The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-03-29
TIMELY H|NTSFOR THE HOME GARDENER
Department of Agriculture Hortcuuiss Principles
Making Success of the Home Garden. Patch.

the same rule should govern as TO
depth. In spading, especially on
grass or waste land, turn the earth
lotion side. up.
Whether the land is plowed or
spaded. it should bs thoroughly pull
verified Immediately afterwards. 1t
is bad pratice to allow the freshly
turned soil to bake in the sun and
wind, and thereby become cloddy,
and, at the same time, lose large
per cent of its moisture.
Where horse labor can be used,
the land after blowing should be thor
oughly disced first, then spring
toothed. and finally finished with a
smoothing harrow. Where land
must be prepared by hand, it is good
practice to pulverize the soil as much
as possible when spading it up, after
which it can be put in fine condi-
ton of mellowness with steel gar
! den rake. The importance of thor
oughly filming tho soil can not be over
emphasized, for it increases the wat
er-holding capacity of the soil, rem
! uSlo IHOIb PAM lOuu uN d|dpAS, dlA
reduces the number of weeds,
Varieties Adapted to Different La
calities-Early Varieties.
In the Northeastern United States
and along the South Atlantic sea-
board, the Irish Cobbler. Early Pc
toskey, or Early Standard, all OF
which are practically identical. may
be expected to- produce larger crops
and be more generally satisfactory
for an early crop than the others
mentioned Quick Lunch and New
Queen would be regarded as second
choices for this section.
In the South Central and South
western States, the Triumph may be
expected to give results caral to oil
even better than the irish Cobbler
In the Middle West, the Early Ohio
should do well, While the Early Har-
vest and Early Rose may be regarded
as second choices.
Late Varieties.
In the New England States, Long
Island, and northern New York, the
Green Mountain. Gold Coin, Delaware
and other late varieties of that class
do best
In northern Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota, the late varieties
named above do about as well as the
Rural New Yorker No. 2, and are su-
perior to it in table quality.
In western New York, southern
Michigan, and Wisconsin, and Iowa
the Rural New Yorker No. 2, ST
Walter Raleigh, and Carman No.
are the best adapted varieties. ant
divide honors with the Green Noun
tain in the northern portions of these
states.
Throughout Maryland, Virginia ant
the Carolinas, Tennessee and Geor-
gia. the variety known as McCor
mick is quite generally grown as &
late variety. In a favorable season
the Green Mountain can also BIZ
grown.
When to Plant Potatoes.
The date of planting necessarily
must be governed by climatic condi-
tons. In attempting TO produce as
early a crop as possible, some risl
must always be incurred of the plants
being injured by late spring frogts
AS a general proposition, IL is bes'
to plant potates as soon as there
is little likelihood of killing frosts
after the plants are up and the
ground is in condition to work.
The following dates of planting fol
various cities should be regarded on
ly as the approximate time at which
early potatoes might safely be
planted
March 15-25, Washington, Baltir
more, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Lou
isville, St. Louis. ...
March 25-Aprit New York, In
dianapolis, Detroit, Chicago.
April SIS, Boston, Albany, Ro-
chester, etc.
In the northern cities late yarie-
ties should be planted from three &c
four weeks later.
! Depth to Plant.
Plant the small eye cuttings from
~ to inches deep, depending up
OH the character of the soiI-thc
lighter the soil the greater tho depth
of planting. Larger sets may be
planted inches deep.
Spacing.
If an carly variety is planted, and
the work is to be done by hand, the
rows may be spaced as close as 2G
inches, whereas II cultivation is to
be done with a horse, 80 to "a inches
usually is allowed. In order to give
the gardener some idea of the num-
Der of sets required to plant plot
OF ground 80 by 100 feet at different
spacings, the following table is sub
mitted:
To Plant Plot so by 100 feet.
Space betw'n Space in row. Sets
| rows. between plants. required