Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-09
PRINCIPLES FOR MAKING
SUCCESS OF HOME
VEGETABLE PATCH

The damage done to garden crops by
the recent widespread freeze has made
1t necessary for many owners either to
replant gardens or to delay planting
beyond the usual time. These gar
deners whose outdoor schedules have
been upset are under the necessity Of
doing everything they can to hasten
their crops. The following suggestions
regarding the principles and practice
Of gardening, the horticultural special
lists of the United States department.
Of agriculture believe, will be timely
and helpful both to these gardeners
and others In localities where the
planting season naturally is later
The gardener who merely wishes to
raise vegetables for his own family
will do well, especially this year. to
choose the crops he will grow from
those which previously have done best
in his special locality The market
gardener must bear this fact in mind.
but also must study the market and
anticipate its usual demand and deter
mine as far as he can how this de-
mand will be affected by any unto
ward weather conditions which may
have occurred in his section.
Those who desire to produce early
crops should bear in mind that
warm, sandy loan will produce an
earlier crop than a heavier soil that
retains more water and less heat. Frost
Is less apt to injure vegetables planted
on high ground than those planted in
low places or valleys into which the
heavier cold air commonly, settles.
The garden should be fairly level, but
well drained. The crop will mature
more rapidly on land that has sunny.
southern exposure than in other plots.
The Essentials Of Gardening.
The essentials for successful gar
denlng on a small or large scale are
soil. water, and cultivation. Much de-
ponds also on the grower. the season,
and the crops selected
The soil Is the storehouse of plant
food. The garden, therefore. should
contain humus or rotted material In
large quantities. The gardener should
remember thai about so per cent OF
ordinary earth is not soil at all but
consists Of air ard water.
Water makes plant food that is
present freely soluble. Rain and snow
water are soft and contain ammonia.
The magic Of soft water on the plant
world is one Of the miracles Of good
ga deuing. as every one who has con-
trastcd the effect of rain with tina:
produced by sprinkIing with hose
realizes. Plants are succulent and con-
l.. t.t,
they have to draw from the soil.
Importance Of Bed and Cultivation.
The conservation OF soil moisture Is
the most important. reason for Gull
ivating crops. The two other pr!nci-
pal things accomplished by cultivation
are the killing OF weeds which draw
moisture and plant food from the
crops, and aeration of the soil.
Too much stress can not be laid on
the preparation of good seed bed.
seed bed OF fine tilth--madc so by deep
blowing. careful narrowing. and ining
OF the Soils the foundation OF good
gardening. 1t is essential for the prop
err termination and growth Of young
plants. The soif must he friable and
free from 1clods. A. clod can hold no
plant food In solution. the only form
In which II Is availa Bile for the plant.
Good soil and fine filth insure an ex-
cellert root system TO plants. Upon
the fine hairy nbrous. feeding roots
which are possible only IN well-tilled
soil, the plant depends for its stocki-
ness and growth, The careful gar
dener will regard his whole garden as
seed bed and will cultivate and fer
.,lt1n % orcnrd{ppIy
Fertilizers.
Fertilizers, the plant food for the
garden, should be carefully selected.
Nitrogen, which stimulates leaf
growth, is best supplied by turning
under rich, weil-rooted or composted
manure. or rott'ng vegetable matter
Nitrogen also is supplied in such fer
tlliZers as nitrate Of soda and sui
phate Of ammonia, as well as in bone
meal and tankage.
Potash tends to hasten the maturity
OF the plant but also has a tendency
to counteract the work OF nitrogen. On
this account those not experienced In
using potash will find sulphate of pot
ash better. or at least safer In most
cases, than the muriate. On account
OF the disturbed commercial conditions
one Of the most available sources OF
potash is hardwood ashes.
Plants need q balanced ration. II
they are lacking in nitrogen, they
show pale leaf and stunted plant form.
Excess Of nitrogen L. shown by large
leaf and plant growth with imperfect
frutage. II the plants lack potash,
they will not be fruitful.
Sheep manure will hurry plants
along more rapidly than most chemi-
cal fertilizers.
Conference On Seed Conservation.
Conservation of live stock, seed
grain and seed vegetables received an
impetus at conference at Waterloo
when members Of the county board and
q committee from the Rotary club.
composed OF 9. w. Huntley. A. J.
Knapp and w. F.. Parrot. freely and
frankly discussed ways and means OF
achieving the highest measure of con-
servation for the public good In future
years
Board members were willing to
meet q little earlier than usual In or
der to give consideration to the sub
ject. All OF them either are active
farmers or Interested In agricultural
success.