The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11
Starting the Late Vegetables EarlyFor GERS Hurry the
Plants Along and Can Be Used for Years. Both
in the Spring and Autumn

plant can be set out almost
anywhere, 1t will pay to take spe-
cial pains to get plants that are
grown in pots, or buy plants some two
weeks before you really need them
and put them into individual paper
pots. Big, strong plants that have
had plenty Of room for root develop
ment and have made individual root
balls whicN will not have to be disA
turbed when they are set out will give
results quicker than the ordinary kind
Of plant set out ten days earlier. I
have often set out tomatoes grown in
paper pots which had individual fruits
as big as a dime when they were put
In the open. With a little care in
transplanting they will not be checked
by whiting, but keep right on growing.
Miniature Garden Greenhouse
for Quick Results.
There are several types Of individual
plant forcers and continuous row
forcers now obtainable. These should
be used much more extensively In the
home garden than they are. II one
had to purchase these things every
year. like seeds and fertilizer, they
might be too expensive to use. But
properly cared for they will last in
definitely. and furthermore they can
be used for several crops in a sea-
son; therefore they are a practical,
paying investment for the home gar
dener. Extra early results are not the
| only advantage gained by using them.
They protect the plant thoroughly
| during the early stages of growth 80
that they have a fine start before be-
Ing exposed to injury by insects, dis
ease or inc.ement weather.
These forces can be used either with
seeds planted in the open or with
plants that are started and set out.
Placed over hills Of melons or beans
or Of newly set plants OF tomatoes or
any other kind Of vegetable they will
within a few days show marked re-
suits as compared to plants which
have had no protection. The helpful
ness OF these forces is not restricted to
giving you an extra early and extra
sure garden in the spring. They come
into play again in the fall over late
lettuce, radishes, spinach, &c. They
are also used in midsummer in pro-
-,
pansies and perennlals, from heavy
beating rains. One can keep them In
profitable use most OF the time from
March to November.
Getting n strong start.
/ AS already implied. complete success
with the tender crops depends largely
upon getting them well under way be-
fore very dry weather. The more
growth there is made the further and
deeper the roots Of the plant will have
spread and the more firmly will II be
protected against the drought which
We are pretty sure to get during the
summer. Now early growth. even in
we'll prepared gardens, is usually
limited by one factor, that is the
amount of Immediately available
nitrogen during the late spring and
early summer. The amount OF nitrogen
(which plants can get from manure
and ordinary complete fertilizers APP
piled in the spring depends very
largely upon the average temperature
| of the early growing season. Under
these conditions there is usually one
thing which can be done to help make
this important early growth much
more substantial than ii would other
wise he. That is TO supplement the
manure and fertilizer applied to the
garien before planting by top dress
ing or side dressing with nitrate OF
80 Ia There Is plenty of nitrate OF
soda available for use again next year
1t can be obtained from almost any
seed store. fertilizer dealer or a mail
order seed house. 1t contains nitrogen
In Immediately available form. The
results are plainly visible within two
o. three days after its use. II is, how
ever. very powerful fertilizer and
should be used with extreme care. The
safest way is TO dissolve a tablespoon
full In hot water and then stir into a
twelve quart watering can and apply
around the plant after n rain or a good
watering, not while the soil is very
dry. Or the nitrate of soda. which
much resemble coarse salt, may ~
sprtnkled along the row or around the
: hills. using not over one to two tea
spoonfuls to a hill. Sprinkle II vel
over the surface instead OF putting 1
in a heap near the plant and do no
let any Of the crystals lodge on tn,
leaves.
In addition to the nitrate Of sod;
any plants which are not coming aloni
: as vigorously as they should can b,
I helped greatly by a top dressing o
+ fine ground bone and dried blood o,
. tankage mixed together and sprinkleC
I along the row or around the hills
: Work this fertilizer we'll into the sol
4 by hoeing or cultivating imme Iiatcl!
? after applying The mistake is Otter
l made after setting out plants o
: leaving them alone two or three week
or until the weeds which have started
are In danger of overtaking them. Thi
is vc~y great mistake. Immediatel,
] after transplanting a few days at tn
most, the ground between the row
and around the plants should h
thoroughly loosened up with hoe o
wheelhoe and raked over to ESTABLISH