The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-06-21
Winter Diet

Endlye should he used NJ soon as
blnnched launching muy be accom-
plishcd hy tying the leaves together
"a % q as the plants nre well grown.
Kohl.rnhl must be- used while ten
der. This may easily be determined
by cutting the thickcncd stem which
constitutes the edible portion. II
tough and %stringy. Il Il too old.
Muskmclons.-Color. size and gcner'
al appearance serve rs guides In tell
Ing when they ARE ready 10 pick. They
should not De allowed TO remain on
the vines until dead ripe. ns they ARE
past their prime when fully ripcned.
observation-disclosures IL deter
mined by sound. and by the general
appearance. A ripe melon when struck
with the hand gives n duh sound,
which II readily recognized after a
few trials.
Okrn should be gathered while the
pods are very young and tender and
while the seeds are still soft.
Onions may be pulled and used as
bunch onions when the bulbs are from
n quarter 20 n half Inch In diameter.
II for boiled onions the bulbs may be
any size.
Parsnips are not used until late In
the autumn when the ground Il frog
IN. Freezlna improves their flavor In
fact, u Il not considered advisable 10
use them ns n summer vegetable. Size
Is OF small importance. but those from
ik to 2 inches IN diameter are consid-
= cred best.
Peas are ready for picking as Don
as the pods ARE well filled aud while
the peas are stil green, yet before el.
Their the peas become hard or the pods
whitish or yellowish. Peas should
not be gathered when too young. and
II too old win be Of poor quality.
Peppers may be gathered NJ any
time until they begin to turn red, For
some purposes they are allowed 90 n.
pen. but usually are picked green.
Early potatoes may be- used at any
time during their growth. An old.
time rule II 10 begin digging them
when they have reached the size Of n
hens egg. II II advisable 20 begin us.
lnr them when they have reached this
size, digging the supply from day 10
day as needed. allowing the bulk OF
the crop 10 grow until needed or until
they mature. Late potatoes should
be allowed 10 grow unit. the vines die
or are killed by frost.
Sweet potatoes are OF poor quality
unless allowed 10 reach maturity. The
slihplest test Il 20 break one OF the po-
tntoes. II drops OF water collect on
the broken surface the crop Is not ma.
ture, This crop grows until frost
kills the vines. but Il II permissible 20
use them quite a while before the
end ~ the growing season.
Rndlshcs may be used as soon "a
large enough. A common practice IL
10 begin thinning them M soon ms large
enough. They should all be used while
young and tender.
Satisfy II grown and handled IN the
snme way ne parsnlps and the same
rules may be followed IN It's use.
summer squashes are ready for use
as soon as large enough. They. how.
ever. should not be picked when very
small, Il when young they r watery
and Of poor quality. As soon as the
shell hardens they are too old for In.
BILE use.
Winter squashes should be allowed
TO grow until the vines die or until
frost Kills them. hut the squnshes
should he stored before being frosted
Tomatoes should be picked when ful.
ly ripe, but should not be allowed TO
remain ON the vines until soft. II Il
not a good practice 10 pick them while
partly ripe, as the flavor Ia injured BY
this practice.
Turnlps for green may be used "a
soon as the foliage Is large enough to
Justify picking; II for the roots, when
the roots are from ~ to 2 inches IN
diameter. When planted as a late
summer crop for roots for storage
they shnnil be allowed 10 grow unit
! hard freezing occurs. Those from 2 q
3 inches In diameter are best. LARGE
ones NAV he paaN for s8aet eaaA