Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-03-26
THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Location, Planning, Preparation, Fer
tiliZatiOn and Cultivation.

cred in the home garden are: Loca-
ton, planning, preparation and cul-
tivation, fertilization and equipment.
In locating the garden the question
Of it's proximity to the house is of
vast importance, for naturally most
of the work is done during spare mo-
mcntS which could not be taken ad-
vantage of If the garden were located
a half mile from the house. Other
things being equal, the general lay
of the land determines to a consider
able extent the earliness of the crops.
Well-drained land, sloping gently to
the south or southwest, is preferable
for the production of early vegeta-
bles. Wind barriers, such as hills,
woods, hedges, tight board fences,
etc, on the north or northwest pro-
duce very much the same effect.
Choose a location hat is well drain
ed OIL tile drain 1T after it has been
chosen.
If circumstances will permit, make
the rows long, thereby saving time
in turning and economizing land.
Grow vegetables in rows long enough
and wide enough to permit cultiva-
ton by horse and wheel hoe. If the
rows are long it may be necessary to
plant more than n kind Of vegeta-
bic in the same row, in which case it
is exceedingly important that they
are compatible-that is, they require
the same general treatment and
practically the same growing S
The perennials, such as asparagus,
rhubarb, etc, should be planted at
II side where they win not inter
fere with the cultivation OF the other
crops. The larger growing plants, as
corn, late cabbage and potatoes may.
be planted together On the other
side Of the garden. or course these
suggestions are general, since fire.
Quently there + conditions over
which the gardener has little or no
control. Sometimes there is a de-
cided variation in the character of
the soil in the same garden. This, as
we'll as any other local condition,
ought to be taken into consideration
in arranging for the location of the
various crops. For example, if a part
Of the garden be low, moist and cool,
this place should not be planted to
early crops, which require a quick,
warm soil, but should be reserved for
onions, celery, etc.
A rotation of crops, and
tlllago should be praciicei on tho
garden, as wgll as on the general
farm 1t Is dnuhiy important 10 v0-
tate II diseases Gnd insects become
@eriDu" ON any one crop. In a rOta-
tiOn I'D eradicate diseases and IN
sects, the greatest care should De
taken to select those crops on which
these particular pests cannot thrive.
For example, the potato "scab" will
live on such plants as turnips, rad
ishes and rutabagas. There are
some pests, however, which cannot be
starved out in this n on so
small a place a. the garden. In a
case OF this kind it is usually cheaper
to plant that particular crop and
others on which this pest would ex-
list on a different part Of the farm
until the pest has been starved out
Of the garden.
Time and labor will be saved by
making the garden soil deep, fine and
rich before planting. 1t is not Suffi-
cient that the land be smooth on top,
but the pulverizing process should
extend as deep as the blowing, for
few things are more detrimental to
the delicate roots of the small plants
than clods and air spaces, both Of
which are results of poor prepara-
ton.
BY narrowing thoroughly before
and after blowing, the LAND can be
put in excellent physical condition.
A deep, thorough preparation before
planting and frequent, shallow cult
walton after planting is necessary for
best results.
The fertilizer used influences to a
marked degree the character and
quality Of the vegetables produced.
Barnyard manure is undoubtedly the
best for this purpose, but care should
be taken to see that it is well rotted
and contains no elements that would
be injurious to the soil. An excess
Of such things as saw dust, Shavings,
which do not rot quickly, nave
q tendency to produce sourness in the
soil. Even when %barnyard manure is
used, it is usually economical to sup
plement it with a good high-grade
commercial fertilizer with a greater
per cen of potash than is required
by the general field crops. Under Or
binary conditions, a fertilizer with
an analysis of 3 per cent nitrogen, s
per cent phosphoric acid, and s or 10
per cent potash, would be found to
give excellent results in a vegetable
garden. Nitrate of soda h~astens the
growth of such early crops as aspara-
gus, rhubarb, lettuce, etc. Hard
wood ash is M OF the best sources
of potash, provided it has not been
exposed to rain. Lime, while not
directly a fertilizer, often produces
beneficial results when applied to
garden soils, especially If the land
has a tendency to sourness.
BY use of hotbed and cold frame
without which no garden is COM
plete), the vegetable season could be
heightened at both ends. The hot
bed consists of an enclosure covered