Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-19
DO Not Hsglsc. the Garden

The FIRST flush of spring growth has
passed. and the long heated period OF
the summer is upon US The tendency
under such conditions is TO neglect the
garden and 10 overlook its possibilities
as a source Of food during the balance
of the season and particularly through
out the autumn. Il =. OF course. more
difficult TO grow crops successfully IN
warm weather when the land is likely TO
be dry than in the spring or autumn
There is so much at stake, however, in
the matter Of food production at this
time that special effort should be put
forth to make the garden do its full
duty. In many places water can be used
TO advantage. Some are so situated that
they might spray small areas by the
overhead method or irrigtate the land
with the hose after laying il on in open
burrows The cost of the water used
will be trifIing compared to the food re-
turned which it is possible to obtain
through irrigation. The irrigating
should be done in the evening or at
night. In the morning fresh earth
should be worked over the furrow IN
which the water has been run TO pre-
vent the baking and crusting OF the land
and also 10 conserve the moisture as
we'll The frequent cultivation OF the
soil AT this season OF the year is a mat
ter of the utmost Importance. The gar
den should be worked over at least once
a week. and Oftener II the water is un-
usually hot and there are frequent
showers There is nothing so impor-
taut as TO keep a dust mulch working
effectively at all times for the conser-
walton of moisture. Those OF US VINO
live in humid climates overlook and
forget frequently that the most forbid
ding dessert on the American continent
can be made TO blossom like the rose II
water is applied consistently 10 the land
a word now as to the use Of fertiliz-
ers At this season of the year there
are certain garden crops which will be
benefited by side applications of ferti-
lizer. For this purpose nitrate OF soda
is the best In its absence, however. l
would not hesitate to use blood, tanlIage
or cottOnseed meal Rather shallow
rooted, rapid-feeding crops like most or
those grown il our gardens are bene-
fitted by the use OF quickly available car
riers Of nitrogen. and all OF the mate
rails mentioned win become available
with sufficient rapidity TO meet the re-
Quirements OF such crops II IS good
practice for instance. to put on several
light applications OF nitrogen for Gu
cumbers, egg plants. sweet peppers ana
tomatoes Sweet corn is also helped by
srch appIications As d rule. the nitro
gen should seldom be applied to these
crops at the rate of more than twenty
Eve pounds per acre at one time, out
should be put on once every two weeks
scattering il alongside the drill row oGt
not in contact with the plans ana COW
eriug very lightly in the SOIL IN an
cases exce7t where nitrate OF soda Is
used. and this should be applied strictly
as a top dressing
At this season OF the year ceEtaAh
crops should either be planted or pre-
variations made 20 that end rms Is
The time 10 get the land ready and plant
second crop irish potatoes. corn, beans
-oDions- carrots. cowpeas. soy beans.
naanuts eoIIarGs. csbbase. -turnips.
baers and tomatoes To this end the
land intended for these crops should DE
prepared and cultivated with the hlgnest
degree of skill possible What Is needed
is TO obtain a proper degree OF tlneness
and friability together with suttlcleht
content OF water TO insure quick ana
Tanid termination: If stand can be
obtained most of these crops VIII DO
fairly well with only limited amount
of water They may not make very
rspid growth during the extremely hot
weather Of July and August. but they
will at least become well established in
the soil ready to give good account
of themselves as soon as little moist
ure falls and the nights become slightly
cool as they frequently do in August
and almost certain to do in early Sep
TENDER.
Where the garden is of any consider
able size. il snay be plOwed, cultivated
and narrowed. In case of small lots
spading will probably be about the only
effective method to pursue Even if
the planting of these crops is to be de-
Iayed for as much as thirty days, ii
is good practice to break up the soil
as soon as possible. and then harrow
and work over the surface frequently
10 hold such moisture IS is already in
the soil or which may be made TO ac-
cumuIate therein to a considerable ex-
tent through the preservation of dust
mulch
The fertilizer TO be used is best ap-
piled under the drill row at the time
all OF these crops are planted. Any
formula may be used VII On can be OBJ
tanned. Our experience and observation
leads 10 the conclusion that probably
a mixture OF cotton seed meal and acid
phosphate is as satisfactory as any
thing. individuals will be more likely
TO secure this mixture than almost any
thing else under the existing conditions.
and will probably be as reasonable as
to cost. and from long experience we
know as satisfactory as many other
formulas which could be obtained with
ease I'm less strenuous times OF course.
the writer is not welded to this mix
tUre. Ii will be equally satisfactory to
use blood. tankage. nitrate Of soda. sui