The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-08-27
GARDEN NOTES.
Some Late Summer Work Apt TO Be
NEGLECTED..

Some Late Summer Work Apt TO Be
Neglected.
The most important point now in the
culture of good vegetables of any kind
Is to see that they keep growing freely.
Good quality is always absent from
vegetables that are stunted and grow
slowly during hot weather. They are
tough and stringy instead of tender
when cooked, while salads are never
crisp and nice under the circumstances.
One of the plants that need a great
deal of water is celery. The young
plants should now be growing freely,
and happy is the grower who has
good water supply and can run the
hose into the trenches at will and keep
the roots always moist Celery, with
the roots in a cool. moist soil. is indie
pendent of the weather and, no matter
how hot the sun. II will grow rapidly,
the leaves soon spreading out and
forming a fine shade for the roots.
Where this convenience Is not at hand
and watering by hand has 10 be re-
sorted TO, the Job Is herculean II much
celery Is grown. but 1t must be at
tended to until the plants are strong
enough to take care Of themselves.
The grower who uses plenty of de-
cayed manure In his trenches, as we
advise. will be reaping the benefit
now in the healthy, strong growth of
the plants.
Potatoes need a lot Of cultivating
now, and until finally banked up they
must be kept hoed frequently. The
potato bug is never SO destructive In
plots well cultivated, though OF course
spraying should be followed up for
these and for fungoid diseases. AS the
early rows are lifted. late cabbage and
coeworts may be planted or, in locali-
ties favorable for their growth, Savoy
cabbages and the various kales for
winter use. There Is still time even
for leeks, though those transplanted
now will not be so large as those put
out earlier. They will, however. be
very useful for soups and favorlng
Where good lettuces are desired, thin
the rows early and again when the
Trimmings are large enough for USE
They will not do as well now trans
planted unless very carefully looked
after. and it Is best to SOW thinly
where they have to- stand, preferably
In a shaded or partially shaded border
Late tomatoes are having good
time. the warm, dry weather suiting
them well IL the plants are kept right
at the roots and well cultivated. The
early plants are getting well set with
fruit. and as this begins to swell freely
the plants may be fed and watered
little more literally. Keep a sharp
lookout for the side shoots and pinch
them out regularly, as they take the
strength away from the flower and
fruit clusters. As the stems grow Sc
cure them to stakes or wires. which
ever Is most convenient, so they will
not be blown about by high winds.
Cucumbers outside are beginning to
fruit, and the vines must not suffer
for lack of nutrlment Continue to
pinch the points of the shoots of the
young plants where they have not a
sufficient number of vines, and as the
fruits develop cut them when quite
young. A few cucumbers left to go
to seed will take more out of the vines
than large crop cut as soon as ready
Where shallots are fully grown they
may be pulled and laid In the sun to
dry, but let them have another week
or two IL not ready. Continue to feed
the onions as long as they are grow
ing and draw out at once any attacked
by maggot or mildew. .,,..-.zss,..