PLANTING HARDY ANNUALS 161 



to get an early start, and Sandwich Isiand mammoth is the 

 best variety to plant. 



Lettuce and radishes are likely to be the first-gathered 

 "fruits" of the spring sowings. They may be planted when 

 the ground is in good working condition, choosing of each the 

 quickest maturing varieties. The early strains of French 

 Breakfast Radishes are excellent, as are also the Olive-shaped 

 Scarlet, the White Icicle Radish, and other similar sorts. The 

 onion sets for table onions may be planted at the same time 

 as the lettuce and radish, and these will yield quick returns. 

 Onion seed for the later crop should also be planted early; 

 and beet seed should get an early start to make rapid growth 

 and be ready for the table early. 



PLANTING HARDY ANNUALS 



As soon as the frost is out of the ground it is time to begin 

 work in the out-door garden. Some of the annual flowers 

 and many of the perennials do best when they are planted 

 very early; consequently, it is desirable that the ground should 

 be thoroughly prepared for their reception as early in the 

 season as possible. In such preparation three things are 

 necessary: the eradication of witch-grass or other perennial 

 weeds that are likely to take possession of the soil; the en- 

 richment of the soil with some fertilizer that will enable it 

 to furnish plant food in abundance and in easily available 

 form; and such tillage as shall render the soil mellow and 

 easily worked, so that it will take in rainfall readily and will 

 be in good condition for penetration by the delicate roots of 

 the growing plants. 



The modern gardener is no longer content with a bit of 

 ground in a geometrical design in the midst of a lawn, for 



