The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-05-07
,,pr >uburban Home Should Have a
Vegetable Garden.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May a, 1914. A
..f are devoted to the various kinds OF
,.,4-1 crops would easily supply fam'-
.r,r one hundred dollars worth OF
-ocstsbles during the year. A bountl-
n. sgoav of really fresh vegetables
,,oss ar hand, however, is of more lmpor-
.,r,e ayen than the money value, says
Banners Bulletin 255 on the Home Veg
...ps Garden. The home vegetable
ror54r therefore, is worthy of special
7r,snr,on and should include a greater
number and variety of crops.
Where there is considerable choice IN
IN. aeation of the garden plot, it is often
,ossibla to select land that will require
ya-y little special preparation. On the
otber hand. it may be necessary to take
an Undesirable soil and bring 1T into
nt95lr condition, and it is generally
ur~ri,ag to note the change that can
bq wrought in single season.
G57d 1rainage of the garden area is OF
urinary Importance. 1t is desirable
tbat th- land have sufficient fall to drain
oa surplus water during heavy rains,
b,- The fall should not be so great that
Tho sml would be washed. The surface
5f The garden should not contain depres-
SONS In winch water will accumulate and
stand Waste water from surround
1g and should not be allowed to drain
uDor the garden. A good fence around
me garden spot is indispensable and it
s7oail be a safeguard against all animals,
especially poultry. A tight board fence
will ACCOMPLISH this result and also serve
asa wlndbreak.
The kind of fertilizer employed has a
marked influence on the character and
quality Of the vegetable produced. Fer
6Az-rs or organic composition, such as
harvard manure, should have passed
Though the fermenting stage before
beng used. Well-rotted barnyard ma
uure has no equal as fertilizer for
g8ce1 crops. Chicken, pigeon, and
Sheep manure rank high as fertilizer,
ard manure from fowls is especially
sisp'ei for dropping in the hills or rows
Of plants.
autumn is the time for blowing hard or
stiff cay soils, especially if in a part of
the country where freezing takes place,
Is the action of the frost during the
winter will break the soil into fine par
dc.es and render it suitable for planting
Sandy loans and soils that contain a
large amount of humus may be plowec
IN the spring, but the work should be
Gone early in order that the soil may
settle before planting.
Sandy soils will bear blowing much
earlier than heavy clay soils. The u.s.
dal test is to squeeze together handful,
aad If the soil adheres in ball it is toe
vet for working. In the garden greater
depth Of blowing should be practicec
than for ordinary farm crops, as the
roots of many vegetables grow deeply
INTO the soil. Subsoiling will be foune
advantageous in most cases, as the
drainage and general movement of the
Soil moisture will be improved thereby.
Hand spading should be resorted tt
only In very small gardens or where it il
desirable to prepare a small area very
thoroughly.
Alter blowing, the next important
'lep IS to smooth and pulverize the
Gull II the soil be Well prepared before
pSa'lng, the work of caring for the
crops will be very materially lessened
ii IS not sufficient that the land b.
smooth and fine on top, but the pulveriz
|g process should extend as deep as the
blowing.
III planning the location of the various
.I0pa IN the garden, due consideration
S10aid be given to the matter of success
,'' ID order that the land may be occu
p'eo al all times. AS rule 1t would moi
0est to have second planting of thu
o .a'le crop follow the first, but som.
~ 'D arrangement as early peas followed
t'r 'eiefy, or early cabbage or potatoes
MOVED by late beans or corn, ant
fa lunar combinations, are more salts
factory.
s.s 1afaeh seeds should always be sown il
n, 'itht rows regardless of where tn.
mag IS made. By planting in thi'
fo. ''ef the seedlings will be more uni
ND IN size and shape, and thinning
oa 1 eultivating will be more easily &C
sn1 p 'ihed, In the control of insects
i diseases that infect garden crops i
AMEN 'eh possible to accomplish a grea
,.n" an' OF good by careful sanitary ar
enent. Some of the vegetablel
coss the garden varieties that ar,
pafatlvely easily cultivated are: arti