The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-04-01
KEEP TM GARNEN sRUSY.


Twenty-Five by Seventy Foot Paot Wnl
Produce Enough Vegetables for q
Small Family.
Even the smallest back yard may
be made to yield supply of fresh
vegetables for the family table at but
slight expense If two or three crops
are successfully grown to keep the
area occupied all the time, according
to the garden specialists of the de-
partment. People who would dis
charge a clerk il he did not work the
year round will often cultivate gar
den at no little trouble and expense
AND then allow the soil to lie idle from
the time the first crop natures until
the end Of the season. Where two
or three crop system is used in con-
nection with vegetables adapted to
small areas, a space no larger than
25 by 20 feet will produce enough
fresh vegetables for small family.
Corn, melons. cucumbers, and pota-
toes and other crops which require a
large area should not be grown In q
garden of this size. Half an acre
properly cultivated with a careful crop
rotation may easily produce 500
worth of various garden crops in a
year. is''s
II the garden was not broken In the
fail. it should be plowed in tho spring
as soon as the frost Is ont of the
ground. Small areas may be worked
with a spade. pushing the blade in to
Its full depth and turning the soil to
break up the clods: Heavy soils should
never be worked when wet. Over
Jealous gardeners, ready to seize the
first warm spell as favorable op-
portunity' to go out and work the
heavy clay soil before it is dry. are
not only wasting their energy but are
doing q damage to the soil from
which it>will take years for it to re-
cover. To; determine when heavy soils
are ready for blowing. handful of
earth ahould be collected from the
surface and the fingers tightly closed
on It. II the ball Of compacted earth
iis dry enough for cultivation. 1t will
fall apart when the hand is opened.
a garden spot near the house is Of
ten more desirable than a plot which
is in better tilth but located at an in
convenient distance. A garden which
10 near the house will receive many a
spare hour OF care from adults and
children which would otherwise be
wasted. Where there Is ample room
for the selection OF garden site, the
slope Of the land should be carefully
considered. A gentle slope toward the
South Is most desirable for growing
early crops. while It is decided adj
vantage 70 have the plot protected ON
the north and northwest by either q
hill. 2 group OF buildings. or a. board
fence. ~ r ts+
Drainage Of the garden is of great
Importance. The land should have
sufficient fall to drain surplus water
during heavy rains and yet not be 80
stcep that the soil viii be washed or
quilted. The surface should be nearly
leYel so the water will not stand in
hollows. Where the natural slope Of
the land does not provide sufficient
natural drainage, bitches may be dug
or q tile drain put in. This will pre-
vent waste water from the adjoining
land from washing over 1t. such wa
ter may carry weed and grass seed
into the garden. which ure later Gull
ed out with difficulty.
The soil in the average back yard
Is not only lacking in plant food but
also has been packed until 1t is hard
and unyielding. To loosen up such
soil and make 1t suitable for garden
produce requires that careful atten-
tion be given to Its preparation. After
spading the inclosure thoroughly, the
upper 3 inches should be made fine
with the use of hoe and rake. Stones
and rubbish should be removed and
clods Of dirt broken. The surface
should be made even and as level as
possible. 1t may then be marked off
for planting In conformity with the
general plan Of the garden.
'Barnyard or stable manure ia the
best fertilizer because it furnishes both
plant food and humus. An application
at the rate of from 20 to 80 tons to
the acre Of well-rotted manure is
Very satisfactory. This should be ap-
Piled after plowing or working with
q spade and distributed evenly over
the surface and later worked IN x,,ith