For January, 1923 15 



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I Work for the Month in the Garden 



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IN nearly all gardens, January is the month of complet- 

 ing odds and ends, for little can be accomplished in the 

 average garden except to put everything in order for 

 the coming season. This, however, is quite important in it- 

 self, for it will lighten the work of the busy days ahead. 

 Tools and implements can be cleaned and sharpened ; the 

 stock of insecticides, spraying materials, and fertilizers re- 

 plenished : flower stakes, pea brush, and bean poles made 

 ready for future use ; and the manure prepared for the hot 

 beds to be used next month, though care must be taken 

 to protect this material from snow and rain. For good 

 hot beds, there is no better material than fresh horse 

 manure which contains a fair portion of strawy litter. If 

 there is not sufRcient manure, leaves may be used as a 

 part of the mixture ; in fact, the beds can be made wholly 

 of leaves. We do not, though, recommend that more than 

 one-half of leaves be used if manure is at all available. 

 A point of importance in connection with hot beds is to 

 have the material in a fit condition, sweet, and neither too 

 wet nor too dry. There should be no water when the 

 material is held tightly in the hand. After being turned' 

 over a few times at intervals of two or three days, the 

 material is then ready for the pit. At first pack quite 

 finn. and after the manure has warmed through again 

 within two or three days' time, tramp it thoroughly. Soil 

 to the depth of six inches should be applied if the seed 

 is to be sown in rows on the beds, but a thin layer of sand 

 or soil should be applied if the seed is to be sown in fiats. 

 Hot beds have two distinct purposes ; they may either be 

 used to grow a crop into maturity, or merely to give it 

 an early start to be planted outside later. 



During the month of January our ef¥orts are mainly 

 expended in the protection rather than the production of 

 vegetables. Careful inspection should be made every so 

 often of the supply stored, and decayed specimens should 

 be at once removed. 



If greenhouse space permits, an early start can be made 

 with vegetables, and such crops as carrots, beets, cauli- 

 flowers, spinach, and salads sown in a temperature of 40 

 to 45 degrees. Tomatoes and string beans, which can 

 be raised either in benches or pots, require a somewhat 

 higher temperature, an average of 55 degrees. 



Peas and potatoes may also be started in a temperature 

 of about 40 degrees in the bench of a cool house or in 

 pots, with the temperature increasing with their growth. 

 A light porous compost is essential in starting these crops 

 early, as holds true with the majority of young stock 

 during the Winter months. Well rotted cow manure and 

 turfy loam, or loam and leaf mold in equal parts, is ex- 

 cellent for potatoes at this time. Peas thrive well in a 

 compost similar to that required for the successful culti- 

 vation of potatoes, to which may be added a little bone 

 meal. If grown in pots, the peas and potatoes may be 

 placed under the bench of a cool house till they are a few 

 inches high. It is. of course, essential that there be good 

 drainage in the bottom of the pots. 



^^'ith February, work can be commenced in earnest, 

 and as sowings of certain varieties of vegetables and 

 flowers are made, we should think over the successes and 

 failures of the past year, and make plans to avoid the 

 latter in the new season. Some plants may not have 

 thrived because the soil was not suitable, because the 



ground was not carefully fertilized, or because seed was 

 sown too early or too thickly. The latter often is the 

 cause for disappointment in growing crops, for many 

 people' feel it necessary to empty a whole package of seed 

 when only half is all that is required for the space al- 

 lotted. The seedlings suffer from over-crowding and it is 

 inviting failure to begin with weak stock. A small num- 

 l^er well grown, either of flowers or vegetables, is of finer 

 quality and more productive than a quantity not properly 

 developed because of lack of room. 



For outdoor planting, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, egg 

 plants, onions, peppers, leeks and parsley can be started 

 in the hot beds during early February. Seeds can then 

 also be sown of beans, radishes, lettuce .and cucumbers, 

 and annuals for the flower garden may at the same time 

 be sown. For these early crops, the soil should be fairly 

 rich, containing a good proportion of sand and humus. 

 While snow around pits and frames in which are dormant 

 plants is sometimes beneficial, plants in hot beds must 

 have light and air. Frames in which are growing plants, 

 should be ventilated when the weather permits, and decay- 

 ing foliage carefully picked oft'. 



If there is still pruning of frtiit trees to be done, the 

 work, if at all possible, should be comjileted in February. 

 The pruning of fruit trees is to maintain a proper balance 

 of growth, and to produce, fruit of a better quality, and 

 while severe pruning at the time of planting is a wise 

 practice, it is advisable to prune less severely thereafter, 

 especially in the case of stone fruits. A "smother"' should 

 be made of all prunings, as it produces an ash which is 

 valuable for fertilizing. It is also the best means of dis- 

 posing of garden refuse. Spraying of the orchard, orna- 

 mental trees, and shrubs for scale insects or fungoid 

 diseases should be done on mild davs. 



TEACH HORTICULTURE TO FOSTER LOVE 

 FOR PLANTS 



(Continued from page 10) 



instruction ! We must demand that horticulture be 

 taught in schools and high schools, and that a number of 

 horticultural colleges be established. \\'e must ask every- 

 bodv to help in this movement — the city government, the 

 state, the federal government and, if I am not mistaken, 

 we shall be able to accomplish something in the near fu- 

 ture. We are scrapping battleships. We are limiting" the- 

 building of fortifications. Must we not build something 

 else instead? We must build up the love for the' land, the 

 love for the country, the love for our homes — that love 

 which prompts a man to stay on his property, hov.'evef- 

 small and poor it may seem to others — the property 

 where he saw his children born, where he planted his 

 trees when he was young, where he grows his flowers. If 

 we assist in this upbuilding we shall accomplish mcire, 

 create more patriotism than ever warships or armies will 

 accomplish. It is this love for a country which makes 

 the countr}- safe, makes it unconquerable. 



No man is born into the world whose work is not bom- 

 with him. There is always work, and tools to work 

 withal, for those who will, — H. JV. Becclier. 



