Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-04-27

rendered the use of rake unadvis-
able for quite long period. There
are several varieties of hand planters
on the market, the best of which save
much labor when planting the coarser
seeds, but drill or wheel hoe Is I'M
necessary in small garden.
Many suburban gardeners havewater
available. This Is not an unmixed
blessing for to spray plants in hot
dry weather is fatal mistake. At
such times the foliage is not prepared
by nature to receive an artificial sup
ply of moisture, while II the plants
once become accustomed to 1t they
must have 1t regularly. Constant rak-
ing Is far better than watering for II
no crust is allowed to form on the
surface Of the soil the plants will al.
ways find enough moisture, unless a
very long drought sets in. Even when
this is the case spraying should never
be resorted to, the only safe course to
pursue being to block the outlet drain
and to place the hose so as to fill the
drainage system, but even this must
never be done until after sunset. Seed
should always be sown in dry soil but
Immediately after bed has been seed
ed quicker termination can be secured
by giving the ground moderate soak
ing though after the young shoots ap.
pear they will not send their roots
down deeply if constantly watered,
and the rootlets that penetrate the
soil in search Of moisture not only
find what they are after, but a good
deal of useful plant food as well.
AS to fertilizers, wagon load OF
two or fairly coarse manure may be
used to good advantage during the
trenching process If 1t Is carefully
stamped down on top Of the soc
thrown in the trenches, but afterwards
nothing but fine well rotted manure
should be used which should be a
least two years old in order to avoit
the danger of importing the seeds o.
snoxious weeds. This should be thor
oughly incorporated with the soil aftel
the crops have been gathered in thu
fall. AS to commercial fertilizers
outside lime and salt, though good II
their place, fancy amateur gardener
are better without them. Really tn
rake, besides being the best watering
pot, is the best fertilizer I know OF
for its constant use permits the al
to reach the roots of the growing
plants and the atmosphere carrie
more elements necessary for vegetabl
life than can be supplied by an,
chemical compound.
With regard to second crops. N
gardener worthy the name ever pei
mits any space to lie fallow, II 1t
possible to raise a second crop on II
The pea vines, as soon as picked ovel
should be cleared away, and the spac
they occupied sown with beans, quic
growing varieties of which may b
planted with good prospects of thei
yielding a crop as late as mid July
The only preparation the bed will nee
is loosening up, not turning over, wit
a four tined stable fork, and then hot
ing in a barrowful Of fine manure. TIL
first beans ready should also be TO
lowed by a second crop, early varietie
being chosen, and any ground that b'
comes vacant between the end Of Jul
r and the middle Of August should b
n lightly sprinkled with turnip seed, an
a we'll raked over. After that dat
a radishes are the only safe crop to SOW
a II these simple directions are faitl
= fully followed, especially those rela
q ing to the first preparations OF th
v ground, any amateur gardener
I bound to raise succession OF cror
n which will go far towards supplyin
, the family with green delecacies, eve
4 IL his energies are confined to yer
limited area. PERCY TAYLOR.