THE FARM VEGETABLE GARDEN 53 



but in some cases the plot may be so located that the water of a little stream 

 may be so diverted as to flow between the rows when needed. An increas- 

 ing proportion of country homes -have water supply systems of their own. 

 When this is the case, a line can be run to the garden for hose or overhead 

 irrigation. 



There is great danger that watering be done superficially, only the 

 upper surface of the soil being moistened. This does more harm than good, 

 as it dries out before it reaches the roots of the plants and at the same time 

 it destroys the mulch which was fairly effective in conserving the moisture 

 already present. 



Pest Control. No garden is free from the ravages of insect enemies 

 and plant diseases. Each malady and each insect must be treated in its 

 own way. Information as to methods must be sought in spray calendars or 

 in special treatises upon such subjects. However, certain general principles 

 must be borne in mind. As in the case of human ailments, an ounce of 

 prevention is worth a pound of cure. The most important preventive 

 measure is thorough cleaning up every fall. This removes from the garden 

 the dormant forms of both insects and fungi, and so reduces the danger 

 of infestation the next year. Crop rotation, or rather the refusal to grow 

 the same crop on the same ground two years in succession, means much in 

 the prevention of certain diseases. Plants which are making strong and 

 vigorous growth are considerably less susceptible to attack than weaklings. 



Cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale and kohl-rabi are all sub- 

 ject to clubroot. This disease is caused by a slime mould which lurks in the 

 soil and which attacks the plant through the roots. When the roots are 

 thus affected, they are unable to secure either plant food or moisture, and 

 the plants soon die. The plants wilt slightly at first and more seriously as 

 the disease progresses. The roots become swollen, knotted and misshapen. 

 There is no clear-cut method of control, but rotation, liming, thorough 

 cleaning up each year and care to avoid the introduction of the disease by 

 means of manure, tools and purchased plants is advised. 



With beans, special precaution must be exercised against the rust or 

 anthracnose. It is well to save one's own seed, choosing only pods which are 

 naturally free from spot. Cultivation should be avoided when the plants 

 are wet. 



For insect enemies, plant diseases and their remedies, see chapters on 

 same in Part II of this book. 



Quality of Vegetables. Quality in many vegetables depends to a 

 large extent upon the stage of maturity. Peas and beans are more pala- 

 table, tender and digestible if gathered at a rather early stage of maturity 

 than if allowed to get too large. As a rule, the protein content will be 

 higher and the loss in actual nutritious value is more than counterbalanced 

 by the good qualities above mentioned. 



Few people realize how rapidly sweet corn deteriorates in value after 

 it has been removed from the plant. It should go directly from garden to 



