The Colorado statesman., 1918-03-09
FREE WATER OFFERS AND WAR
GARDENS.

When our President called upon the
people of the United States for help,
the city of Denver was the first to an
swer and they answered in no uncer-
tain terms. The Denver Union Water
Company inaugurated the Garden
Movement with the free water offer
and the people planted 10000 gardens
under the direction of the Water Com
pany's experts, and the harvest was
bountiful. From 100000 to 15,000,-
900 gallons of water were required
daily.
The gardens had several significant
meanings:
1st They taught Patriotism in u
practical way.
End. They gave people new idea
of helping themselves.
3rd. They gave many tired busi-
ness man and many tired society
woman healthful recreation.
4th. They kept children from the
street and gave them pleasant and ed
ucational occupations.
This year the Water Company has
obtained the services of woman gar
den expert, Mrs. Martha A. Shute.
Mrs. Shute is known from coast to
coast She was for sixteen years sec
retary and member of the Colorado
State Board of Horticulture and Com
missioner in charge of exhibits at the
Chicago Worlds Fair, the Transmits
sissippi Exhibition and the Worlds
Fair at st. Louis.
At these great shows, the State of
Colorado carried off the honors and
a major portion of the gold and silver
medals. This was due, in gerat meas
ure to the organization and informa-
tion of the staff in charge, as well as
the superiority of the exhibit.
The women of Denver cannot show
in better way their patriotism and
their love of country than to get out
and work in the War Gardens.
This is the month for those who
have war gardens to force a few of the
vegetables for home consumption
says Mrs. Shute. 1.-The plants can be
bought later for field plantings-good
ones, too-but it is a great satisfaction
to the average person to plant the
seed and grow what is needed for a
small garden.
Little outside work can be done
during the early part of this month,
but much can be accomplished in the
way of starting plants in flat seed
boxes, which may be kept in the
house.
For indoor planting, seeds of toma-
toes, cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower,
peppers and egg plant can be start
ed and transplanted to the open as
soon as the weather settles. The wood
eE seed box may be of any convenient
size: the depth should be about four
inches, with one inch of gravel in the
bottom, then filled with rich garden
soil, which must be fine This may be
pressed firmly down before the seeds
are planted. 1t is best to plant in
rows, two inches apart, and six or
eight seeds to the inch. Cover with
light sprinkling of soil, then water, not
too heavily, and place box in warm,
sunny location indoors.
For several days befire the plants
are set in the garden, it is very essen.
tial that the boxes be placed out OF
doors on mild days, thus giving the
young plants a chance to harden"
Before transplanting in the field
give good watering so that plenty OF
soil remains on the roots. If the work
is properly done, the transplanting as
sists the growth and develops
healthy root system. 1t will not be
necessary to shade plants if the roots
are not disturbed and the. work is done
on a cloudy day Always set the
plants deeper than they were in the
boxes.
"Time for transplanting to field va
ries. It may be safe to plant out cab
bage. cauliflower, egg plant and let
tuce the last week in April; tomatoes
and peppers ten or fifteen days later.