Summer Care of the Home Vegetable Garden 



1997 



lon^^ for overhead irrigation is $9-75. f-o.b., and of a line one hundred 

 feet long, $18.85. The shorter line will water a garden fifty feet by fifty 

 feet, and the longer, a garden one 

 hundred feet by fifty feet. An 

 outfit consists of fifty or one hun- 

 dred feet of galvanized pipe all 

 drilled and cleaned so that the 

 nozzles can be inserted, the full 

 number of nozzles needed, one 

 valve or gate to control the water 

 supply, one specially constructed 

 turning imion, three roller-bearing 

 pipe supports to be placed on 

 top of posts, and one drain cock 

 inserted at the end of the line for 

 draining. The purchaser has to 

 furnish the feed line or connection 

 with the water supply and four 

 posts for supporting the pipe line. 

 The system is entirely portable 

 and may be taken down during 

 the winter. The amount of pres- 

 sure needed for good results is 

 thirty-five pounds, and some gar- Fi^- i^o-—--^ >-ain machine, overhead irrigation 



deners report that better results are obtained by using as much as 

 sixty pounds. 



traininq 



Garden space may be economized and f)roducts of a finer quality may 

 be obtained from many vegetable plants if they are supported from the 

 groimd by staking or training. The gardener is enabled to cultivate, 

 to spray, and to do other work in the garden more easily and more 

 thoroughl}^ while the products are kept free from dirt. Tomatoes, pole 

 beans, tall-growing peas, cuaunbers, squashes, and melons lend them- 

 selves particularly well to this method of culture. 



Training and staking are especially advantageous with the tomato, as the 

 sun is thus enabled to reach the fruit, and ripening is hastened. There 

 seems to be less trouble from certain diseases, particularly blossom-end rot, 

 when tomatoes are grown in this way, though drought and lack of culti- 

 vation increase loss from this disease. For this plant a single stake driven 

 on the north side of the stalk is ordinarily used. The plant should be 

 tied to this stake every twelve inches, beginning about four inches from 

 the ground. Tomatoes may also be trained on wires that are fastened 



