The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-01
NOW IS TIME TO GET IN THAT EARLY FALL GARDEN
Southern Gardens

| Practically all the common garden vep- etables can be grown satisfactorily in
 the south in the late summer and fall. and it is an important item of national defense that every foot of available ground be made to work every day of l the growing season. These points are stressed by specialists of the United States department of agriculture in an
 appeal to southern gardeners, in cities. suburbs or on the farm, to take full ad- vantage of the climatic conditions in the south and increase vegetable crops to the maximum.
 Don't neglect home gardens during the latter portion of the season. the special ists advise, and remember that it is not yet too late even to start garden on land that has been idle this season. It Is perhaps even more important to have a good fall garden in the south
 than it is to have a good spring garden. because in the spring there is supply or commercially grown vegeta bles while in the fall and winter the supply fror~ tnlS source Is limited. A large portion Of the vegetables consumed in the south during the winter must be obtained from the north unless home gardens are
 
 home gardens not only help to feed the nation, but release staple foods for ship \ ment abroad and decrease the strain on
 railroad traffic
 Anyone who is in doubt as to what
 and when to plant in order to have good fall garden is advised to consult experienced neighbors or get in touch 1 with his county agricultural agent, the state colleges of agriculture or the Unit ed States department of agriculture. VEGETABLES FOR STORAGE In the fall, garden space should be devoted largely to crops that can be Kept for winter use, provided they ma ture late in the season. These include such crops as late cabbage, turnips, po- tatoes beets and carrots. The vegeta- bles planted in the fall garden mature just before winter when the tempera- ture is low and conditions are well suit ed for storing. In winter it is especially difficult to secure a varied diet and hcme-stored vegetables fill this need without imposing any burden on trans portation systems. good farm garden in practically all parts of the south can be made to produce a large part of the food needed for the family. One that is well planned and properly cared for may easily be made worth from $50 to S1OO to the average family. CLEAN OUT THE WEEDS If the garden has been allowed to go to weeds now is the time to clean them out and to plan and prepare for the fall crops. If the space is available it will still pay to plant a garden even though no early garden has been grown. If the spring Ind summer garden did not furnish sufficient vegetables for can- ming and drying to meet family needs during the winter, plan to produce them in the fall garden.
 
 cult to get some vegetable seeds to ger- minate in midsummer heat This may be overcome to a large extent by cover ing the rows with old burlap bags, paper or any other material to keep the soil | moist and the seeds from drying out until they germinate. After the seeds
 germinate the coverings may be re- moved. In cooler parts of the south it is now time to plant late cabbage, late pota- toes, sweet corn, beans. beets, carrots cauliflower, celery, kohl-rabi and Brus sels sprouts. Turnips, kale, mustard and spinach may be planted in late Augus1y and early September in the upper south. These crops will not be killed by the cold ordinarily experienced in any sec l ton of the south and thus will be avail able through the winter and spring. In the lower south it is still early to plant most vegetables in the fall garden, but the land should be put in condition, the seed secured and the garden plan made. Sweet potatoes however, may be set out now and the seed Of cabbage. cauliflower, celery, Brussels sprouts and | kohl-rabi should be started now for planting later. By the time these plants are large enough to set out, planting will be feasible. l Gardeners in all sections of the south should have plenty of beans, cabbage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, spinach, kale and mustard to| use throughout the fall and sufficient supply of most of them to last through the winter