June 1, 1918 



H O K Tl C U L T U E E 



Vegetable Culture 



QueBtlonB 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 sbouid invariably be id- 

 dressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Planting Out 



Aliout the lir.-^t week of Juiiu is a time geuerallj safe 

 for transferring to the open ground all tender vegetables 

 brought forward in pots under glass. It is alvvayt far 

 better in districts where late frosts are known to be 

 prevalent, even this late in the season, to defer the 

 planting of these tender kinds for a few days until well 

 satisfied that weather conditions warrant the step being 

 taken. The present is an e.xceptionally forward season 

 which leads to the assumption tliat all planting may be 

 done with safety. It is well to remember, however, that 

 a few cold nights may inflict injury from which very 

 tender stock does cot readily recover; therefore, be as- 

 sured that tomatoes, egg plant and liinas are thorough- 

 ly inured to outdoor conditions betore planting them 

 from pots. 



Later Sowings 



Make further sowings of lima beans, okra, cucumber, 

 melon and squash if need be, and for the maintenance 

 of a continued supply of sucli desirable kinds as j)eas, 

 string beans, sweet corn and lettuce sow at frequent in- 

 tervals. Peas from .sowings after the 20th of June are 

 not usually a paying crop. From now on sow second 

 early peas ; they are generally more productive than the 

 taller growing main crop varieties. Lettuce should be 

 planted convenient to the w^ater supply and in a po- 

 sition sheltered from the direct rays of the midday sun. 

 Skeleton frames and lath screens provide excellent shel- 

 ter for th? crop at this .^ea.sou. Bich soil and abun- 

 dance of water at the roots are essential. Carrots, beets 

 and radishes are in constant rlemand; there should be iio 

 shortage of these in a young and fresh condition for the 

 table just now. See to it that later demands will be 

 met. Make small but frequent sowings throughout 

 June and July. Onions may still be sown for salading 

 and forward beds of main crop varieties should bo 

 thinned if necessary. The best onions for keeping are 

 tho.se of moderate size and perfectly ripened. To have 

 well ripened bulbs for harvesting the thinning should 

 not be too severe ; allow the bulbs sufficient room only 

 to d('vi'1n|i to a reasonable size. 



Witloof Chicory 



W'itlool' chicoi-y l)ecomes more popular eacli year. 

 Sow in (h-ills 1.5 inches apart and thin the plants to 9 

 inches in the rows. Treat the bed as for cari-ots. The 

 ground should be deep and fertile but free from recent 

 manuring to ensure good straight roots for forcing. 

 Cbicoi-y is a splendid addition to the supply of winter 

 vegetables and with very limited facilitv and ordinary 



care may be successfully forced at a time when fresh 

 esculents are not only scarce but most appreciated. 

 Slewed and served with butter, chicory at once becomes 

 an excellent substitute for seakale. On the other hand 

 it may be served in a raw state and eaten as celery or , 

 else be allowed to form a component of sah.d, and for 

 this latter purpose it is jn'obably most highly ju-ized. 



Brussels Sprouts and Celery 



Brussels sprouts may still Ije planted out in rich 

 ground and will furnish useful "buttons" in the fall 

 and early winter when peas are out of question and corn 

 and beans can be no longer gathered from the open 

 garden. Plant in showery weather, or better still, when 

 rain is ^jredicted. Prepare celery trenches in advance 

 rather than allow this work to lag behind. It is bad pol- 

 icy to defer this task until the plants are actually suf- 

 fering through overcrowding. Use plenty of manure 

 for this crop. It is hardly possible to apply an overdose, 

 and although some of it be left in the ground when the 

 crop is cleared the plot will be in capital condition for 

 the crop w'hich follows. The planting of celery should 

 be done in a business-like manner. Eemove suckers 

 and puny lower leaves as the work proceeds and above 

 everything avoid deep planting. Water liberally in dry 

 weather and finish with a dusting of soot. The plants 

 will thrive better if a light shade can be afforded them 

 for a few days after planting, ^\^lere space is limited 

 ])lantations may be made l)etween pea rows approaching 

 maturity and the brush if left standing will give what 

 little shade is necessary. If planted in an exposed po- 

 sition a good plan is to lay pea brush across the celery 

 irenches to give plants newly transplanted a little pro- 

 tection from the direct rays of the hot sun. 



The June Hustle 



The month of June calls for constant hustle. Arti- 

 ficial watering as well as heavy rains tend to pack the 

 ground, therefore cultivate persistently between the rows 

 of all growing crops. The ravages of all species of in- 

 sect pests, too, becomes a source of much anxiety. Early 

 application of prescribed remedies is the best way of 

 handling the situation. The tender foliage of varie- 

 ties of squash suffer injury from corrosive spraying. 

 Slug shot dusted on the leaves of these and similar kinds 

 is effective against attacks of the squash bug. Bordeaux 

 mixture is a cheap and excellent preventive of all 

 forms of blight and fungoid diseases, while arsenate 

 of lead solution may l)e effectively applied on most 

 kinds of vegetables in the early stages of growth aflVcted 

 with cbcwina insects. 



Food 



