132 How to Make the Garden Pay. 



and the plants again straightened up. Early potatoes can be 

 protected by simply hilling up, entirely hiding the plants from 

 sight. 



When you have marsh hay, or coarse litter of any kind on 

 hand, a much better material for covering strawberry patches, 

 and exposed vegetation of a tender nature generally, need not be 

 looked for. Spread the litter thinly over the rows, and remove 

 again next morning. It may be left as a mulch between the 

 rows, or gathered up and drawn off for other uses if desired. 



Smoke has often been mentioned as a safeguard against 

 frost, and writers often give the advice to burn rubbish heaps, or 

 heaps of a mixture of coal tar and moist sawdust, placed at 

 intervals over the area to be protected. But this is another case 

 where theory is better than practice, and I do not recommend it 

 either for spring or fall. 



Covering with hay, straw, jpaper, muslin, etc., is about the 

 only feasible plan of protecting crops against the first early fall 

 frosts. The home gardener can often save a few tomato and 

 pepper plants, melon and cucumber vines, etc., by such means, 

 and thus prolong his season of .fresh fruits of these tender garden 

 plants for several weeks, for a warm spell usually follows closely 

 upon the first, and (often only) early fall frost. A few tomato and 

 pepper plants may also be lifted with all the soil that will adhere 

 to the roots, and placed in tubs or boxes in the cellar, or under a 

 shed ; or they may be simply pulled up and hung up somewhere 

 out of the reach of frost. They will then ripen all the larger 

 fruit that is on them, and give a full supply some time after all 

 the plants left in the open ground are killed by frost. 



The crops of winter squashes, late melons, and all others 

 which even the slightest touch of frost would render worthless 

 for keeping, should of course be gathered and stored in a safe 

 place before such mishap can befall them. Full-grown green 

 melons, if properly stored, may be kept for some time, and yet 

 come to full maturity. 



