Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-04-29
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEBD THE PLow."


Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic
70 solicited. Address al communications In
tended TOR this department to HKNHr ID
HAhHohD, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem.
ocrat. Paris. He.
Adaptation of Vegetable Garden.
(By H. p. Sweetser, Assistant Professor Of
Horticulture, u. Of NJ
There are three important factors
which should be kept In mind through
out this discussion. The vegetable gar
den can be maintained on the farm so
that the vegetables may be produced at
the smallest possible cost; the greatest
variety for the table can be secured; and
when properly located the housewife
can make her own selection Of types and
varieties.
The actual steps necessary In planning
and maintaining kitchen garden are
simple, yet important, and the success
depends very largely upon the amount
of detail In the plans and the knowledge
Of what may be done with intensive
methods to secure the greatest returns
from highly productive plot of land.
Having decided upon the plan to MAIN
tain kitchen garden the work of plan.
ming and producing successful reward
may be organized in some such manner
ss this:
plot selected must have proper drainage;
the surface must not be subject to severe
washing during showers or heavy storms !;
standing water should be carried of by
underdrains. Where 1t is possible the
soil should be q light loan free from
serious infestatiop of weeds and so sit
uated that it will get warmed early In
the spring and not be exposed to early
frosts In the fall. It should, of course,
be handy to the kitchen even though
some of the other factors have to be
sacrificed.
Second: Make detailed plans showing
the actual location of the various vege-
tables in the garden and the amount of
space assigned to each. 1t Is good
plan to first make q list Of the vegetables
you desire and then plan the details of
the arrangement. One must keep In
mind that every inch in the garden must
be used for the soil of this garden plot
will be too valuable to allow 1t to be
idle. Remember that in many cases one
crop can be grown to maturity between
the rows of slower maturing crop be-
fore the principal crop needs all of the
room. This we call companion crop
ping. Some crops have short growing
season and in many cases these crops
can all be located in one section of the
garden so that when they are through
that section can be replanted to other
crops. This we call succession CROP
ping.
Perennial crops should be planted on
one side of the garden and out of the
way of cultivation. Long season crops
should be planted together as should
also short season crops. Those that need
the same sort of fertilizer and cultivation
should, ss far as possible, be segregated.
Some plants are hardy and some tender
and season conditions must be oonsid-
cred. Crops Of the same general grow
ing habits should be kept together to
aid in cultivation. Different plants
furnish the same type of products 30 in
planning do not have similar products
produced at the same time.
Hot beds and cold frames may be used
to lsngl hen the season for various types
of vegetables.
Don't forget that II there is q surplus
the extra crop can, In most cases, be
canned or dried for later use In sufficient
amount to supply the family throughout
the winter.
Actually put the details of your plans
on to paper.
Third: Order your seeds. Orders for
seeds should be made early In the season
or, better still, during the latter part Of
the winter. Don't delay your orders
until planting time and then expect to-
get the best returps.
Fourth: Prepare your plot 20 that the
soil il In the best possible state OF filth
and when 1t comes time to plant, work
from your plans the same as q builder
works from bis blueprints and drawings.
This will save much time and II the
plans, have been made during the leisure
days of winter there will be mnoh eoono-
my realized at planting time.
In connection with fertilization 1t is
best to use q generous supply of barn
manure as it is very difficult to secure
the same results from commercial fertil-
izers or home-mixed chemicals. 1t must
be kept in mind that In cropping the
kitchen garden more actual product is
grown than on any other area on the
farm and as very little Is returned direct
it is necessary to keep up the fertility
by the addition Of not only plant food
but abundance of humus. Compost all
of the waste vegetable matter and return
1t to the garden after 1t has become we'll
rotted.
The tools necessary for the msinte.
nance of such garden as have describ-
ed differ radically from those used on
the main field crops. Most Of the Guilt
vation in the kitchen garden will have
to be done by hand and for this reason
light hand tools are desirable. The
" heel hoe is the most important single
instrument of equipment.
Finally let me caution you again
against any Of the area remaining idle
even for few weeks and under no oon-
ditions allow any Of the surplus to 60
unpreserved for winter supply.