The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-28
VICTORY GARDENS
 FOR NEXT SUMMER

ed into a Victory Garden. Prices are as high as ever, the regular necessi- ties of life showing no signs of com ing back to anything approaching l normal times. However, with our garden to fall back upon we can lessen considerably, our household expenses, | and what is even of more importance, -aise vegetables of a quality, which | excels by far the purchased article. | It is yet rather early to do much with | the garden beyond having the manure | hauled on while the ground is hard so | that when the weather becomes fla vorable and the land dries out sufh- | ciently no time may be lost in turning 1 1t over by blow or spade. Preparing the Hot Bed for Early
 Sowing. This Is however, the logical time to set the hotbed to work, that start may be made with these seeds which require to be sown in heat. This will include peppers, egg plants, tomatoes, cabbage and caulihower though the two last named may be safely sown in a cold frame early in March if the sash is well covered at night during periods of excessive cold weather. In preparing the hotbed the soil must be taken out to a depth of 8 inches
 
 which may consist of stray horse manure mixed with leaves. The ma nure and leaves having been kept un- der cover a few days previously and turned several times so that a, n!f9A and lasting heat may be generated. The hot bed should be located in a warm well sheltered position facing south that it will receive all available sun; provided with a slope from back 10 front the back boards may be 1 9 to IS inches, and 6 inches less in front. After the heating material has been put fin place and consolidat- ed and made level by thorough tread ing, it is then covered with four inches of fine compost which should neither be very light nor yet of heavy nature. By the aid of sand, leaf mould or old routed manure, no difficulty will be experienced in making the compost just right. The heat will rise very rapidly at first, and the rank steam must be allowed to escape by propping up the sash an inch or two. When the heat falls to S5 degrees sowing may begin. The seed Jnay either be sown directly in th~ | q or in wooden flats, the latter for preference, as all the subsequent operations may be conducted under cover removing the flats to the hot bed as they are sown or seedlings transplanted.
 The soil should be watered a few hours before sowing that it may be partly dried out and so be in just q right condition for working Sow thinly in shallow drills covering the seed not more than quarter of an inch. If the seed flats are covered with paper the soil will note dry out so quickly and seeds germinate sooner in the dark, provided they are sup piled with air, moisture and warmth. A temperature of 70 to 75 degrees should be maintained for egg plants peppers and tomatoes, therefore if it rises much above the higher figure, air must immediately be given. As the days lengthen the sun becomes more powerful so that the heat in the frame will rise very rapidly. and should no ventilation be given the tender seedlings run the risk of being much weakened. It is therefore, necessary that close attention be paid to airing and at the same time, water ing. Water should always be given during the early part of the day, the water being slightly warmed. By watering in the morning the p1antE will have time to dry off before the sash is closed for the day Should the foliage be wet, and the atnos- phere damp over night 1t is just the condition whereby the dampinZ off disease may be encouraged, and from which many millions of seeding are destroyed each spring.
 As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, say when the first true leaves are formed, they must be transplanted two inches apart each v1-I meet, they should have another shift In the case of peppers, egg plants and tomatoes9 it will be to their ad- vantage to pot them singly in three. inch pots. Following any of the transplanting operations. the plants will require careful shading from the sun, until they take hold of the soil again. As the season advances more air will be given, later removing the sash entirely during the day, the ain being to have stocky and well hard ened plants when the time arrives fol planting them in the open ground
 Tomatoes - Even should we have room for little else in the yard there is usually some corner or dividin; fence where a few plants of this mos profitable vegetable fruit may b, grown. Selection should be made o varieties which will continue to bea1 fruit over a long season, as some O. the extra early varieties go out O bearing very quickly. Perhaps thu best of all scarlet fruited tomatoe for the garden is Chalk's Early Jewel and as main crop to fruit well up t frost-Burpee's Matchless. Where medium size fruit is preferred Vic toria Whole Salad cannot be beaten It is an immense cropper and con tinues in bearing until quite late il the season. Where the pink or pur pie fruted varieties are preferre Fordhook First, Burpee's Trucker Favorite, and Dwarf Giant will giv satisfaction. Seed sOwn in heat earl in March will make fine plants fo setting out when all danger of frost i past.
 Peppers are rather slower Tn ger mInating than the above, and tn seedlings do not make such rapi
 aeadway. Seed must be sown 8
 iar1y in March as possible. and whe
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