1918 



HOIITICULTURE 



337. 



Vegetable Culture 



Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented 

 on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Johnson. Such communications should Inyariably be ad- 

 dressed to the office of HORTiCULTUKE. 



Crop Rotation 



1-Jotatioii of crops is deemed by the best authorities as 

 highly important in vegetable gardening; but just why 

 this becomes a necessity is perhaps more difficult to ex- 

 plain than to urge the advisability of the practice. For 

 is it not possible to have two distinct plants varying but 

 little in chemical constitution and yet one might fail on 

 ground where the other would thrive? The subject 

 then at once presents complications beyond ordinary 

 comprehension, and yet it is a well acknowledged fact 

 among gardeners that plants of the same natural order 

 should not be repeatedly planted on the same ground 

 year after year. Potatoes and cabbage, for instance, two 

 of the most important crops, rarely do well planted on 

 the same ground in successive years unless interposed 

 l>y a cover crop or some other crop occupying the ground 

 for a short time but by which the soil is taxed for dif- 

 ferent elements. A safe system to adopt is one which 

 includes both chemical and mechanical changes, i. e., to 

 alternate as far as possible tap roots with vegetables 

 of a surface rooting nature. Crops which occupy the 

 ground during spring and early summer should be fol- 

 lowed by later kinds. Ground now destined to carry 

 peas, early beets, spinach, lettuce, etc., may be later 

 planted to celery, late cabbage, cauliflower or rutabagas. 

 To get the very best out of the garden requires careful 

 planning and forethought but it is safe to say that in 

 all well-ordered gardens there is seldom a vacant plot 

 during the growing season. 



Cabbage 



On account of its very accommodating nature this 

 vegetable vies with potato for pre-eminence in public 

 demand. Although of greater importance perhaps as a 

 crop for putting in storage for use during winter, it also 

 has claim to a place among the earliest of green vege- 

 tables and if the supply should prove greater than the 

 demand for table use two or three courses are always 

 open for the disposal of surplus stock. Either sell, 

 give, feed to chickens or pigs, or else dig the stuff under 

 to make manure for the next crop. Plants raised from 

 .sowings made in February or early March should now 

 be in cold frames hardening otf prior to planting in the 

 open ground when the weather becomes settled. Even 

 though, it may be admitted that the cabbage will grow 

 almost anywhere and in any soil, the crop always repays 

 a little care in cultivation. A good rich soil is neces- 

 sary to promote a quick growth and this is particularly 

 essential in the case of spring plantations. If grown 

 steadily in the early stages and properly hardened be- 

 fore transplanting to the open ground young plants 

 withstand several degrees of frost without injury, while 

 the soft growth of plants grown in a too high tempera- 

 ature readily suifers the result of a cold snap. ('\n]>- 

 root is the worst disease of the brassica family and while 

 there is no direct remedy or preventive known, the 

 |iiaguc may i)e fought indirectly. Change of ground, 

 immediate destruction of all alTected plants by burning, 

 deep plowing, liberal manuring, and a dressing of lime 

 applied at the rate of from 50 to 75 bushels per acre 

 on soils known to be affected will do much toward a 



remedy. Lime not only acts as a deterrent of the dis- 

 ease but almost invariably improves fertility. The most 

 virulent insect pest is the cabbage root maggot. This 

 maggot is the larva of a fly which strongly resembles 

 the common house fly and usually appears early in May. 

 The female fly deposits her eggs in the soil near the 

 stem of the plant and in a few days the eggs hatch and 

 the resultant maggots feeding upon the root of the plant 

 soon kill it. Frequent dreuchings of tobacco water to 

 the roots during the brief hatching season is the best 

 remedy we know of. Seed beds affected with this pest 

 may be treated with carbon-bisulphide. A thimbleful of 

 this valatile poison pottred into holes a foot apart each 

 way over affected areas will make short work of the 

 maggots. The holes must be closed as soon as the 

 injection of poison is made. 



Cauliflower 



The demand for this excellent vegetable is always 

 equal to the supply, and while not generally so hardy as 

 the cabbage, cauliflower nevertheless revels in cool treat- 

 ment. Young plants require to be grown on uninter- 

 ruptedly and when strong enough should be planted on 

 ground in a state of highest cultivation. Half-rotten 

 manure rich in manurial properties is far better than 

 that which is so far decayed as to present the appear- 

 ance of humus. From the middle of April onward ie 

 the time to start outside planting but in northern dis- 

 tricts planting this early should not be attempted un- 

 less protection can be given. Inverted six-inch pote 

 afford a cheap and ready means of protection during 

 spells of frost and cutting winds. 



A Sample Rock Garden in 

 Glenside^ Pa. 



The cover illustration of this issue gives a partial 

 view of an attempt of Richard Eothe to demonstrate 

 the character and the beauty of a rockery to the general 

 public within his locality. In full view of a lively 

 traffic on two leading highways it is needless to say that, 

 particularly during the height of its vernal glory, this 

 exhibition of a coming feature on many American home- 

 irnmuds attracts considerable attention. Mr. Eothe is 

 well known to the readers of Horticoltdre as an ar- 

 dent advocate and a firm believer in rock gardens. 

 Our picture conveys his idea and the effect of his object 

 ulicn built on a slope of moderate grade. Object les- 

 .-jons of this kind for the purpose of educating ingenious 

 and self-active amateurs is what is needed at the present 

 time. The rock garden abroad at its very best fre- 

 quently being the personal affair of its owner, the 

 studio of the nature and plant lover — indications point 

 to similar developments at home. Early gtiidance by 

 the professional craftsman will prevent many disap- 

 pciintments apt to check the enthusiasm of the prospec- 

 tive beginner. As a matter of fact, so far, the majority 

 111' rock garden enthusiasts calling at Glenside, Pa., were 

 amateurs looking for information with a view of evpntu- 

 :i]iy venturing into rockery building themselves. 



