Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1917-05-03
ONCE A WEEK
IN THE GARDEN
Published by Alva Agee,
Director. e
SUGGESTIONS.
Helpful Hints Printed by the State
For the Benefit of the
Public.

published by Alva Agee, Director
of the Division of Extension in Agri-
culture and Home Economics, New
Jersey State Agricultural College,
New Brunswick, N. j.
Many of our vegetable growers, the
amateurs especially, are becoming inn
patient to gather radishes, spinach,
lettuce and green onions from sets.
The observant growers will quickly
discover many things. The first large
radishes will be found where the
plants stand at least half inch apart.
Spinach must have rich soil. Let
tuce cannot develop heads unless it
is planted early and each plant must
occupy 100 square inches of surface
soil. Those onions which are ready
for table use first are from the largest
sets; therefore, it would have been
wise to have planted the large sets by
themselves and the small sets in 9TH
er rows.
Care of the Soil
The more thoroughly soil is ,culti-
waited the better the crops will grow.
However, this does not mean that at
all times deep and frequent cultiva-
tion is to be recommended. When
possible, the soil should be plowed a
few weeks before planting. If this
ground is deeply narrowed every week
Or ten days, millions of weed seed
VIII be killed. After the field is plant
ed thorough cultivation right from
the beginning is essential, but as
growth develops it should be more
shallow. Kill the weeds as they ger
inmate rather than wait until they
come up. In the home vegetable gar
den. the garden rake is splendid tool
for stirring the suface soil. If this is
done thoroughly every Saturday af-
ternoon weeds can never be bother
some.
Insect Pests
During the next few weeks cut
worms will be very active. When a
plant is freshly cut off, the cutworm
may be found just under the soil near
the plant so that it may be easily de-
stroyed. For protection each plant
stem may be wrapped with paper
when it is set out or tin can. from
which the bottom has been melted.
may be stood around the plant to keep
Off the cutworms. The poison bran
mash is the most efficient method for
the destruction of the cutworms on a
commercial scale. The striped Gu
cumber beetles, potato bugs, tomato
worms and cabbage worms may be
easily controlled by busting powdered
arsenates of lead upon the dew-wet
foliage. Some insecticide COMPARES
are putting this material up in one
pound, perforated tin cans for the con-
venience of the home gardeners.
Pea Culture
The specialist in market gardening
at the State Experiment Station
claims that the planting Of peas
should soon be discontinued for the
rest of the season because they can
not grow well in hot weather. How
ever, many growers maintain that it
Is practical to plant them again dur
ing August to develop in late fall.
While that late crop is sometimes
fairly good, it would be more eco
nomical to plant string beans, turnips
or Black Spanish radishes for winter
use. In the home garden the pea
vines should be supported on brush
stuck into the row as soon as possible.
Chicken wire or lattice work of any
description is also useful for this pur-
pose.
The Cabbage Crop
Seed for the late cabbage should be
planted about six or seven weeks be-
fore the plants are wanted for set
ting in the field. The seed is planted
in an especially prepared seed bed
just as one would SOW seed of onions,
radishes, spinach, etc. The hard
heading varieties are the Danish Ball
Head and the Flat Dutch. Plants of
these varieties should be set in the