This Is the season that the fall garden
should be looked after and planted. Most
of the readers of this paper live where
1t is possible, with the proper EFFORTS TO
have fresh vegetables right from their
gardens the greater part of the year
There is. howevr, this fact that the grow
er should not overlook, that the first crop
of vegetables consumes a vast amount OF
both plant food and moisture, so that 1t
becomes necessary to supply these for the
later fall or winter crops of vegetables
Every farmer should keep on hand and
ready for Immediate use, large quantity
of the compost, as described in former
paper. and as soon as one crop is removed
from the soil, spread on a liberal supply or
this well rotted compost, break the SOIL
deep and harrow 1t very fine This thor
ough preparation Of the seed. bed will
draw and conserve moisture, and this In
sures success with fall paintings. Much,
in every way, depends upon this thorough
preparation of the seed bed. This prepar-
alton of the soil for fall crops is even
more important than 1t is for the early
spring crops.
AS the time is short for the growing
of these fall crops, everything possible
ought to be done to get the seeds to ger
inmate quickly and to give the young
plants quick and vigorous growth There
are other points also to be observed in
this matter of fall paintings. Seed should
be planted deeper than is necessary for
the earlier paintings. In this, however,
the grower will or should be governed by
the character of his soil; light or loose
sandy soils require the seeds to be covered
deeper and the soil pressed upon them
more firmly than would be required for
heavy clay soils. A good rule for cover
ing the seeds in heavy clay soils would
be to cover about three times the diameter
of the seed and press the soil firmly upon
the seed, while for the light sandy soils,
twice this depth might answer.
Comforts of the Garden.
AS to the value and comforts to be de-
rived from we'll managed garden. they
are many. A garden of vegetables fur
nshes a good part of the living on the
farm, or should be made to do so. Fresh
vegetables and fruits are both healthy,
and as stated well regulated rotation
of crops will give succession OF fine veg
etables the entire year in many sections
of our country. This is especially true of
the southern states of America Why SO
many people are careless or Indifferent
about providing these things is mystery,
and why so many will deny themselves
| the many luxuries and comforts OF life
when the opportunity is right before them
for living better, is still a greater mys-
| terry.
| IL there is any man In the whole world
who should live like a king, 1t Is the man
on a farm in this great country of ours,
where he may have many of the good
| things of the world at IA very little ex-
| pense and some labor The farmer in this
| country can have all the fresh fruits and
vegetables, wine, cider, milk, honey. but
ter, poultry and fresh eggs that his fam
| lily can USE by doing little labor, prac-
tcing economy, and by looking after these
things at the right time and in the right
way. l will mention a few of the many
vegetables that may be planted in tho
| fall:
Asparagus.
There are few better vegetables than
| the asparagus, and 1t comes at time
when fresh vegetables are highly relisned.
| The fall season Is the best time for plant
ing beds of asparagus roots. The seed for
| the roots should have been planted In the
early spring. and the plants kept we'll
cultivated so that the roots may be ma
| tured by early fall, when they should be
| taken up and planted In permanent beds.
| where they are expected to remain. The
soil for asparagus beds should be broken
deep twenty inches. and vast amount
| of we'll rotted compost, or barnyard ma
nure worked into the soil. In addition to
| this air-slacked lime should be used at
the rate of forty or fifty bushels per acre.
F'urrow out deep trenches, lay the roots
out straight, parting them at the crown.
| and lay half out each way In the trench;
| cover shallow and as the plants grow
| work the fine rich soil in around them un-
| til the trench is filled up level. The rows
| should not be less than four feet apart
| and the plants about three feet apart in
the row. This plan is for growing on a
! large scale for market. and where horse
| cultivation can be used. Smaller beds for
| family use may be spaded up and the
| plants set closer. A good asparagus bed
once established will last for years. so
| that 1t is important that no mistake be
made about getting the bed started right
and in keeping 1t right In the spring
when the plants are ripe. then NOW off
and give the bed a good top dressing of
well rotted manure. 1t is often much
| cheaper to buy the plants from some
nearby nurseryman than 1t is to grow
| them
| AS to varieties, there Is little choice,
| the mammoth white and Conover's colos-
sal are both good.
Beans.
Fine snap beans can be had up to frost
| in great abundance by making paintings
| at Intervals of from a week to ten days.
| There are a great many fine sorts to Sc
| lect from. The pole beans are usually best
| in quality The Lima or butter bean may
| be planted late in the summer or early