The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-03-24
BETTER HOMES DEPARTMENT
The Republican Pays 81 Each Week for an Idea
on What You Have Planned to Increase
Your Crop Yield or Make Home More
Beautiful City Lot or Farm

Since the publication Of my prize
winning letter of two weeks ago, /
have been asked number of ques-
ton as to why did certain things,
and write again to pass the explana-
ton ON to all the readers Of The Re-
publican.
Here are some of the questions
most frequently asked: Why water
the garden in the evening? Why let
the water seep to the roots instead
of pouring it on the plants? Why
cover the wet surface the next morn
ing with dry earth? Why plant the
rows east and west? How deep
should a garden be .plowed? How
should plants be set when transplant
ed?
/ For the information Of those who
did not read my former letter I will
repeat some statements In connection
with my answers to questions.
The garden should be plOwed in
the fall about eight inches deep and
left rough and cloddy, not narrowed
and smoothed until the winter SHOWS
are gone. This enables the ground
to absorb more water than II it were
smooth and easily drained. Harrow
early in the spring to stop the evap-
grafton. The loose, rough surface
and dust close the pores somewhat
like bunch of lose bricks in a CHM
ney prevent the smoke from passing
out as it would otherwise.
When plants are set out, set them
as deep as they were before or lit
tie deeper. Spread out the roots ma
turally and put on some dirt; then
pour on some warmish water and
let it settle the mud naturally around
the rootlets. Then put on dirt and
press it rather firmly. Keep the
plants shaded until they take root,
and by that / mean, till they get to
absorbing plant food from the new To-
cation.
/ When they require watering by
hand, take quart can, punch tiny
hole in the side at the bottom and
fill it with water, preferably warm,
so it will not chill the plant. The
tiny stream or leak in the can just
above the roots goes into the ground
all about the roots instead Of run
ming off as it would by pouring it on
suddenly. If the water is cool it
has chance to have the chill taken
! off by the warmth of the ground IL
the cool water were poured on the
plant direct, It would chill it, and the
/ effect is to stop the passing of sap
thru its veins, and it eventually turns
yellow. The effect on plant life is
equal to person taking cold.
Set the rows, for our locality in
the desert, east and west, because
the prevailing winds come from the
west, and for the reason that the
large plants in a row do not shade
the little ones so much as in the
north and south rows. For garden on
a well protected town lot the wind
will not matter, but in the wide ex-
panse of open country peas and other
tall plants blow down worse and
take damage.
| sprinkle cayenne pepper on plants
at the edge of the garden to keep the
rabbits away. / bought Is cent
can last spring and have about half
of it left and had no trouble from
rabbits altho they were eating on
acres of the neighbors' crops. 1t
washes off during rain and 1t goes
/ into the ground about the roots and
makes the cut worms hunt new
quarters. l sprinkle again for the
rabbits.
People who are we'll to-do should
have plenty of garden stuff because
it is a luxury and they are entitled
to it. Poor people should have it for
the same reason and for the further
reason that thew can't afford to be
poorly fed nor buy so much more
groceries.
MRS. M. E. CHUTE,
/ Blackfoot, r. F. d. four.