The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN.


recent book "The Home Vegetable Gar
den" says that most books on garden
ing are either too technical or too
theoretical. There are several other
classes of gardening books also; those
containing many words and almost no
real information form ono class; an
other class is composed of books
written by those who speak from OBJ
servaton, imagination and from very
little practical experience. The library
is better without many of the books on
gardening that have appeared in recent
years. and this does not include Mr..
Hruhm's book. from which we quote
literally in this article. supplementing
additional practical IDEAS. Some Of this
authors ideas seem TO indicate that he
has been reader OF THE Sun Garden
ing Department
In gardening take things as they are,
rather than walt for things as they
SHOULD be according TO some writer's.
There VIII be more and better gardens
II this advice is followed.
A piece OF ground as small as 10 by
10 feet may become the basis OF gar
den. Only one requisite il absolutely
necessary and that is a certain amount
Of sunlight Good gardens can be made
even in city yards where the sun shines
only a few hours each day II the
garden gets sun from O'Clock in the
morning until o'clock in the after
noon almost any vegetable may he
grown in it, and many vegetables are
satisfied with even less.
An ideal home vegetable garden IL q
piece of ground so by 100 feet away
from the house or trees. BY proper
management a garden OF uhis size can
be made to supply all the vegetables a
family OF six can eat, and some berries
and flowers besides.
Few people have ideal soil for a gar
den, but all can improve what they
have. Actual experience with and
study OF the soil at ones disposal will
soon reveal what il needed. II the soil
is heavy and sticky clay II needs sand
nr ashes and humuA II the soil
is thin and sandy II needs plenty OF
barnyard manure. supplemented by
winter vetch or rye during the winter.
Most soils are lacking in humus,
which is another name for decomposed
vegetable matter. In humus develops
those bacteria essential TO thrifty
vegetation. Liberal applications OF
stable manure Is the best way to get
humus in the soil. On most soils too
much of ii cannot he used. though with
some crops. like tomatoes, 1t develops
more vine than IL desirable.
Scatter the manure evenly over the
garden. A covering four inches deep
will he about right In addition, for
certain crops, good commercial ferti-
lizer should be used. These should be
applied either broadcast after the soil
Is dug and raked carefully into the
surface or they may be scattered along
the rows OF vegetables during develop
ment,
4 small garden Is best turned over
with a spade. spading on any one day
only what can be, planted that day,
for II it rains overnight on ground not
planted the spading will have to be
done over again. on large plots labor
VIII be saved by the use OF a plough.
Smooth the ground with a rake, maxi
ing II as level as possible so heavy
rains will not leave water on the beds.
Ploughed land that receives n drench-
ing rain after ploughlng should be
stirred deeply with a wheel hoe or Gull
/ tivator before rakng as hard subsoil
will prove detrimental to many crops.
! BE particular about the preparation
! Of the soil before planting.
Planning the Garden.
| Haphazard planting is responsible for
most Of the indifferent results met with
| in home gardens. A well thought out
plan is necessary in order TO take care
OF proper crop rotation, which Is one
OF the most vital factors in connection
with homo gardens where a small area
has TO bear several crops In season.
! Draw the outline of the garden to a
definite scale on a piece of paper. Mark
| in the white space the various rows
and beds OF every vegetable 10 he grown
and preserve this plan. Keep .
memorandum book and mark down the
dates when crops are sown and mature
and when second sowings are made
only in this way can the best OF gar
dening opportunities be made.
Planting tho Garden.
An vegetables may he divided into
two broad classes according 10 the man.