Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-25
DISREGARD MOON RULE,
IN PLANTING GARDENS
Custom Dates Back to Prehistoric Time, but There Is
No known Reason Why Theory
Should Be Considered

common garden crops arc divided by
sne United states Department Of Agri-
Sutture specialists into four groups as
regards the time Of planting them in
inc open ground.
Ihe first group includes the, vcgc-
frost. and which may he planted two
or three weeks before the danger of
,roSt is past in the. ,spring. The SEE
ond group. or Scmihardy crops. may
ba planted Il few days before ar about
INC time. that the last killing frost
~ likely TO occur. The third group.
DC planted until "A danger of frost
- over. The fourth Eroup, tho heat
loving plants. should never be planted
IA the open until both thc soil and
The air are thoroughly warm.
Among the crops Of the first group
nast--are Irish potatoes, smooth peas,
onion sets, cabbage plants. kaic. tur-
iips. hccta, lettuce and mustard. The
require two or three weeks to come
up. While tho young plants are easily
ln!nrcd by frost, by the TIM" the
Ii likely to bc past.
Some gardeners formerly believed IN
pihnting Irish potatoes and certain
other garden crops in tho proper phase
OF tho moon. No one gems TO know
how tho old moon theory originated
hut it seems 10 date back to prchis,oric
tunes. ana probably was based Upon
the method Of keeping time by moons
rather than By months. There is no
''1lHl'C experimental uttA to show mat
'hc moon has any Influence one way
or the other. and experienced gardeners
prefer 20 piant their potatoes q. a
time when tho weather and soil condi-
tons arc right. rather than according
70 tho phase OF tho moon Experience.
mas shown that the point of most i'm
lass condition for planting. then pro
coed TO plan; as soon as weather con
ditions permit.
PEAS NAY BE PLANTED
- A,r-f,
Tho dwarf or smooth varieties Of
fnEiish pels may be planted about the
same time as Irish potatoes Here
ana san the sou rrdm5 T5ssia is m
ana mellow before planting. Opinions
Hlncr as TO tn" depth TO which the seed
TICS claim they should bc covered AZ
much as four inches. while others main
Tain mat Two 20 three inches is suf-
iicicnt Much viii. depend, however
upon the character Of the soil in which
, mH crop Is planted. II Tho SOIL is, a
ihree 70 four inches. iSu. II the soil
~ rather heavy and inclined TO pack
cioseiy. they should not be covered
more than one and onc-hal. to two
inches The varieties OF peas having
Wrinkied seed coats should not be
planted until about two weeks after
inc smooth varieties. They arc inst
little more susce ptiblc TO Injury from
FROST and viii mature about as early
II planted when the ground has slight
~ warmed.
In the case OF certain garden crops,
nc investment IN seed is TOO grea, Tor
with beets. lettuce and radishcs n very
small! quantity OF seed is required and
II they come through in good shape
the product VIII be ready for use much
earlier than II the planting were de :
!aycd. About twenty-five or thirty
feet OF row viii give all the early
bects required by an ordinary family.
Radi she's may be planted In the rows
with early peas. IIowcver I, will he
necessary TO remove the radishes be
fore they begin 10 crowd tho peas. AZ