1 86 GARDEN PROFITS 



early potatoes, for some may be ready for digging. 

 Don't dig them when very small; they should be 

 the size of hens' eggs at least. 



Be careful when cutting the asparagus. You 

 cannot do this the first year unless you have very 

 strong, old roots. In any case it is far better to 

 begin gradually, the second year. Commence to 

 ease up on the bed a little by letting an occasional 

 shoot grow instead of cutting it off. Discontinue 

 cutting entirely after the middle of June. I usually 

 stop when peas come into bearing. By cutting 

 later than this, you surely shorten the life of the 

 bed. 



Special Care for Melons. Pay strict attention to 

 ventilating the melons, and just as soon as the vines 

 fill the box they are in, they must be gradually 

 hardened off, so that the boxes can be removed. 

 Begin by leaving about one-half inch of air space 

 on the frame all night, and keep increasing this 

 amount for about a week, when the sash can be 

 entirely removed, also the boxes. Spread the plants 

 out evenly, being careful not to crack any of the 

 stems; pin each vine in place with a twig bent 

 V shape, but don't jam these down hard on the 

 vines. Simply stick them into the ground far 

 enough to hold the vines in position. Dig over 

 the space between the hills, adding some lime 

 if the ground is sour. Look over the vines every 

 week and keep them placed so that they will cover 

 the bed evenly and not grow in one big bunch. 

 The vines can be trained among the hills of late 

 potatoes and corn, if you are prepared to gather the 



