The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-24

around the place. Perhaps one OF
the most common mistakes of the
amateur, v%enturing into gardening
for the first time, is to spend a lot
of money for tools, often buying
unnecessary articles. The simplest
tools usually will be found to be the
best. A spading fork, a hoe and a
steel rake are the prime essentials.
A small, hand wheeled hoe will be
found a great labor saver in eradi-
eating weeds and with a garden of
any considerable size such a tool
will be found a good investment. A
small hand spray pump may be pur-
chased at little cost and will prove
a great help in keeping down the in
sects. Dust sprays require no ex-
ira equipment for the small garden
as a small sack made of two layers
of cheese cloth filled with the dust
spray material will serve the pur-
pose. The enthusiasts who try ev-
erything in the garden speciality cat
alogue usually wind up by going
back to the simple tools.
Cabbage and CauIifIower
Cabbages do best during the cool
days of spring and fall. The higher
attitudes of the state offer good
opportunities for success with cab
bage.
Both early and late cabbage
should be started in the hotbed or
greenhouse. Early varieties should
be planted from six to eight weeks
before setting out time and the late
varieties for winter storage may be
started during the last half of April
in the higher attitudes and about
three weeks later in lower attitudes.
The seed should be planted in
shallow boxes or flats, either thick
ly broadcasted or planted in COWS
from one to two inches apart. When
the third leaf is we'll advanced the
seeding should be transplanted to
other boxes or to the soil in the hot
bed and spaced two inches apart
each way.
Plants should undergo a short
hardening-off period before set out
in the field. This is done by subjec-
ting them to outside conditions for
a longer period each day, starting
four or five days before setting out
time. During the hardening-off per-
iod the amount of water should be
gradually decreased. Plants may be
set out when the danger of severe
freezing is past.
Where irrigation is possible, ear
ly cabbage may be set as close as
18 inches apart and where irriga-
iton is not possible, two to three
feet is desirable. Late cabbage re
quires about the same room under
dry land conditions as the early
varieties and for irrigated condi-
tions they should be set two to two
and a half feet apart.
By planting early, medium and
late varieties the fresh cabbage
season may be prolonged and fire.
quent sowings may be avoided. The
following varieties are suggested:
Early sorts; Early Jersey Wakefield
and Early Winningstadt. Second
early or medium early sorts; AL
head Early and Succession. Late
sorts; Danish Ballhead and Danish
Roundhead.
Climatic and cultural require
for cauliflower are similar to
those for cabbage. AS the cauli-
flower head begins to develop the
leaves should be tied together over
the head to provide proper condi-
for blanching. Extra Early
Dwarf Erfurt, Earliest Snowstorm
and Early SNOWFALL are good var
ieties, the latter being a particular
f~avorite among Montana garden
ers.
Asparagus
There seems to be a prevailing
opinion that asparagus is a diff
cult crop to grow, and perhaps this
is the main reason why it is so sell
dom found in the home garden. In
truth, asparagus will do well in a
great variety Of soils, the only re-
quirements being that the soil be
ieer and well supplied with plant
tood. Heavy SOILS are probably the
desirable.
Asparagus may lie started from
in the aotbed bu7 the quick
err and usually more satisfactory
way is to secure Il or two-year old
roots, these tc be planted directly
IN the garden. When starting with
seed, plants <hoI!l be allowed to re
1.ain in the botoed until they are
10 to II inches high before
cit ng OUT.
Roots should be planted about
six inches ,,se) and seeIling plants
about the sana depth. From this
be seen the necessity for a deep
soil, plowed deeply, for the aspara-
gus plant develops a very large root
system. When planting seedlings,
- 49, - r,TIoI =. 1--LI.