El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-22

This Woman Has Grown
More Than She Could
Use, Exercising Sense.

THERE is much talk about gar
dens. but the average American
Il is so used TO extensive farm
ing. that the idea OF raising suffi-
cient food for a family of any size on
city lot or two, under conditions
of poor soil. high cost of water,
neighbors, chickens and dogs. seems
more theory than fact.
When I first came TO Ell Paso.
was told the high cost Of water made
irrigation out Of the question. and
! that rocks. poor soil and alkali made
growing Of potatoes and other yege-
] tables impossible. Naturally / was
curious. for 1 learned gardening in
Japan and China, where every avail
able inch Of soil is cultivated TO give
the greatest amount of produce at the
lowest possible cost.
The Japanese do their gardening on
the principle that II is natural for
things TO grow and that all the soil
was blessed by the Gods. regardless
of place or conditions, IL being only
necessary to give each plant its re-
quired amount OF water and fertilizer
10 grow anywhere. 1 have seen
Japanese grow enough on 20 square
/ feet of soil to feed his family, chick
/ ems ana MS uo6r even " mere nc 4la-N
to carry water mile OF more to the
top Of a hill
Going at 1t in Earnest.
So when prices went up and my
husband was called away as a mill
tary instructor. my income was cut
down and 1t was up 10 me" TO do
my Bit and make up the deficit. I
was confident that, what an unedu-
Gated. half civilized Japanese or
. 10 Gould a "a q
a Chinaman once told me in decrib-
ing their knack, The best Of the
potato is next TO the skin" and The
best Of the soil is next 10 the rock
New soil is prepared by first break
ing up the bed, soaking for three
days until It packs. then breaking
again, throwing off the largest stones
as YOU turn IL over, and putting an
ordinary load OF common stable
manure to each 30 or 40 square feet
Of soil. according to the original rich
ness Of the soil and one load Of COW
manure, If possible, to each 30 square
feet of soil; add 10 this all the chicken
manure and rotted straw available
II there is very much straw, burn
lightly; the burnt particles furnish
valuable fertilizer. Turn under and
soak thoroughly, turning again after
it has dried out, then sprinkle every
night and morning as though planted;
and lightly in the mornings. A large
quantity OF water is not necessary.
How to Begin.
Where you must irrigate and water
IS high. trench in the usual manner,
put a little manure or fertilizer in the
trenches, cover them lightly with
shingles (old ones can be bought any
where for 20 or 80 cents per 100),
leaving a space about six inches
from the roots on either side, cover
them lightly with soil. The moisture
will be retained in the hottest sun,
the plants protected from rust and the
fertilizer continually distributed And
when the work is properly done, IL
will not interfere with cultivation in
a garden Of this kind. Do not show
Partially; the wider the variety, the
more interesting IL will be-
All vegetables are good when prop
erly cooked Buy the best seeds from
the old standard concerns Every
plant has different way Of sprout-
ing. different leaf and plants have
as varied personalities as people.
They respond 10 care and fertilizers
as a man 10 a drink. and shoot up
to unbelievable size in a few days.
Grass requires more mater than the
most delicate vegetables. In Novem-
Der. If you are late getting started.
make your hot bed, which you will
need anyway, furnish your table
through the coolest months with
quick growing radishes. lettuce and
greens. Prepare IL by digging a hole
the size Of your sash. or sashes. two
feet deep In this fit frame. tightly. I
Of any boards over one half inch
thick that YOU have. 20 the depth OF
the hole. In this, pack as tightly as
possible eight inches of fresh horse /
cover with six inches Of soil