For Murch, 1'I23 



69 



In the Garden and in the Greenhouse 



GEORGE F. STEWART 



IN THE GARDEN 



WK have now arrived at the season of the year when 

 everything is waking up from the long Winter 

 rest of the ])ast nmnths. In late March and early 

 April the gardener has to keep alert that nothing is for- 

 gotten in the way of preparation for the coming season. 

 His head, and many times his hands also, has to be in 

 good working shape. Many small important things are 

 likely to be forg'otten that later on might hamper him in 

 his work. Daily reference should be made to notes on the 

 previous season's work. I have also found it of great 

 benefit to all concerned to take my helpers into confidence 

 in planning the work for the coming season. Draw to 

 their attention that we are working jointly for the same 

 employer; that he is entitled to all the brain power we 

 possess, and should they notice anything that I may over- 

 look, not to hesitate a minute to remind me of the same, 

 and I will thank them for it. I am a great believer in 

 encouraging inde])en(lent thinking, and I heartily agree 

 with a very able hnancier I once worked for, who said 

 that he had obtained some very fine ideas from men that 

 were considered fools. 



I have no patience with the type of gardener I heard 

 of lately, who told one of his helpers that he was not 

 supposed to think ; he was here to do as he was told. We 

 have had experience with such in bygone days. I knew 

 of one some years ago who told an assistant to go and 

 water a certain bench of planted out plants. The man 

 went and after looking it over, and examining the soil, 

 came back and reported that he did not think it required 

 water. He was ordered back to water it immediately. 

 The gardener made the poor fellow water the bench every 

 day for a week. Such treatment I call tyranny. One can 

 readily imagine the conditions of that poor bench of plants. 



As a rule at this season, from March 15 on, snow is 

 pretty well gone, and if perchance we have late storms it 

 does not last long. Snowdrops and other early Spring 

 bulbs will be beginning to flower, reminding one that 

 Nature is beginning to put on its Spring glory. 



The lawns will now need attention raking up all twigs 

 and leaves that may have fallen on them during the 

 Winter. Bare patches will have to be seeded and any 

 unsightly depressions filled in by removing the turf and 

 filling it with loam. A good topdressing will also be in 

 order. I prefer bonemeal and wood ashes, also an appli- 

 cation of lime. I don't like barnyard manure as it is 

 almost sure to bring in many seeds of dandelion and other 

 pernicious weeds that disfigure so many lawns. (Jf course, 

 if no limit is set on help, a lawn can be weeded regularly, 

 as well as any cultivated piece of ground, and the so-called 

 natural manures lend a deep lustre to grass and are more 

 lasting in their efl:'ect than the artificial fertilizers. After 

 the lawns are cleaned and topdressed, it is better before 

 mowing commences, to give them a rolling with a good 

 heavy roller. It gives a nice level surface, and any small 

 stones that may be lying loose on the surface are pressed 

 into the ground out of the way of the knives of the lawn 

 mower. Be liberal with lawn grass seed, as if one has a 

 good thick seeded lawn, it helps to crowd out weeds. 



As soon as frost is out of the ground and the soil in 

 fairly good condition get all digging and ploughing pushed 

 forward. If it was done in the Fall it will not be sufficient, 

 as the Winter has baked it down quite hard, and soil 

 always delights in a good stirring up. Dig deeply, and 

 if time and labor are available, trench the ground. 



In ploughing in my young days market gardeners made 

 use of a subsoiler in the furrow after the plough, loosening 

 up the subsoil. The result was that the ground was 

 worked more than twice the depth of ordinary deep 

 ploughing. This extra amount of labor was always ap- 

 parent in the extra heavy yield at harvesting time. A 

 missionary told me some time ago, that the Chinamen are 

 masterhruids at deep cultivation of the soil. Where he was 

 located they had very small farms and manure was not 

 over plentiful, but they made up for the lack of it by deep 

 cultivation with very crude tools. The whole family 

 worked and turned it over year after year to a great 

 depth. The result was a quantity of crops that would 

 astonish a westerner. He was brought up on a farm, 

 therefore knew something about production. 



Une of the first and best outdoor vegetables, of course, 

 is asparagus, and the bed should receive early attention. 

 To grow asparagus well it requires plenty of plant food. 

 In fact, is may be considered a gross feeder. Dig in 

 plent\- of barnyard manure as soon as the soil can be 

 worked. It also likes the soil kept open, which necessitates 

 frequent cultivation, ^^'hen the ground is stirred, appli- 

 cations of tankage or any killing house refuse may be 

 gn-en. Salt, superphosphate and soft coal soot is also rec- 

 ommended by good growers, giving a little every time the 

 ground is stirred up. In making a new plantation, secure 

 strong one-year plants. There is some difference of 

 opinion how far apart to plant. Some advocate three feet 

 each way, and others two by four. I have always planted 

 two feet between the plants and three feet between the 

 rows, and about seven inches deep of a furrow, gradually 

 filling in as the plants grow. A warm sheltered spot 

 should be selected facing south, as this delicious vegetable 

 is wanted in the Spring as early as possible. 



Keep up successions of peas, planting at least every 

 two weeks. Don't sow too thickly in the rows, as peas 

 branch somewhat, and a better crop can be had if the 

 seed is scattered thinly. We have found the variety called 

 Pilot a fine pea for early use. Sow carrots, parsnips, 

 beets, lettuce, parsley, as soon as ground will permit it. 

 Onions that have been potted and hardened off well, can 

 be planted outdoors about April first. Seeds of onions 

 may be sown in March if ground is in a suitable con- 

 dition. 



Sow annuals for succession, especially the annual asters, 

 as they are among the best of our cut flowers. The single- 

 flowered type are by many preferred rather than the 

 double ones. Personally I think they are more decorative. 



Much forethought is required if a steady succession of 

 flowers is to be kept up in the herbaceous garden. The 

 colors that are most acceptable to the family are to be 

 studied out, and an ample supply of plants has to be on 

 hand to fill in. To keep herbaceous borders looking well 

 throughout the season demands much labor and skill in 

 grouping the plants. As plants go out of flower others 

 iiave to be ready to take their places. If one is restricted 

 to certain colors it makes it all the more difficult. IMany 

 plants have to be grown in jxtts, others can be transplanted 

 from the supply garden. There are quite a number which 

 can be dug up when coming in flower and transplanted 

 into vacant spaces, if they are dry at the roots at the time 

 of lifting, and given a good soaking of water after they 

 are placed in position. These notes refer especially to 

 annuals without which no herbaceous borders can be kept 

 in color throughout the season. Such things as lilies and 

 gladioli are better if pot-grown. 



