For May, 1923 



115 



In the Garden and in the Greenhouse 



GEORGE F. STEWART 



GARDENING is like very few professions. It large- 

 ly depends on how closely we can co-operate with 

 the natural elements. These, however, often act in 

 a ver\' erratic manner, and are beyond our control, at 

 least out of doors, to a very large extent. — Take the past 

 Winter here in Massachusetts; it has been like no other 

 one, within the memon,- of many of our oldest residents. 

 We were in hopes of an early Spring, after the snow 

 being so continuous from November on. 



We argued thus : the ground has been so heavily cov- 

 ered with snow that the frost would not penetrate to any 

 great depth, and with the lengthening day, and the sun 

 getting stronger, when March arrived, we would have a 

 sudden quick thaw, and in a few days the ground vi^ould 

 be in condition for putting in early crops, at least as early 

 as the second week in March. The result has been that 

 that month has been one of the most frosty we have ex- 

 perienced, and with very high biting winds has, several 

 nights, taxed out heating equipment to its utmost. Several 

 nights some panes of glass, loosened by the long Winter, 

 have been blown out in some unexpected corner, and dis- 

 appointment has followed over some cherished plants 

 which have been either marred, or completely ruined, by 

 the cutting frosty wind blowing through that part of the 

 greenhouse thus exposed, through no fault of those in 

 charge. In fact, it ma)' have happened when they thought 

 they could safely retire, after watching through the worst 

 part of the night, knowing that the heater was well able 

 to take care of things for the few hours that were left. 



Timing of the flowering season of certain plants has 

 also been disappointing to some of us, owing to lack of 

 sunshine at a season when we generally counted on clear 

 skies. As we look over our outdoor plants we find many 

 things that discourage us. A\'e gave our plants their usual 

 covering for this section of the countr}', and the result 

 has been that together with the great depth of snow, it 

 was too much, causing rot in quite a number of our border 

 plants. Others, owing to the ground not being frozen 

 at all, started into growth under the snow, and these have 

 been destroyed, the late cold blasting winds nipping them 

 in their soft condition. ^lice have also done considerable 

 damage, and I am convinced from some little observations, 

 that the grey squirrel is about as destructive at barking 

 certain bushes and trees, as the mouse. Gardening, look- 

 ing at it from the standpoint of a visitor, and beholding 

 a floral display at its best, is a most wonderful occupation, 

 but very few realize the brain racking care, and many 

 disappointments that very often the gardener has been 

 through, before such a restful, satisfying picture has been 

 produced. 



Late Alay and early June generally find the gardener in 

 the thick of the fight to produce seasonable flowers, fruits, 

 and vegetables, and if we lay hold of opportunitv' at the 

 right moment, we shall have a fair measure of success. 

 Ideals no one can rob us of. Our enemies may tn-- to 

 mar them, but to the heroic soul they are still there, and 

 worth striving for. 



Do not neglect staking peas at the earliest opportunity, 

 and when they are an inch or two over grown, if they 

 look too thick in the row, thin them out a little. Better 

 quality will be the result. I question in our climate, if it 

 would be wise to trust growing peas spaced as widely as 

 they do in Europe. From photos I have seen, they cer- 

 tainly have wonderful yields, as the result of planting 

 widely. 



We always, with a sowing of peas, plant spinach 



between the rows as it runs so quickly to seed, it is gen- 

 erally used up before it interferes with that crop. New 

 Zealand spinach is not a Spinacia at all, botanically be- 

 longing to Tetragonia. This plant is used widely as sub- 

 stitute for Spinacia during the hot months, and does 

 better if started in small pots as it is a tropical subject. 

 It will grow from seed sown out doors, but will protiuce 

 leaves much later from the plants started indoors. We 

 sow three seeds to a pot and plant three feet apart. It 

 very soon closes up between the hills at that distance. 



Sow dwarf and pole Lima beans, after the middle of 

 May. Put in plenty of seed and thin out after they are 

 well up. This class of bean is liable to rot, if after they 

 are sown it should turn wet and cold for several days. 

 Plant pumpkin and squash about the middle of May and 

 later. These, as regards their seeds, act about the same 

 as Lima beans in unfavorable weather. 



Soft coal soot is an excellent dust put around voung 

 vegetable plants. Insect pests are not at all happy, if a 

 good dusting is kept around them while they are in a 

 small state. However, remember and do not get it mixed 

 with lime, as a powerfvd ammonia will be the result, and 

 the tender foliage will be burned. A sprinkling of any 

 good vegetable fertilizer after a crop is well up may be 

 given between the rows before hoeing or watering, keep 

 it well away from the plants, as many chemical fertilizers 

 burn nut only the leaves, but tlie stems of the plants as 

 well. The best safeguard is a good watering after an 

 application. 



Tomatoes may be planted out towards the end of ]\Iay, 

 also egg plants, but don't forget that they are quite tender, 

 and should be well hardened off. Without a doubt the 

 best fruit is obtained from tomatoes, if they are trained 

 over a trellis, or tied singly to a stake. Also rub out 

 all side growths, training to a single stem. 



Good melons can be grown outdoors if the weather is 

 normal. Last year we had so much wet weather that 

 we did not get a good set of fruit. If one has a decent 

 house available they are more easily handled indoors. 



The orchard requires a good deal of work nowadays, 

 with so many fungous, and insect pests. Spraying or 

 dusting has to be done several times to insure good fruit. 

 The dealers have these preparations always in stock, and 

 can be relied on as regards ingredients, if brought from a 

 reputable firm. Dusting on the whole is considered by 

 some more expensive than spraying, but it can be done 

 much more quickly. Get busy as soon as the flower 

 petals begin to fall from the trees, and look out for later 

 hatchings of moths. A spraying with arsenate of lead 

 will generally take care of the currant worm, on the 

 smaller bushes, but dusting will do here also, if coloring 

 of the foliage is an objection. Fruit of all kinds requires 

 much attention to produce first-class specimens and good 

 keeping quality. 



In the flower garden from the middle of ^lay onward 

 there will be successions and changing scenes of color. 

 The Darwin and IMay flowing tulips are among the most 

 interesting, and when planted in clumps of ten or a dozen 

 between the herbaceous .plants, the green foliage, in its 

 several shades, of these perennial plants, softens the 

 brighter colors, and forms a pleasing combination. With- 

 out bulbs, the herbaceous borders in the Spring would 

 give us a long period of very little flowering material, 

 and would be of very little interest, except to plant ex- 

 perts, who are always entliusiastic when watching all 

 stages of growth. Darwins, and other late flowering tu- 



