Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29
SOME SUGGESTIONS
FOR HOME GARDENS
takes Most Beginners
Make.
SOIL MUST BE IN PROPER SHAPE
Onions, Garden Peas and Summer
Potatoes Should BE in Ground
Before May 10 Warns Against
Planting Too Many Varieties.


j. Frank Fooshe. director Of the
home-garden movemcn; in Richmond.
has prepared the following instructions
for those planting back yard gardens
this spring:
The awakened interest in production
on the part Of people In the cities
marks new era in the Industrial life
of America. This movement il !, ncw
discovery of latent possibilities as much
so as the bringing forth Of new
invention City gardens arc tho child
OF necessity.
Many persons viii plant gardens for
the first time. Lots that have long
lain .dic will he brough. into cuIri-
walton. Workers withou; experience.
and lands that have no, been ia Gull
tivation furnish great combination
for eXperim cntation. The crop of mis-
takes is not likely TO be short. The
following general suggestions may help
10 lessen their number.
PREPARATION Of SOIL
Is IMPORTA Nj STEP
The first step in the making OF
good garden is putting the soil into
right condition Ground that is well
drained. thoroughly broken and free
from clods or rubbish is easily cul,i-
waited and should yield well under ia
vorabie 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 field crop. Until the ground is
put in good till, it is beat for the
seed to remain In the house or at the
seed store.
n i'm nS ,o
comes the feeding Of the plants or fer
litigation. This food can he had from
dccaycd organic matter. or the CONNER
cial fertilizers. The so-calicd burn
ing up OF crops by fertilizers OF any
kind il usually due to a lack OF plant
food rather than 10 TOO much. The
better the condition OF the land. the
more plant food the growing crops will
take up. In tho rich trucking sections
truckers use one to three tons OF
medium grade fertilizer. such as an
S-3-4. S-4-3 or S-3-5 NJ the rate OF
Il ton TO the acre. which on ordinary
ground is a heavy application. twenty
live pounds would he required for each
500 square feet Of space. Where this
quantity is used, IL is preferable TO
broadcast the fertilizer. as il is not
well to put down TOO much AT one
place. II used in tho Hill drill
IL should be mixed with tho soil. Your
scotsman will help you in determining
what fertilizer and how much to use
SHOULD PLANT GARDEN
ON or BEFORE: MAY 10
The time of planting varies great
ly in different sections. For Rich
mond and surrounding territory
onions. garden peas and potatoes for
the summer crop should not be plant,
cd later than May 10. where these
have not been planted there should
lie no further delay. Those who plant
OIL hnn hnc
3 have taken n good chance OF losing
their seed. Those who have not plant
cd these crops need not worry. The
season for planting beans and corn il
now on. though ii Is best TO postpone
the planting OF pole beans and sugar
corn for 4 week or two longer \ few
potted tomato plants might be Sc; out
in the open this early. II properly
protected on cool nights. But il would
not be wise 10 set ones whole tomato
crop SO early.
There should he succession Of
paintings OF both beans and corns so
As TO have these vegetables through
out the season. The measure of sue
cess in gardening is having a con-
tinuous supply of the staple vegetables
The first mess of beans or the larg-
est head OF cabbage no more makes
garden than a lone swallow the
summer. TOO frequently ones sue
cess with the early vegetables is
late weeds. Land is more at rest in
cultivation than growing weeds. pro-
vided II IS we'll fed.
SHOULD not TRY TOO
MUCH AT FIRST
What TO plant in the garden de-
ponds largely on the individual taste
OF the family. But il is not possible
to satisfy all in regard To their vese-
tables any more than in other things
So 1t is best not to try TOO many veg
ctables especially the first year 1t
is especially desirable on the part OF
the amateur to avoid those things
which require expert experience. There
is enough OF fun and exercise in grow
ing the staples 10 satisfy any novice.
In view OF the present world W Idle
food crisis it Is Of first Importance to
grow those crops which can he canned
or dried. Saving the surplus is sec
ond only to production
Thorough cultivation is necessary
Frequent and shallow stirring of the
soil helps 10 conserve the moisture and
TO keep down the weeds. The deep
digging or blowing should come before
in cultivation.
One great trouble with small gardens
is that the soil is kept packed by con-
slant walking over it for sight seeing
or in working. This can be obviated by
laying the ground off in beds four 10
i've rect "ihc WIN al Walk elsnicSn 10
twenty-four inches between. This callY
for planting in Very short drills across
the bed and working the plants from
the walk. II is very easy for you
and your friends to walk your work
out.
The difficulties OF cultivation are fire.
quently intensified by walking over or
working the ground when il is too
wet II there is An excess OF moisture
ii is good policy TO stay out OF the
garden or field. on this account il is
better to. transplant plants when the
garden Is dry and 10 water them.
There is much Of both pleasure and
profit In gardening. Nor is there any
thing that adds more to the pleasure
than the profits. Everlastingiy at il is
the price.