The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-14
70. 1. The Soil. Water and Fertilizc'

{. Requirements of Successful Home
: Garden,
Washington. D. c., March 10.-The
/ damage done to garden crops by the
. recent widespread freeze has made 1t
accessory for many owners either to
!, feplant gardens or to delay planting
. beyond the usual time. These gar
! ieners whose outdoor schedules have
been upset are under the necessity of
! 1oing everything they can to hasten
their crops The following sugges-
! lions regarding the principles ana
practice of gardening. tina horttcu tural
SPECIALISTS of the. United States de-
rartnent OF agriculture believe, will
De timely and helpful both to these
gardeners and to others In localities
where the plantin season naturally Is
Rter.
The Eardener who merely wishes to
raise vegetables for his own family
will do well, especially this year. to
choose the crops he will grow from
hose which previously have done best
Ia his special locality The morket
gardener must bear this fact IN mind.
but also must study the market and
anticipate It's usual demand and de-
& t0AA1lHt d. LAT us lie CAU no" lhIS
demand will be affected by any un-
Doward weather conditions which may
have occurred in his section.
Those who desire to produce cariy
crops should bear In mind that a
Harm, sandy loan will produce an
Arl1er crop than a heavier ~oi' that
tetains more water and less heat
Frost 10 less apt to injure vegeta bies
planted on high ground than those
planted In low places or valleys into
which the heavier cold air commonly
yettles. The garden should be fairly
svel. but well drained The crop
F1ll mature more rapidly on land that
NAs q sunny. Southern exposure than
/ , other plots
The Essentials OF Gardening.
Z Tho essentials for successful gar
eening on q small or large scale are
poil. water. and cultivation. Mucn de-
tends also on the grower. the season.
Ind tho crops selected.
The soil 10 the storehouse Of plant
bod. The garden. therefore, should
contain humus or rotted materia. m
Arve quantities The gardener should
temember that about SO per cent OF
ordinary earth In not soil At all. but
sonsists Of air and water.
Water makes plant food that il
present freely soluble. Rain and NOW
katsr are soft and contain namonia-
the magic OF soft water on the plant
gorid 10 one of the miracles Of good
gardening. a. everyone who has con-
kAsted the effect OF rain with that
Produced By sprinkllng with hose
roAlt1eA Plants are succul~nt and
contain large amounts OF water which
hsy have to draw from the soil
importance OF Good Cultivation.
The conservation of soil moisture
, the most important reason for Gull
antinG cropa The two other prtn-
npal things accom- plished by cuttiva-
Don arc the killing of weeds which
de crops. and the aerauon OF the
,oii.
TOO much stress cannot b laid on
d preparation OF q good seed bed. A
Dsed bSd OF nne tiith---made 20 by
le6p blowing. careful narrowing. and
hing Of the soil---.s the foundation
n good gardening. 1t Ia essential for
he proper termination and growth
" young plants The SOL must be
h1ahie and free from clodA A ciod
IAN hold no plant food In solution tho
,nly form In which II Is available for
no plant Good soil and hne tilth in
mre an excellent root system to
,lants Upon the fne hairy norous.
kedins roots, which are. possible only
D we'll titled soil. the plant depends
or its stockiness and growth. The
Areful gardener will regard his whole
rarden as a seed bed and Will Guilt
sate and fertilixe u accordingly.
Fcrtilizerr-
Fertfiixsrs, the plan, food for ths
nrdsn, should be carefully selected.
Ntrosen, which stimulates loaf
rowth. 10 best supplied by turning
inder rich. weli-rotted or composted
manure. or rotting vegetable matter.
rtrogen also Ia supplied in such fer
alisers as nitrate OF soda and sulphaee
n ammonia. AS well as in bone neal
md tankagc,
Potash tends to hasten the maturity
Il the plant, but also has tendency
b counteract the work OF nitrogen.
bn this account those not experienced
d using potash will fnd rulpha'e OF
potash better. or at least safar in most
nsea than the murtate. On account
n the disturbed commercial eondt
IONS one OF the most available sources
4 potash Is hard wood ashes
Plants need balanced ration. TT
hey are lacking In nitrogen, they show
mle leaf and stunted plant form Elk
less OF nitrogen is shown by large
paf and patent growth with imper-
kct fruitage. II the plants lack pot
IN. they will not be fruitful
Sheep manure will hurry plants
dong more rapidly than most chemi-
"a, fertilizers
70. z. AIDS tn FAF4ier Garden Crops.
washington, y. c.. March l0.--The
totbed and the cold frame are the
mrdener's greatest aids In raising
nriier crops. The hotbed enables him
% plant seed and produce seedlings
ong before the seed planted out Of
toors has begun to terminate The
old frame enables him to get the
eedlings produced in the hothouse
radually accustomed to outdoor con-
nttons and to raise these into strong.
turdy planting stock by the time the