South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-30
FOR NEXT
YEARS GARDEN NOW
Autumn Is the Time to Begin
Next Years Garden
Site.

North. South. East. West, autumn
Is best to begin mex. years home
vegetable garden. Nature is never
Idle. even when the ground Is hard
frozen, and our efforts should be
directed 70 aiding natural agencies.
The greatest good can be accom-
plished by improving the soil and
preparing Il for growing bumper
crops OF potatoes, cabbage. toma
toes. beans, bees and other vege-
tables next season, says the Uniteo
States Department OF Agriculture
At present many Of our garden
crops are maturing and may be
cleaned off the land. n many parts
Of the north i. Is now too late TO
plant anything on this vacant land.
except rye. barley or some other
crop 20 improve the soil Some of
the most successful gardeners fol.
low the practice Of sowing rye on
every foot OF garden soil that be-
comes available. The ROOFS Of the
rye spread through the soil and pick
up every choice bit OF plant food
they can find. Next spring when the
ground IS spaded or plowed these
same roots from a network Of fl
brous material which quickly decays
and forms new plant food for the
garden crops 10 feed upon. Don't
let it ge. more than two or three
inchees high next spring before IL Is
turned under. other crops will give
the same results, but rye IS one or,
the most practical.
Frost Breaks Up Heavy Soils.
Spading or blowing clay soils in
the autumn and leaving them ly-
ing in a rough stare over winter is
also a good practice. Heavy soils
are broken up by the action OF
frost but care should be taken that
they do not wash away. Sandy and
all light soils are liable TO wash or
blow away during the winter II left
loose and exposed and for this rea-
son should be KEEP. covered either
by green crop or by a heavy coat
ing Of manure.
Nothing beats good stable manure
for improving the soil of a garden.
Manure is good to plow under
IN the autumn and II is good as top
dressing over the sol. after plow-
ing Manure prevents the washing
and adds fertility. As soon as The
crops are off. plow the ground and
give I: a heavy coat of manure. The
remnants can be turned under IN |
the spring.
Clean up the garden and burn all !
old vines and rubbish which II left !
on the ground harbor insects and /
diseases over winter. While there rs
always need for adding organic mat |
ter % the soil It is usually best TO
burn all rubbish that may be sus-
pected Of being a carrier of disease |
This is especially true Of melon ana !
tomato vines. although almost any /
garden crop will have its full share |
Of diseases. Clean up the garden !
for the sake of appearances, gath |
ering all bean poles, tomato stakes, |
etc, and storing them somewhere |
out Of sight and, If possible, under |
shelter. If they are not worth saw
ing make kindling Of them and get
new ones next season
May Be Planted Now.
A number of crops may be plant !
ed in southern gardens at this time. |
and these will furnish a supply OF
green vegetables all the winter. Even
in the north-central section spinach. |
kale and winter onions VIII remain |
in the ground with slight protection |
and give an early crop in the spring. |
In the South kale, spinach, onions, |
lettuce. and several other crops will !
thrive during he winter. In the
gulf and lower Atlantic Coast re-
zion Bermuda onions may be grown /
by sowing the seed about the first
OF October and transplantlng the /
seedlings in November. II this seems !
too much trouble 10 prepare a piece !
Of ground and SOW he seed in drills |
where they are TO grow and thin /
out some or them for young onions
late in the ewinter.
Such crops as aspara gus. rhubarb. 4
and raspberries or any OF the small |
fruits should be gotten In condition |
70 go through the winter. As soon as
frost comes the tops OF the aspara-
gus should be moved off and car
ried away or burned. Rhubarb vii. I
need lit.le attention except to see
that the field mice are not working /
at its roots. Raspberries and other I
small fruits may need a little prun-
ing OF tying 10 stakes, and a mulch /
Of manure about .he,r roots VIII I
not only prOtec. them during the 4
winter. but make them strong and /
Vi gorous mex. spring.
There IS always a rush 10 get the I
garden planted early In the spring .
and work done during he autumn /
Will nor only Improve the garden.
but make u easier 20 pant next \