Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
BACK YARD GARDEN


wanted as an appetizer. The white
varieties of onion are the mildest, al
though their keeping qualities are not as
good as the yellow or red ones, which are
are the heaviest choppers, maturing
later than the white or the yellow. 1t
is the common practice for small
gardeners to plant the white onions for
| first maturing: the yellow next. and the
red for fall and winter use. Old onions
for sprouting should be planted as early
as possible after the danger Of frost is
over. for they will be- sure to grow. the
bulb Of the old onion serving to pro-
tect the young plant from the cold and
of table onion. Onions will grow well
from SETS and most of those grown in
the District are started in this way.
Seed onions are not so uniformly sue
cessful.
4
Radishes may also be easily grown by
ones are the small mouse" or turnip va
rieties. which are succulent and crisp, IL
quickly grown. In order to have fresh
radishes at all times 1t is best to re-
seed the space just as fast as the vege-
tables are pulled for use 1t is absolutely
necessary that radishes have quick
% lIdI IIIlSdllOn may
be employed on the first indication that
the soil is becoming a bit dry. Other
vegetables do not suffer from the lack of
abundance of water quite SO quickly
Or other biennial root plants profitable
for back yard gardening the beet is next.
Beets are best when the root is from
two to two and a half inches in diameter,
and to be of the best quality they, too,
should have quick growth with plenty
or moisture. Larger beets are liable to
nave stringy consistency and to be
tough. Some success may be had by
sproutins the beets in frame and after
ward transplanting. but this Is Iabori-
Gus and not always satisfactory method.
The better way is to SOW them in drills
ABOUT foot apart. When the young
oeets come through the soil they will be
| too thick for good growth. but ali NAV
be left without harm until the tender
tops are large enough for use as greens"
or salad. In this way every shred of the
vegetable is put to use. AS the Young
Deets are pulled other seeds may be plant
ca or some may be transplanted SO that
the supply may be kept up for as long as
desired during the season
buying the plants of a reliable seeds
man Is considered the best way in which
~ s.arI the tomato crop. Success may
De mad by starting the seeds in the house
IN boxes early in the season, but II Is
best to buy the thrifty plants ready ~
set out. 1t has been repeatedly shown
III washington that tomatoes are pracfi
cal Tor the small garden, but thew should
not De placed nearer than a foot and a
half Pruning has been found to no .
great help IN production. The outer. ram
bling branches should be shipped Off he
fore any buds have formed on the Young
stalk. Then stake should be set beside
each plant and the plant tied loosely to II
with coarse string. This will prevent the
tomato from falling upon the ground, and
the fruit from decaying from the mois-
ture. Another advantage is that the
fruit is held toward the sun, where it will
ripen better.
A single four-foot row Of parsley for
use in seasoning and garnishings is q
l.kable touch to the garden plan. This
will be abundant. And as the plant Ia sts
well into the fall. and requires little or
no care. it is worth while
A bed Of peas and two varieties OF
beans complete the makeup OF the gar
den described. Peas are one OF the most
desirable of early vegetables, and are
easily grown. if the right varieties are
selected. They require about two months
to mature. Space in the above mentioned
garden also was left for later maturing
variety which can be used as late as the
LIST Of August. from the first sowing. A