Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-31
Some. Suggestions Relative to the
Family Garden


Family Garden
A plot so by 100 feet contains ap-
DroNimatcly One-eighth OF an acre
and may be made into an acceptable
garden, one capable, in fact, or sup
plying a considerable percentage OF
the needs of AN average family
What should be planted in such a
Garden? This is a matter Of I'M
usual interest, because the typo Id
variety of crops selected will have
much to do with the returns obtain
ed by the gardener. A great deal
depends, for instance, on the variety
selected for planting. Some strains
of one crop are much better adapted
for growth in given climate than
others. Hence the seed must be
chosen carefully and it must be made
certain that the strain selected is
adapted for growth under the eli
matte conditions which pertain.
In a garden of the size suggest
ed it would be proper to plant say
three rows of corn, For this pur-
pose at least three varieties should
be selected. We would choose, first
Il very early maturing variety, then
one which natures in a medium
length of time and one which ma
lures rather late. Sweet corn is the
only variety which should be cult
waited in the home garden. 1t is
superior for edible purposes in every
respect to the field strain SO fire.
qurntly grown and if properly plant
ed and cultivated a good yield may
be anticipated. In the south corr
tends to lose its sweetness, there.
fore it is best to obtain fresh seeC
each year from a section of the
country where it reaches it's great
est perfection. This appears to be
north of the Potomac. Seed corn
states. but possibly that raised IL
the east is as good as any which
can be secured. The varieties which
might be selected with propriety art
Adam extra early, Country Gentle
man and Evergreen. The extra ear
ly varieties of all crops as rul,
do not attain such size as the me
dunn or late maturing strains, ant
this is bound to be true of Adam:
early corn. The stalks are relative
ly small and the ears of medium
size. Country Gentlemen is one O
the best Of all the sorts adapted TO
growth in Georgia and in fact tn
writer has now abandoned altogeth
er the cultivation of the extra earl!
longer for the development of
strain which clearly out-yields tn
extra early sorts and is so wei
adapted for cultivation in the south
east The Country Gentleman is pc
culiar in that there are no clearl,
defined rows on the cob as is tru
of many other strains. of sweet corr
The grains, however, are relative
ly deep, very closely packed on tn
cob, and of a delectable sweetness
The ears are of good size and it i
usual to obtain at least two from
each stalk. StowelIs Evergreen i
a standard, late maturing corn, tn
leaves of which obtain unsuaI siz
in proportion to the size of the co
to which the grains are attached
This corn is also very sweet and i
a good variety to plant in the south
east for the late fall crop. If seed
ed say about the 18th to the got
of July it will in an ordinary sea
son provide very acceptable ear
from the 18th of September on t
the first of October. A few row
should be planted at time an
then it will mature in succession
for as long period as 80 days. L
q garden of the size under discussion
probably not more than three row
should be assigned to corn. One o
each of the above named varietie
might be planted. Later on in tn
season, some other crop having bee
plant three additional rows of Stow
ellis Evergreen so it will matur
in the early autumn.
All crops, of course, vary in the1
size and character OF growth, henC
different spacing will be necessar
| with each one. This will also affec
he width of the rows. Corn on
small, 1ntensively fortified and Gu
| tlyated area of land could be plant
be planted in 3-feot rows. II.
| would be room in such a garden .
| SIX hills of summer squash all
| eight hills Of cucumbers. Two Va
rieties of squash could be planted j
desired and two of cucumbers, on
early and one late maturing. Wher
| cucumbers can be shaded a bit the
! will do better and last longer. a
| least two rows might be planted
peas. Two feet will be plenty to as
ing the John L. or Alaska will
| found very satisfactory. They Shout
| be SOWn as a rule in January, an
certainly not later than the first c
February, These varieties al
hardy, will stand severe freezes an
crop, select Champion of England
| Telephone or any other standard va
rlety that appeals to the fancy. TIL
late varieties should be trellised
one desires or expects to obtain tn
large yield which is desirable in tn
|
tinue on a productive basis for som
| time.
About three rows in such a gal
| Gen should be assigned to Irish pc
| tatoes. Three feet is sufficient
wide spacing, with the hills mad
| Is inches apart in the drill. Tn
writer's practice has been to plan
Irish potatoes early, about the fiji
teenth of February to the first O
March. Once in a while they ge
out of the ground in north Geo1
gia early enough to be ni~~ed by
frost. This can often be obviate
by covering them with a hoeful o
earth, to be raked off after the dar
ger from a cold spell is over. [
south Georgia the planting should
of course, be done in January. Their
are many varieties of potatoes, blu
probably none will prove more sat
isfactory under our conditions tina
the Bliss or Irish Cobbler. Thes
varieties will mature sufficient
early in the southeastern states
be followed by sweet potatoes. W
have planted sweet potatoes as lat
as the 18th Of July with fairly goo
results. We prefer, of course, t
: ret them in about the fifteenth o
June. This can easily be accom-
plished if the right kind of Iris
potatoes is selected for early spr1n
, planting. Where the practice sug