Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-23
Your War Garden


movement Is sure to develop large
number of permanent gardens. Such
movement to produce garden truck as
is now under way can not fail TO leave
behind it a permanent increase in the
number OF gardens and gardeners.
This being the case, no garden or door
yard Is quite complete without at least
some tree and bush fruits and berries.
Right now Is the time when trees and
bushes should be planted. Now also
Is the time when the harder of the
vegetable plants should be set out. y
little later it will be too late for either.
Space will not allow for detailed IN
structions regarding the setting out all
the many kinds of fruit bearing nur-
sery stock or plants. But there are
many general and old established
rules that apply equally we'll to all
kinds and should be followed to insure
success.
Avoid planting when the ground is
too wet. 1t is better to err on the
other side and furnish the moisture
from pail than to indulge in wet
planting"
The general rule is good one that
in transplantins any growing thing
with possibly a very few exceptions
the plant should be set in the ground
a little deeper than il grew before. one
OF the exceptions is strawberry plants.
Trim off the ends Of broken or
bruised roots. especially If they arc
large and leave the end Clearly cut
thru live tissue. Make the hole into
which the plant or shrub or tree is to
be set amply large to give room to
spread the root system out well. Avoid
jamming the roots into small tight
hole: this is fatal Work in around the
roots fine earth and fertilizer. il any
Of the right kind is available, and
press the earth in firmly. If the earth
is quite dry press it in very firmly;
but II it is quite moist 1t need not be
packed so hard When the hole has
been nearly filled, especially If the
soil is dry pour liberal amount of
water around the roots and allow 1T
to soak in. Then fill up the hole to
the proper height around the stalk or
stem with dry earth. This will act as
mulch and hold the Moisture in.
In transplanting it is another gen
eral rule to cut back the top of plant
or shrub or tree in about the same
proportion that the root system is
trimmed off. The exact amount var
les with different nursery stock and
plants But it is a good plan with
cabbage and tomato plants to pluck
off part Of the leaves or side shoots.
ii this is done and the plants have
I1yif1 he
necessary to protect them from the
sun by shading them provided the
weather is at all normal. For such
plants the evening is the best time to
set them out as they have all night to
begin establishing themselves before
the sun strikes them. To be sure to
save them, however, 1t is we'll to
shade them, If the sun shines warm,
with shingles or cones made Of news
papers.
Now is the time to set out straw,
berry plants. There is no other fruit
bearing plant that requires the care,
but there is also no other that, given
the best of care, will repay SO much
in fruit. The best and really only first
class method of cultivating straw
berries for the small garden is by
what is known as the hill system. BY
this method all runners are cut or as
fast as they appear, which throws the
strength Of the growth into one large
vigorous crowd sthat produces a big
clump Of leaves and much fruit.
Strawberries planted this way should
be set put about eighteen inches to
two feet apart in the row, and the
rows about the same distance apart.
Care should be observed in not plant
ing the plant deep enough to cover
the crowd, but all leaves, except one
or two should be cut of when planted.
The roots should be trimmed back
third. Cultivation must be frequent.
once a week or every ten days and
the weeds must be kept down. Straw
berries are voracious feeders and the
soil must be well fortified, but green
manures must not be used Straw
berries should be set out only in soil
that has been cleanly cultivated to
other crops for several years. Ground
harbors the white grub. the child of
the June bug, probably the most
destructive single enemy of the straw
berry plant The June bug seldom
lays Ms eggs in clean. cultivated
ground. Strawberries planted this year
should not be allowed to bear until
next spring. The blossoms should
be plucked as fast as they ap-
pear What is gained, and more too. in
fruit this year, if they are allowed to
bear, will be lost in the first full crop
next wear