Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

kSeSs
etc.) are among the most valuable Of
farm crops. Trouble is experienced at
times. however. in growing them in
new agricultural districts or regions
where legumes have not been grown
before. This difiiculty Outlines is due
to the absence of the necessary tubercle
bacteria from the soil in question. The
practice should be followed. therefore.
Of inoculating the soil or seed when
any Of these crops are grown upon
ground which has never grown the crop
before. This incubation may be made
by the use of soil from a field in which
the legume has grown. This soil should
be obtained from the old legume field
and distributed over the field to be
sown in legumes at the rate Of ap--
proximately 800 pounds per acre, and
at once narrowed or disked in. This
operation should take place during the
morning or evening, or upon cloudy
the bacteria. Care should be exercised
in making this transfer of soil to get
1t from fields which are not infested
with weeds. Should such soil be not
cedure is to use q pure culture OF bac-
terra, which may be mixed with the
seed before 1t is sown.
which have once borne fruit. may be
cut out as soon as the crop is of. These
canes never bear again.
Humus keeps the soil in condition to
take up water moro readily and use it
to better advantage.
OF equal Importance with the soil is
an abundant water supply in gardening.
Amateur gardeners and farmers who
wish to diversity their crops will
find cucumbers fairly safe and prof
itab BILE product The sale for this class
of commodities is steady in all stages
picking or marketing.
Cucumbers ought to return net
profit Of $500 an acre. Michigan
grower reports $3.50 an acre. Grocers.
pickle factories and town families will
take the output, but the marketing
should be arranged for in advance. 1t
is also an easy matter for growers to
put up pickles. and this system adds to
the profits.
The soil needs to be light, warm and
full Of vegetable matter. Land that
has borne clover Is good. 1t must not
be soggy. In drought periods the vines
SHOULD be watered daily. but this ap-
plies to garden products generally as
well as to cucumbers. If the ground is
not considered just right 1t is advisable
to use well rotted manure in the hills
before planting. The best way is to
use well fertilized land that was plow-
ed in the fall. adding little barnyard
manure to the cucumber hills as they
are formed. Have the soil worked
down fine with harrow or rake and
mark out in checks at least four feet
feet. 1t is easier to cultivate check
rows than single rows. The hill sys-
tenn is preferred because it gives
plants more leaf surface. Better drain
age is also secured in case of excessive
rains.
Four to six seeds should be dropped
in each hill and lightly covered with
soil. In case Of uDfavorable weather
or uneven growth additional paintings
may be made. Second and third plant
ings can also be made for prolonging
the marketing of cucumbers and for
raising pickle stock. In order to get
an early start seeds may be planted
or in window. pots in the dwelling.
Planting in the open ground Is to be
deferred until the soil is in nice order
and danger from frost is over. What
ever transplanting is necessary should
be done in the evening. When large
crop Is to be raised the cultivation
can be with an ordinary two-horse
corn cultivator. Planting in drills
seems to be the easier method. in the
opinion OF some, but the majority of
with the hill system. A corn planter
may be used IL desired, and the plants
NAV be thinned out as they develop
Seed is generally used at the rate of
one ounce to fifty hills:
Insects are often troublesome In Gu
cumber growing. For cutworms use
poisoned bran about four inches from
where the plants are coming through.
For striped beetle, dust frequently with
plaster which acts as a repellent. Helle-
bore powder in water Is also effective
in destroying the striped bug. During
the picking season the vines are gone
over regularly at short intervals and
the cucumbers removed as soon as they
attain marketable size. This. will pre-
vent any check In the growth of vines
and increase the number of cucumbers
that can be secured.
One of the most delicious vegetables
is watercress. and yet few farmers or
gardeners are trying to utilize the deli
cacy No other product grows into
money easier or with less trouble. 1t
grows wild in running brooks, in ditch
es or around fresh ponds. All that is
demanded for the raising of cress is
pure water. Plant seeds in the soft
earth at the edge of the water. The
plants will soon fill the bed Of the
stream or pond. After esta blishing the
growth Of watercress 1t Is available
for use In March and throughout the
season. A large sale can be worked up
in any town.
Corn salad is a paying winter product.
the small leaves being served like let