Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-08-01

copyright 1917 Dy w. Atlee Burpee q
Co., Seedgrowers, Philadelphia.
-
Abraham Lincoln used to tell a
story, by way of illustrating what the
promises of some of his political op-
ponents amounted to, Of splendid
boulevard he once came across in a
western CITY,. It began as fine aven-
ne, fanked with magnificent trees on
either side, and wide enough for three
coach-and-fours to drive abreast, but
just beyond the town limits it became
a dirt road, and then cowpath, and
finally became squirrel path that ran
up tree and ended in a knot-hole!
Some of our "war gardens are go
ing to end like that this year. Every
season in fact, war or no war, there
are many gardeners who start out
do excellently in getting their gardens
started, only to have their good resOlu-
lions 'peter OUT toward midsummer,
and finally let things slide entirely.
This means that they not only lose
the opportunity to get fall as well as
a summer crop from their gardens, but
forfeit the benefits of much work they
have already done, and by raising a
crop of weeds, waste the fertility of
the soil and SOW lot Of trouble for
next season. Weeds are always ready
to go to work and produce crop of
seeds just as soon as the gardener
stops producing crops Of vegetables.
MI into hor Of hn
enemy! Even if you can't push this
years campaign any further, at least
hold what you have gained for next
springs drive.
Summer neglect of the gardens is
caused more often by ignorance of
just what should be done than by
carelessness. It may seem waste of
time to cultivate soil from which you
have already succeeded in freeing
from weeds; or to pull weeds in the
rows of vegetables that have made
their full growth, and will be 'gone
by in weekor two.
But it is not. All the soil between
the rows should be cultivated OF
stirred frequently until you are ready
to take out the first crop and plant
another. Every weed that is left
whether it is directly injuring any
vegetables or not, is robbing the soil
and most Of them will have mature(
seed and thus provided for many hours
of tiresome labor on your part before
you suspect that they are half-grown
because the flowers and seed-pods ar.
so inconspicuous.
r. How Dust Saves Water.
Anyone can easily understand tina
cultivation after wet weather,-a
soon as the soil is dry enough to worl
, In without being sticky help t
loosen it up, and dry it out by admit
ting the air. It is more difficult t
explain to the beginner that frequen
cultivation, in period of dry weather
also helps to keep the moisture in tn
soil. That is, IL the surface Of tn
soil, all over the garden, is kept fnel,
pulverized and dry, the moisture below
the surface can be saved. The dr.
"dust mulch on the surface acts jus
as a covering of leaves or strawe
manure would do, keeping the mois
soil below it protected from the SUI
and wind, which otherwise woul
cause it to be used up rapidly b
evaporation.
This frequent summer cultivation
should not be deep enough to cut o
break the plants roots. One to tw
inches is deep enough. If you hav
not got wheel hoe, which is just tn
thing for this work, get a slide Q
.scuffle hoe. This will cost but fit