10 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



MARKET GARDEN NOTES 



A dry year might well be expected this 

 year, after studying the weather reports 

 for the last few years. The vegetable 

 grower has several ways of meeting the 

 situation, not the least of which is good 

 cultivation. A deep stirring of the soil 

 frequently, not only conserves moisture, 

 but hastens the decomposition of organic 

 matter in the soil, makes available plant 

 food at a more rapid rate, and often re- 

 sults in a splendid growth of crops when 

 attended to in time. 



The evaporation from the surface soil 

 is often very great as compared with the 

 loss of moisture through plant leaves. 

 Conservation of water is extremely es- 

 sential, and safer for health crops than 

 the abundant use of irrigation water. 



Overhead irrigation is an asset to mar- 

 ket gardeners when properly used, and 

 it is a decided liability when improperly 

 used. Certain crops can be practically 

 destroyed through too much water. It is 

 certain that quality can be lost. A com- 

 bination of too much water with extreme 

 heat almost invariably results in poor 

 market quality. 



The vegetable grower has several types 

 of tools for land cultivation, particularly 

 the cultivation of the narrow rows be- 

 tween such crops as beets, carrots, spin- 

 ach, lettuce, and the like. Some of these 

 tools are much more efficient than others. 

 It takes some skill to operate any of them, 

 even the common garden hoe, with the 

 best I'esults. Good hoeing may mean the 

 saving of many dollars in hand weeding, 

 and the maintenance of proper growth 

 during periods of extreme drought. Good 

 hoeing is also very essential in periods 

 of too much rain in order to see that the 

 air gets into the soil and the roots get 

 a chance to grow as they should. Slide 

 or scuffle hoeing is not properly done if 

 the soil is left in cakes instead of mellow. 

 The beginner with a slide hoe usually 

 does a poor job, and some instruction is 

 needed even to the older workmen, pro- 

 vided such has never been given. 



The health of a crop is largely in- 

 fluenced by weather conditions. Many 

 people insist that wet weather makes 

 blights. There is never an effect without 

 a cause, and as a rule we must have con- 

 ditions such that the fungi or the bacteria 

 which cause disease will thrive in order 

 to have much trouble from plant disease. 

 However, it always takes the infection 

 of the plant by fungi or bacteria to cau.se 

 disease. It does not come spontaneously 

 with wet weather. Nature is .so abundant 

 in her distribution of seeds and spores 

 that as a rule there is a very abundant 

 supply of these whenever conditions are 

 suitable for their growth. It is not safe 

 Continued on page 11, column 1 



LINCOLN 





One Can Not a — Ford 

 to be without a — Ford 



at these prices : 



CHASE MOTOR COMPANY 



NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 



24 Center Street 



Telephone 470 



Important Changes in the Household Arts Department 



SMITH'S AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL 



The new head is Hazel A. Koss — Graduate of Framingham, 

 Student at Harvard, Woman's Industrial I'nion, and Hyannis. 

 Ten years in charge of Cooking and Luncii Work, Pilgrim High 

 Schdiil. A leader in war work. A comnuinity and home 

 worker. 



A new law requires country towns to pay part of traveling expenses 



THKKK-VK.MJ ( Ol K.SK INCLUDES 



Cookery 



Preservation of Foods 



Household Sanitation 



Sewing and Dressmaking 



Millinery 



Laundering and Renovating 



First Aid and Home Nursing 



Child Welfare 



Drawing and Designing 



Home Furnishings 



Handicrafts 



Household Management 



Household Arithmetic and Accounts 



Textiles 



Household Science 



English Literature 



History 



Civics 



Social Problems 



Household Magazine Reading 



Physical Training and Games 



WRITE THE DIRECTOR 



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