28 PLANNING THE HOME GARDEN 



The general requirements for the plants of this group must 

 necessarily vary greatly. With the exception of the pea, 

 which is a cool weather plant, all of the remaining members 

 of this group are warm weather plants and thrive best during 

 the warmer part of the growing season. The group also has 

 both short and long season plants. In fact, the tomato, egg- 

 plant and pepper must frequently be started in a hot-bed 

 in order to have them mature their crops, in some sections 

 of the country with a comparatively short growing season. 

 With the possible exception of the pea the remaining plants 

 of this group are all tender and must be planted after danger 

 of frost is past. 



The soil should be well prepared and fertile. A sandy 

 loam will perhaps best serve the need of the greater number 

 in this group, although they are not averse to the heavy types 

 of soil. Plenty of plant food and humus should be provided 

 and the plants should be kept constantly growing. A check 

 in growth not only reduces the yield but materially injures 

 the quality of some of the finer flavored vegetables. 



The uses of these vegetables are varied. In fact, they 

 constitute the vegetables that are found on our tables every 

 day in the year. Many of these, particularly the peas, beans, 

 corn and tomato, are staple canned goods and always in 

 demand. The beans and peas are both canned and sold in a 

 dry state, while the melons are used only in the fresh state 

 and occupy an important place as delicacies in their season. 

 As a class this group is exceedingly important and one that 

 we could not well do without. 



Fig. 2 gives a suggestive plan for the arrangement of a 

 home garden 25 by 30 feet. This garden is designed for the 

 back end of a city lot, in which only one-half of the yard is 

 available for the growing of fresh vegetables. It is primarily 

 for a small family. This arrangement will permit the use of a 

 hand cultivator, which can be operated to good advantage. 

 In case the grower does not own an implement of this type, 

 the ordinary hand hoe will answer the purpose. 



This plan only includes a few vegetables, but they will 

 meet with approval on anyone's table, and at the same time 

 will give a sufficient variety so as not to become monoto- 



