Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-06-25
No. 7. Garden Management
By J. s. Knox, Extension Horticultur. 1st, University of Arkansas and
 U. s. Dept. Oss Agriculture.


 Possibly there Is no other question that IS of equal importance to tn, gardener as is that of garden manage
 ment. And it is here that hundreds
 Of our farmers fail in their garde1
 operations. It makes no difference
 how favorable location we may have
 how ideal the soil or how abundan
 the rainfall, one cannot hope to mee
 wlth the greatest success In his gar
 den work unless he manages it ir
 the best possible way. If properly managed a half acre plot of good soi Is sufficiently large to supply a good sized family with all the fresh vege tables they will need throughout the year. However, if the plot is managed in the way most of the home gardens or the state are at the present time 1t will require two acres to grow a similar amount of vegetables.
 Planting. The question of when and how to plant the different vege- tables may be of interest to many gardeners over the state. One of the first things to determine is whether the vegetables are frost tender or frost hardy; that is, are they killed by frost or will they withstand such with. out injury. Vegetables belonging to the frost hardy group are such as peas (garden). beets, lettuce, radishes and onions. These can be planted very early in the spring without dan ger of being killed by ordinary frost.
 The frost tender vegetables such as tomatoes. peppers. egg plant, beans, corn, etc., cannot be planted in the open until danger of frost is about past. However, it is good idea 70 start some of these in the hot bed early so that the plants will be large enough to set out by the time the weather becomes sufficiently warm.
 The depth to plant the different vegetable seed depends largely upon the size of the seed. The small seed ike celery should not be covered more than one-eighth of an inch while Tor large seed like beans or peas two to three inches deep will not be 700 great. The fine seed also require that .hk soil be placed in the finest possi- ole condition.
 Cultivation. Cultivation in the gar. len should be frequent. but shallow. t is not considered advisable to cul- ivate more than two or three inches ieep, but tbe whole garden should be zone over at least once every ten days This will keep down all weed growth md at the same time prevent the es- ape of moisture from the soil. There Ire many kinds of implements on the market that are suitable for garden work. Generally speaking, an imple- nent that pulverizes the soil thor 'ughly and at the same time throws 'ery little dirt, and leaves the ground n level condition is the best type o use. Cultivate as soon as possible liter each rain, but do not blow the round when it is too wet. Hand inn dement's are necessary to keep ,ne weeds out of the row. Do not cultivate he garden while the plants are wet with dew, as it is good way to pread diseases.
 Soil. The ideal garden soil is one hat is of sandy loam nature and an abundant supply of or ,anic matter. This type of soil is of en not found in nature. In fact. there re many sections where a first class arden soil does not exist. Fortunate y, however, we can take very poor oil that has good subsoil and build up so that it will produce excellent rops of vegetables. There is no fer ilizer that Is better suited for this purpose than the stable manure, a mall supply of which is generally ound on almost every farm. The ma !ure should be applied broadcast over he ground and this turned under ome time before the planting Is to e done. This will give it time to rot 'efore the plants are to occupy the round. Most of our gardens need 0 be broken deeper, thus giving a ,reater capacity for water and lessen. ng the danger of drought during the ummer. When planting time comes n supply of well rotted manure mould be on hand so that we can Ipply some in the row before plant ng. It is necessary to have the soil made as fertile as possible because his induces a rapid succulent growth nd hence produces vegetables of the highest possible quality. A vegetable ,rown on poor soil is almost invarIa, 'ly tough and stringy, while those ,rown on the fertile soils are tender, ,risp, and palatable. No other part of he farm is equal in importance to the ,ome garden. Let us make 1t pro luce more
 We know that Arkansas ca. and !oss prcducs some ot as high quality vegetables as are grown in any ssc- !cn of the United States. This is proved by the fact that here snd here over the state we tnd farmers vAo, c* s-.sl! ore.!cvytn to o.e- .s!t ae.e .. ,a[6. gre growing q! t.e tA&t tse family ca. use :s ysSa ;ov.1. t .1 ;:ov t:~s to ps-