The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-30
Practical Gardening.
Mrs. j. H. Atkins.

MIS-. u. II. AtklnS.
1 have been experimenting the gar
dening at home for many years. and
experience has taught me that, at
least, three things are essential for a
good garden-namely, a good loca-
ton, good rich soil and fresh seed, not
| novelties, but the varieties you have
tried and found to be good.
L believe that practical common
sense methods are as necessary in
garden work as any other, and that
making the greatest quantity and the
finest quality of vegetables, with the
least amount Of labor and expense, is
the secret of good and successful gar
dening.
Several years ago I gardened on a
city lot on the intensive plan, but at
present 1 live on a farm, and raise
vegetables on the extensive order and
will tell how I manage to save time
and labor.
My garden is one acre long and a
| half acre wide. / run all the rows
the long way and wide enough to cul-
tivate with the plow, as it is easier
and resists drought better than when
hand worked
have permanent bed through the
centre four feet wide, on which 1
grow asparagus, rhubarb, horse-rad-
ish, garlic, sage and other herbs. and
leave space on one end for a bed of
ANIMALS for the children. I also have
another bed the entire length of the
| garden, same width, made very rich
AMI planted one-half in onion sets
which I mulch with pine straw, and
the other half in Irish potatoes, lazy
bed style, entirely covered with straw,
so they do not need any work. This
Will make enough fine onions to do
all the season, and when taken UP the
straw can be put on the potato half
of row, as they will need extra mulch
ing for winter. I can get nice fresh
potatoes from this be l any time dur
ing the year. The onion ground can
be top-dressed with fertilizer and
| planted in spinach, lettuce and rad
ishes for fall use, and put In onions
again the follow ing spring :. a,so
rant about five rows Of potatoes aid
one Ct seed onions sic, by side, as
| they mature and come off the ground
| at the same time. 1 then plant the
ground in winter cabbage and col
| lards. I plant the seed in bottom of
water furrow, and the sides of furrow
Will partly shade the little plants and
they will not die in the hot sun. The
finest heads I ever grew were planted
this way the last day of July.
divide one row in three parts and
plant in parsnips, carrots and satisfy.
as that is enough for my family and
they lemain in the ground through
the winter I also divide another Tow
the same way and put in okra, egg
plants and pepper, as they stay bear
ing till frost L plant butter beans on
north and west sides of palings TO
save sticking.
plant about five rows Of tomatoes.
1our feet apart, and when Law them
by plant the middles in Crowder
peas and the vines keep the ground
moist and partially shade the toma- |
toes which causes them to ripen uD |
more evenly and will not sun-scald !
so badly. | laid down some of the
finest vines in August and have BUSH
els OF tomatoes till after frost. As
fast as | use the early vegetables from
q row | plant it in Mexican June corn
or something else, and by having a
succession | am sure to cultivate the
whole garden and not let the weeds
take it
don't raise anything for market.
but make a point to raise a variety of
vegetables in abundance for the table
every day, and plenty for six dozen
hens and a bunch of pigs.
find 1T takes work and perserver-
to have good garden, but feel sure
nothing affords more real pleasure or
proves more profitable for the time
and labor bestowed.
Annover, Ark.