Middletown transcript., 1915-05-22

One Of the greatest Joys in farming
Is the growing of fine vegetables for
home use. On the average farm, with
plenty Of land and dressing, we can
grow better vegetables than we can
buy, and so do the work that will be
q pleasure rather than a burden.
To get the best results we must
start with q well-thought-out plan, and
study the business until we become
enthusiastic, and take a pride and in
terest in the work.
Study the seedsmen's catalogues
early and order the seeds before the
supply Is exhausted. 1t is good prac-
tice to consult with some of the sue
cessful gardeners and truck growers
and get all the points possible.
They make study of the business
In order that they may take advantage
Of any new improvements and grow
varieties adapted to local conditions.
Such men will give US valuable infor-
nation about new things which they
have tested.
1t Is not easy to make a garden in
one year, although one years work,
rightly done, will show good results
for several years. Begin the work
the previous fall; rake together ref
use and put it in the compost heap;
then plow the ground rather deep
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 for
planting.
All garden crops require immense
quantities of plant food. The plants
have been SO changed by improved
methods Of selection and different en-
vironments that they require a great
amount Of plant food to reach their
best 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. 1t is better
to limit the size of the garden to the
amount 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 cultiva'
ton 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 a small plot well titled
will afford all the fine vegetables
needed by large family.
Much back-aching and knee-achine
work is avoided If one has good i'm
plements. BY housing and carefully
handling, few tools can be bought
from time to time, until one has {
good set.
A wheel hoe is a labor saver, ant
the weeder attachments are effective
in killing small weeds when they arr
starting. The wheel hoe can be useC
either between the rows or ON eacl
side of a row, in level culture. l
can be set to throw the dirt eithel
way, and eliminates much hard work
Plant rows wide enough to ge
through with horse and cultivatOT
A few well-chosen Implements ar,
better than a whole lot Of miscella
neous ones Plan to go over the gar
den at least twice a week during tn
growing season.
Every garden maker should var
plans to suit his needs, as no tw
families will agree as to the amount
and kinds of vegetables they viii
grow. The time to plant varies wit
each locality. Consult experience
gardeners in your locality about tn
time to plant the various vegetables
Study the approximate time it take
FOR each crop to mature. and plan t
keep the ground occupied by som
growing crop all times during tn
growing season.
In this way we get more crops o
a given area and keep the soil
SNNNN.NNNNN.NNNN-N
Prevent Scab.
: Soak Irish potato seed in a formal