Part 2

Storing 27

Early Plants in Hotbeds 29

Handling Plants 30

Frames Used in Truck Growing 31

Ventilation 33

Soils and Fertilizers 34

Watering Crops 34

Garden Products: Anise 35 Artichoke 35 Asparagus 35 Beans 40 Beans, Lima 46 Beets 47 Borage 48 Broccoli 48 Brussels Sprouts 49 Cabbage 49 Calabash 51 Cantaloupe 52 Cardoon 53 Carrot 54 Cauliflower 54 Celeriac 57 Celery 57 Cetewayo 64 Chayote 64 Chervil 64 Chicory 64 Chile 65 Chive 66 Citron 66 Collards 67 Corn Salad 67 Cress 67 Cucumbers 67 Dandelion 71 Dill 72 Egg Plant 72 Endive 72 Fennel 73 Garlic 73 Ginger 73 Herbs 73 Horse Radish 74 Ice Plant 73 Kale 74 Kohl-Rabi 74 Leek 75 Lettuce 75 Lleren 75 Martynia 76 Melon--Muskmelon 76 Melon--Watermelon 81 Mustard 82 Nasturtium 82 New Zealand Spinach 83 Okra 83 Onions 85 Parsley 95 Parsnip 95 Peas 95 Peppers 96 Physalis 96 Potato 97 Pumpkin 116 Radish 116 Rhubarb 116 Ruta-Baga 117 Salsify 117 Scolymus 117 Skirret 117 Sorrel 118 Spinach 118 Squash 118 Stachys 118 Sweet Basil 119 Sweet Corn 119 Sweet Marjoram 119 Sweet Potato 119 Swiss Chard 128 Thyme 128 Tomatoes 128 Turnips 137 Vegetable Marrow 137

Quantity of Seed to Plant 138

Composition of Roots 140

Authorities Consulted 140

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A Good Collection of Home-Grown Vegetables. Lettuce Maturing in Home-Made COLD FRAME Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

Liquid Manure is One of the Best Acting Fertilizers 8

The Wheel Hoe is the Handiest Garden Tool 16

The Easiest Running Wheel Hoe Valuable for Maintaining a Dust Mulch 16

Temporary Hotbeds in a City Back Yard 30

Showing Vegetables Growing in Hotbed 32

Celery Banked With Earth to Blanch It 62

Japanese Climbing Cucumbers, Nearly Six Feet From the Ground 68

Well-Grown Cucumbers 68

Thorough Cultivation of the Growing Crop is an Essential of Successful Potato Raising 110

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Perhaps the most characteristic feature of Northern and Eastern farms is the home vegetable garden. Even where no orchard has been planted, and where the ornamental surroundings of the home have been neglected, a fairly well-kept garden in which are grown a number of the staple kinds of vegetables is generally to be found. In many cases the principal interest in the garden is manifested by the women of the household and much of the necessary care is given by them. A small portion of the garden inclosure is generally devoted to the cultivation of flowers, and a number of medicinal plants is invariably present. Throughout the newer parts of the country it is seen that the conditions governing the maintenance and use of the vegetable garden are somewhat different, and, while a number of vegetable crops may be grown somewhere on the farm, there is wanting that distinction so characteristic of the typical New England kitchen garden.

It would be impossible to make an accurate estimate of the value of crops grown in the kitchen gardens of the United States, but from careful observation the statement can safely be made that a well-kept garden will yield a return ten to fifteen times greater than would the same area and location if devoted to general farm crops. A half acre devoted to the various kinds of garden crops will easily supply a family with $100 worth of vegetables during the year, while the average return for farm crops is considerably less than one-tenth of this amount. A bountiful supply of vegetables close at hand where they may be secured at a few moments' notice is of even more importance than the mere money value.

Fresh vegetables from the home garden are not subjected to exposure on the markets or in transportation and are not liable to become infected in any way. Many of the products of the garden lose their characteristic flavor when not used within a few hours after gathering. By means of the home garden the production of the vegetable supply for the family is directly under control, and in many cases is the only way whereby clean, fresh produce may be secured. The home vegetable garden is worthy of increased attention, and a greater number and variety of crops should be included in the garden.--(F. B. 255.)