No. 4.] THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN. 307 



ment goes further than this. Staked tomatoes should weekly 

 be pruned (one to three stalks) and tied. The watching of the 

 crops leads to proper succession planting. The moment a row 

 of plants has finished its usefulness it should be dug up, and no 

 time should be lost in planting its successor. Thus early 

 spinach is followed by cauliflower from the frames, or peas are 

 succeeded by beets. As the summer advances it will be too 

 late to follow with vegetables; but the cover crops should go 

 in as promptly as possible, to get a good growth before winter. 

 Garden management includes, further, a careful lookout for the 

 coming of insect pests. Otherwise the squash bug or the cab- 

 bage maggot will do irreparable damage. 



As soon as there is a sign of them, therefore, the campa'gn 

 against them should begin. There is no space here to tell what 

 to do in each case, nor how to take preventive measures against 

 diseases. (Diseases can never be cured; the only salvation is 

 prevention.) The reader should, for help in such cases, consult 

 Circular No. 2, Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, 

 "Insecticides, Fungicides and Directions for their Use." 



Neatness in the garden is worth while not only for itself, but 

 for its results. All rubbish should be gathered daily, and piled 

 in some out of the way place. The resulting heap is called the 

 compost heap, and if the garden waste is not given to the pigs 

 or chickens, it yet can do good service by turning itself into 

 the best of earth mold, valuable in providing earth for the flats, 

 or for enriching the hills of squash and melons. Compost is 

 quite as valuable as manure. 



The saving of seed is often possible in the garden. If the 

 gardener is sure that there has been no crossing, and likes his 

 strain of corn or squash or tomato, he cannot merely save 

 himself a little money, but can by careful selection, even 

 improve his seed. 



From late summer onward the garden would begin to look 

 bare were it not for cover crops. These, as already mentioned, 

 should be sowed in every space as soon as it is vacant. In 

 summer crimson clover is the best to use; as frosts approach, 

 winter vetch will be better; and after frosts begin rye is best 

 used for a quick result. When turned under, these will provide 

 plant food. 



