The Raymer enterprise., 1915-05-20

One OF the greatest joys in farming
Is the growing Of fine vegetables fol
home use. On the average farm, with
plenty OF land and dressing, we car
grow better vegetables than we car
buy. and so do the work that will be
pleasure rather than burden.
To get the best results we mus
start with a well-thoughtout plan, anc
study the business until we become
enthusiastic. and take a pride and in
terest In the work
Study the seetsmen's catalogues
early and order the seeds before the
supply is exhausted. 1t is good prac
tice to consult with some OF the sue
.essful gardeners and truck growers
and get all the points possible.
They make study OF the business
m order that they may take advantage
Of any new improvements and grow
varieties adapted to local conditions
Such men will give US valuable infor
Aation about new things which they
have tested.
II Is not easy to make q garden in
,ne year. although one years work
lightly done, will show good results
for several years. Begin the work
the previous fall; rake together ref
use and put ii in the compost heap;
then plow the ground rather deer
and leave the burrows on edge during
the winter.
Freezing, thawing and soil aeration
are beneficial and destroy insects. In
the spring such soils dry out in a
few days and are easily prepared fol-
planting.
All garden crops require immense
Quantities OF plant food The plants
lave been so changed by improved
methods of selection and different en-.
fironments that they require great
AMOUNT of plant food to reach their
Jest possible development.
Barn manure is the best fertilizer
Chemicals are good in their place
and when used by experts produce
truly wonderful results. but they are
Unsafe In the hands of a novice and
should not be used until one has had
experience and have our soils in a
high state OF fertility. II is better
to limit the size of the garden to the
mount Of available manure.
Before plowing in the fall make a
heavy application Of manure, and in
the spring. after fitting the seed bed
use plenty OF the well-composted ma.
nure in the rows and hills. Failure
with vegetable crops is due more to
lack of manure than any other thing
Intense cultivation during the grow,
ing season destroys the weeds and
keeps the soil in ideal condition for
plant roots to thrive in. The secret
of success in transplanting cabbage
onion, lettuce and other plants is in
keeping the weeds under control un,
til time to set out the plants.
Allowing seed weeds to germinate
and destroying the weeds early in the
season saves much work OF cultiya
tion and hoeing.
Eliminate beds. Plant long rows
and leave room at the ends to turn
around with the horse and cultivator
Plant potatoes at each end of the
garden, for they are not seriously
damaged by tramping while turning
around.
We grow enough potatoes in this
way for the home use and seed the
ground with turnips after the pota
toes are harvested. Keep down the
weeds, for q small plot well titled
will afford all the fine vegetables
needed by large family.
Much back-aching and knee-aching
work is avoided II one has good i'm.
plements BY housing and carefully
handling. few tools can be bought
from time to time. until one has a
good set.
A wheel hoe is q labor saver. and
the weeder attachments are effective
In killing small weeds when they are
starting The wheel hoe can be used
either between the rows or on each
side OF a row, In level culture. II
can be set to throw the dirt either
way. and eliminates much hard work
Plant rows wide enough to- get
through with horse and cultivator
A few well-chosen implements are
better thar whole lot OF miscella
neous ones. Plan to 60 over the gar.
den at least twice week during the
growing season.
Every garden maker should vary
plans to suit his needs. as no two
families will agree as to the amounts
and kinds of vegetables they will
grow. The time to plant varies with
each locality. Consult experienced
gardeners in your locality about the
time to plant the various vegetables
Study the approximate time 1t takes
for each crop to mature. and plan to
keep the ground occupied BY some
Il -.