The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-25
GARDEN TALK
BY j. FRANK FOOSHE.-
Garden agent OF the American


The awakened interest in produc-
ton on the part of people in the
cities marks a new era in the in
dustrial life of America. This move
ment is new discovery OF latent pos
sbilities as much so as the bringing
forth OF a new invention. City gardens
are The child OF necessity,
Many persons will plant gardens for
the first time Lots that have long
laid idle will be brought into Guilt
walton. Workers without experience
and lands that have not been In cul-
tivation furnish a great combination
for experimentation. The crop OF mis-
takes is not likely to be short The
following general suggestions may
help 10 lessen their number.
The first step In the making Of a
good garden is putting the soil into
right condition. Ground thai IS we'll
from clods or rubbish is easily culti-
waited and should yield we'll under ia
yorable conditions Working a garden
with soil conditions right is enough
for An amateur gardener without at
tempting a miracle on some plot,
which an experienced farmer would
pass by for a field crop, Until the
ground is put in good till, it is best
for the seed to remain in the house
or at the seed store.
Next to the preparation Of the soil
comes the feeding OF the plants or
fertilization This food can be had
from decayed organic matter. animal
manure or the commercial fertilizers.
The so-called burning up OF crops by
fertilizers of any kind is usually due
10 n lack or plant food rather than TO
700 much. The better the condition OF
the land the more food the growing
crops will take up. In rich trucking
sections truckers use one to three tons
of a medium grade fertilizer such as
an S-3-4 $50 Or $50 Al the rate
OF ION TO the acre. which on ordinary
ground Is q heavy application. twenty
| FIVE pounds would be required for each
five hundred square feet of space,
Where this quantity Is used, it is pre-
| ferable to broad cast the fertilizer, as
it is not we'll 10 put down too much at
one place. II used in the hill or drill
it should be mixed with the soil. sheep
manure is now 10 be had at any of
the seed stores and is growing in popr-
lar favor for garden use. Your seeds
man will help YOU in determining what
fertilizer and how much 10 use.
The time Of planting varies greatly
in different sections. For Richmond
and surrounding territory onions.
garden peas and potatoes for the sum
mer crop should not be planted later
than May 10. Where these have not
been planted there should be no furth-
er delay. Those who planted their
beans or corn before April Is have
taken a good chance of losing their
seed Those who have not planted
these crops need not worry. The sea-
son for planting beans and corn is now
on, though it is best to postpone the
Ht.v ftgNfY .ElA
corn for a week or two longer. A
few potted or transplanted tomato
plants might be set out in the open this
early. If properly protected cool nights
But it would not be wise to set ones
whole tomato crop so early.
There should be a succession OF
paintings OF both beans and corn so
as to have these vegetables through
out the season. The measure OF sue
cess in gardening is having continu-
Gus supply of the staple vegetables
The first mess of beans or the largest
head of cabbage no more make q
garden than a lone swallow the sum-
mer. Too frequently ones success
with the early vegetables Is marred
by the marvellous growth Of late weeds.
Land is more at rest In cultivation
than growing weeds. provided 1t is
well fed.
What to plant in the garden depends
largely on the individual taste of the
family. But 1t is not possible to salty
all in regard to their vegetabl any
more than in other things. so 1t Ia
best not to try too many vegetables.
especially the first year. 1t is especi-
ally desirable on the part of amateurs
TO avoid those things which require
expert experience. There 10 enough Of
fun and exercise in growing the staples
to satisfy any novice. In view OF the
present world wide food crisis it Is of
first Importance to grow those crops
which can be canned or dried. Saw
ing the surplus is second only to pro-
duction
Thorough cultivation is necessary.
Frequent and shallow stirring of the
soil helps to conserve the moisture
and to keep down the weeds. The
deep digging or ploughing should come
before planting. Certainly, they have
no place in cultivation.
One great trouble with small gar
dens is that the soil is kept packed by
constant walking over it for sight See
ing or in working This can ue cbviat-
ed by laying the ground off In beds
four TO Ave feet wide with a walk |
eighteen to twenty-four inches be-
tween. This calls for planting in very