THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 187 



pinch off some of the leaves so that they may not evaporate 

 water faster than the broken roots can supply it. 



A succession of vegetables. A little work and a little 

 planning every week are worth more to a garden than 

 twice as much work every two weeks. By thus planning, 

 it is possible to have vegetables every week in the year. 

 Most well-cultivated gardens in the Southern states afford 

 an abundance of vegetables during May, June, and July. 

 To be sure of a continuous supply through August, Sep- 

 tember, and October, make late plantings of tomatoes, 

 butter beans, okra, corn, eggplants, and other vegetables 

 that thrive in hot weather. 



The period when fresh vegetables are scarce is from 

 November to March. During this time, there should be 

 a stored-up supply of sweet potatoes, fall-grown Irish 

 potatoes, cushaws, pumpkins, dried beans, dried sliced 

 okra, and ruta-baga turnips. Fresh vegetables can also 

 be had during most of this time by planting in July, 

 August, or September seeds of collards, cabbage, ruta- 

 baga turnips, beets, beans, and turnips. The planting of 

 onion sets in the fall and the sowing of seed of kale and 

 spinach for winter " greens " should not be forgotten. 

 Salsify is a delicious vegetable available for fall use. 



Hotbed or coldframe. To obtain early vegetables a 

 hotbed or coldframe will be helpful, because under this 

 the young plants can be started during the winter. The 

 frame is made as shown in Figure 125. It has no bottom, 

 but rests over a shallow pit into which a layer of damp 

 manure has been placed, and covered with several inches 

 of soil. The purpose of this manure is to afford, by 



