The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-05-04
Prepare a Good Seed Bed


food and should, therefore, have a
relatively open texture so that the
rootlets of vegetables may extend
themselves readily in their search for
sustenance. A high proportion of
humus or rotted vegetable material
is desirable in the soil, since it pro-
duces an open texture, adds nitrogen,
insures the presence of beneficial
bacteria, aids in unlocking plant food
from mineral particles, and increases
the misunderstanding properties of
the soil.
About SO per cent of ordinary
earth is not soil at all, but consists
of air and water. Water makes the
soluble plant food that is present in
the soil freely available, while the
air in the soil makes possible bac-
terial development and facilitates
chemical action which makes addi-
tional plant food available.
The cultivation of crops is import
ant because the stirring and loosen
ing of the soil directly conserves
: moisture to some extent, kills weeds,
which draw moisture and plant food
at the expense of the crops, and in
corporates air into the soil.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid
on the preparation of good seed
bed. A seed bed of fine tilth-made
such by deep plowing, careful har-
rowing, and filming of the SOILS the
foundation of good gardening. 1t is
essential for the proper termination
Of seeds and growth of young plants.
The soil must be friable and free
from clods. Clods lock up plant food
and prevent its utilization by the
plant. Good soil and fine tilth fur
nish best conditions for root develop
ment. Upon the fine, hairy, fibrous,
feeding roots which are possible only
in well-tilled soil, the plant depends
for stockiness and growth.
The careful gardener will regard
his whole garden as a seed bed and
will cultivate and fertilize it accord
ingly.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers, the plant foods for the
garden, should be carefully selected.
Nitrogren, which stimulates leaf
growth, is best supplied by turning
under rich, well-rotted, or composted
manure or rotting vegetable matter.
Sheep manure and poultry droppings
will hurry plant along more rapidly
than most chemical fertilizers. These
substances, as well as bone meal, also
a valuable fertilizer, usually may be
obtained from seed stores. Light top
dressings of well rotted barnyard
manure or use of the liquid portions
of manure after the garden is plant
ed is very beneficial.
Plan for Planting
In making your plans for planting
arrange the garden
1. SO that tall vegetables will not
shade dwarf vegetables.
2. So that plants will not crowd
one another and make cultivation or
hoeing impossible.
8. So that you can transplant late
vegetables, like cabbage, celery or
cauliflower, on land that has previ-
ously produced an early crop of rad
ishes, lettuce or peas.
4. Plant peas in double rows so
that one row will support another.
5. If you grow cucumbers or
squash, provide room for the vines.
This land, however, can be used early
in spring for early crops.
Varieties to Grow
The following varieties are best
suited to our conditions:
Dwarf Beans-Davis White Kidney
Wax or Homestead.
String or Dry Beans-Dwarf Hor-
ticultural.
Pone Beans-Kentucky Wonder or
Homestead (string); horticultural;
Burgers Stringless, Green Pod.
Peas-Pole, Telephone; Bush, Ala
ska, Bluebell.
Carrot-Danvers Half Long, Chat
enay.
White Spine, Long
Green.
Parsnip-Guernsey Hollow Crown.
Salsify-Sandwich Island Nam
moth.
Beets-Red Egyptian, Detroit Tur-
nip.
10 Corn-Golden Bantam, Peep ODay
Onions-Australian Brown, Yellow
Globe Danvers.
Potatoes-Early, Earliest of All
Early Harvest, White Ohio; Late
American Wonder, Irish Beauty, W