Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-04-20
Weekly Suggestions For
Vegetable Growers

Prepared by the New Jersey Agricultural
Society, New Brunswick)
Saturday, April 21st, has been set
aside by Governor Edge as planting
day throughout the state, and every
thing is being done to encourage the
planting Of staple crops on all land
available. Prof. Alva Agee, Secretary
of the State Board Of Agriculture, Tren-
ton, and DR.. J. G. Lipman, Director of
the New Jersey Agricultural Expert
ment Station, New Brunswick, are
doing all in their power to arouse the
farmer and home gardener to do his or
her patriotic duty.
The PROSTATE countries of Europe
must be saved from starvation by
American grown products. Our pop
ulAtion has been rushing to the cities
since the great industrial boom began.
Our farmers are left without farm
laborers just when this country should
meet the international food shortage
which is almost here now, and it is
anticipated by our statesmen and agri-
cultural leaders that very severe times
will exist within a year.. The planting
of those crops of greatest economical
value such as potatoes, dried beans and
peas, onions, corn, the root crops, and
crops for canning is urged upon every
Hone who has a plot of ground available.
The governor OF New Jersey is coop
Grating with all state agencies the
State Board of Agriculture, the Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, the Ex-
tension Division of the State Agricult-
ural cole ge, including the county farm
demonstrators, and the public schools
of the state in proclaiming April 21st
"Planting Day." Therefore, these
notes will discuss those crops which
may be planted to advantage on that
day. The planting of potatoes, onions,
peas, asparagus, straw berries, early
cabbage plants, lettuce, sweet corn,
beans and beets should be done as soon
as possible. If the planting Of tnions,
lettuce and peas is delayed good results
cannot be expected from these crops.
They cannot do their best when grown
in hot weather.
SUMMER SQUASH
The summer crookneck squash Is
very productive from early July until
October. Three hills in a garden will
supply a family of five with enough
squash all summer. The hills are made
by opening a furrow five inches deep.
The plant food used is distributed along
IN the row and the, material is covered
three inches deep with soil; then a doz-
en- seeds are dropped every four feet in
the rows, which should be five feet
apart in a com mercial field. The seed
is covered to a depth of an inch and a
half. Cucumbers and cantaloupes are
planted in much the same way. AS
soon as the seedlings begin to come up
the grower should be prepared to dust
wood ashes, tobacco dust or air-slaked
lime upon the hills to drive away the
destructive striped cucumber beetle.
TOMATOES
Tomato plants should not be set out
In the garden until reasonable danger
of frost is past. In southern Jersey
this will be after April 25th aud in
northern Jersey after May 10th. Frost
sometimes comes In northern Jersey on
the night of the full moon in earlylMay.
This occurs on May 9th this year.
Killing frosts may be expected about
that date. Tomatoes produce hea Willy,
and if a surplus is produced they may
be canned very easily and successfully
by the cold pack method advocated by
Miss M. Anna Hauser, extension divis-
ion, State Agricultural College, New
Brunswick, N. j.
CARROTS
This crop may be planted at once
using ounce of seed for a row 100 feet
long. Plant it 10 rows IA inches apart
and n half inch deep. After the seed
comes up 1t may be advisable to thin
the plants SO that less than fifty plants
will be in n foot. Later on, by pull
ing the largest carrots from the thickest
spots, a maximum yield will be obtain
ed.
Next week the control of cut worms
will be discussed. b The cutting of
asparagus and potato bug treatment
will be described.