The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-07

III bAAC OutoAAIbS O4 tAlC C4by AOICo and acres of land have already been plowed, while suburbanites are turn ing over the soil in their backyard with spades.
 Victory gardeners are also en- couraged by reports from seed deal CTS who declare stocks are more abundant and varied than in any previous war year, while garden im- plements are also sufficient to meet demands. Hand cultivators and hoes are back on the market, and Victory gardeners should have no difficulty obtaining spades, rakes, forks, and garden hose.
 Extensive Plans
 Extensive plans are well underway by the War Garden Committee, as- sociated with the City War Council, for the provision of hundreds of plots of land for urbanites who de- sire to raise supply of vegetables. Approximately dozen large com- munity tracts, donated by various owners, are being plowed, narrowed and fertilized under the direction of the committee, Bernard A. McDon- aid, chairman, said yesterday.
 Plots approximate 50 by 30 feet and are considered sufficient to pro- duce an adequate supply of vege- tables for family of two. Addition al plots may also be obtained de- pending upon the number of persons in family. A $1 fee per plot is the only charge.
 The tracts which have been &C., cepted because of their proximity to bus lines are located near Cooke street, Meriden road, Frost road, Hamilton avenue, Piedmont street, Aurora street, Watertown avenue, and Bunker Hill.
 The Scovill Manufacturing Co.,, and the Bristol company are also planning to provide garden plots for employees. Several hundred Scovill workers are already preparing gar- dens on a tract in Woodtick while an equal number of Bristol con- pany workers are seeding plots in Platts Mills.
 Much of Waterbury's garden pro- duce during the coming season vii! be raised by school students, who have proved in the past to be re- markedly successful gardeners. Last year 5000 Waterbury school children planted Victory gardens, and it is expected the number will be notably increased this year.
 Dry Spell Costly Emphasizing that the prolonged dry spell last summer was reSpon' sible for the failure of many Victory gardens, the Connecticut Agricultur- al Experiment station at New Haver urges that householders, who became discouraged by poor crops last year strain every effort to raise as mucf garden produce as possible this sea- Dr. Donald F. Jones of the New Haven station yesterday told thu Democrat that amateur gardener! in the state have proved to be abl' vegetable raisers.
 Stressing that careful planning and planting was important to sue. cessful gardening, Dr. Jones urgec that prospective gardeners to obtain all necessary information from thu various agricultural test stations and agencies located throughout tht state.
 Gardeners who have suffered Suc- cessive crop failures were urged by Dr. Jones to send 8 sample of th' soil for testing purposes to tht Connecticut Agricultural Station 1T New Haven. Samples should not be larger than that which will fill 2 half-pint paper carton, except 1T instances where the tract may bt large, in which case severa. samples taken from various sections of the trait are required.
 When eXpertly analysed, the sta tion will then report what crops art most suitable to the soil, and how deficient soil may be treated witt the proper use of fertilizer formula! and lining.
 For ordinary soil, Dr. Jones sug- geSt fertilizer commonly known as Victory garden formula No. 5-S-7. A survey conducted last year bN agricultural agencies in Corinecti- cut revealed the crop failures 1T most instances were caused elthel by planting seeds too thickly or a the improper time.
 Planting Time
 Proper planting time in Connec ticut where the weather is variable is of tremendous importance tt proper crop growth, Dr. Jones said
 Hardy crops, such as beets, peas cabbages, radishes, spinach, ane onions should be planted before mt April. Tender plants should set 1T the ground several weeks later ] These include lima beans, strini ! beans. squash, ana corn.
 Clamp protectors are also prov :ng valuable as protection agains frost and insects.
 Pointing to the fact that hom' gardens and home canning are es sential parts of the food production plans for the coming year, pr. Jone urged home gardeners to plan vegetables that can be preserved for winter use. Limited garden spact should be planted with beans | +oroo toas carrOts beetS n