Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-26
BACK YARD GARDENING
As REDUCED TO SCIENCE
Many Important Details OF Cultiva-
ton Being Taught by Poly
technfc Institute.
VEGETABLE THINNING AN ART
Delays That Are Dangcrous-Impor-
tant to Watch the Onion as Closely
as the Tender Cucumber or the
Delicate Lettuce.

The garden specialist OF the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College
ana the Polytechnic Institute is hav-
| ing the work time of his life nova
| days The thousand and one more or
less probably many more back-lot
| town and city gardeners who are tr-
! ing questions at him arc being an
swered as fast as possible. but on some
| points he wants to speak 10 all of
them at once. For that reason he sends
| TO The Times Dispatch an ntere tins,
treatlSc On the art OF thinning vegc-
| ia blcs.
Thinning of vegetables. he says. is 4
practice fully appreciated by successful
truckers, but is commonly overlooked
by the amateur or the farmer who
grows a few vegetables for the local
market To the amateur il is "A tedious
TASK; TO the farmer ali expensive one.
but TO the trucker despite the expense
and backachc. il is most profitable. The
results are greater production. full ma
turity and better quality in products
Every vegetable needs its rightfui
amount of space for development. and
1t matters not whether the plant is
crowded by neighbor Of its kind or
a weed. Normal development is pre-
Nerted in either case by restricted
food and water supply and by lack of
plant IS stunted, resulting in slender
roots. Il root crop: in tendency TO
run 20 seed if head lettuce or spinach.
and III many cases Il tendency toward
greater susceptibility to diseases.
AS N OTHER MATTERS.
DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS
There is considerable variation in
the Importance of thinning with diff
forent vegetables. Head lettuce is pc
if,c 81
Ing on from eight to twelve inches
depending Gpon the size Of the variety.
Sufhcicu; space should he left so that
the foiia-c Will not moro than touch
when fully matured. Mustard and
Crcss. If normally seeded need no
thinning at all
The usual tendency is TO delay thin
ming too long. II. even as seedlings
the plants are crowded. they tend 10
become 'spindly' and more tender.
TNon when tho thinning and wedding
is done tho remaining plants. already
stun:od are given a setback because
Q: Tia disturbed root systems and sud-
den exposure OF the previously pro-
tecteC foliage. The first thinning
should be done when the second true
leaves appear. Moist weather and soil
are favorable The seedlings arc more
easily removed and those left are less
disturbed. Particularly in dry weather
II : good practice 10 cultivate imme-
dlately after thinning. as some soil
is thrown about the plants. protecting
any exposed roots or crowns and in
surfing greater moisture supply.
DETAILS AND PARTICULARS
WORTH LOOKING AFTER
Distances between vegetables varies
considera bly,. The root crops require
the least. particularly those growing
all season. such as parsnips and satisfy,
which only require three inches. The
foliage crops need conside rably more,
depending on the size of the top. The
large plants. such as sweet corn. need
Su!l more y knowledge of the variety
of any one vegetable is essential for
most effective thinning. as some are
much larger than others and some
more susceptible to any drying condi-
lions. One fact is indisputablc: the
greater the thinning, the earlier the
maturity. Thus common distance for
earliest bccis is six or eight inches
while for late ones two to three inches
is sufficient. In no case docs it pay
10 delay thinning because OF deisre
10 allow the plants 10 reach a size
when the thinned plants are disable.
In the case Of bccts and lettuce. the
late trimmings are usablc. Trimmings
from bects may be used as greens |
Inc best practice is TO do the thin
h!hH gradually leaving the strongest
pants but never two in the same
place Allowance is then made for
p"ss.n !e injury from insects.
DON'T NEGLECT MELONS
AND CUCUMBERs |!
onions. by some commercial growers. |
are seeded tho exact distance OF the |
ma stand In such cases the soil is |
Itce from weeds, maegots, grubs and |
disease and both The seed and drill |
are inc best procurabe. AS rule. |
however. thinning IS absolutely necos-
sary, particularly on weak land IF
not completed by the time the onions
arc me SIZE OF pencil. the bulbs are
imct'Hed I" ripen prema turcly. Three
ihches - sufficient
ucumScrs, melons and squash arc
hloS' commonly planted in hills. TN.
"rlelni number Of eight or ten plsn,s
- reduced to two or three plants af,er
DANGER Of injury from insects js some.
na' PASSED The safer method with
Nthe crops ~ 10 pinch the plant ions
rs 'Hesc roots are very sensitive.
ne roots may be disturbed by pulling
up an adjoining plant. In case If
"' NJ" V.nc crops, which is often prac
&c" I" lessen the injury OF ins.rts
Z.