80 THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN 



munity, determine which is best for gardens in general, and which for special 

 crops, such as Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and others. 



12. Make inquiry to find what gardeners in the community have at- 

 tempted to modify their soils to improve the yields of garden products. 

 What methods have been most successful in this respect? 



13. Liming. — Conduct a project of soil improvement through green manur- 

 ing and liming. 



14. Manuring and Fertilizing. — Conduct experiments in home gardens 

 or on the school grounds, to compare the benefits from (1) green manuring, 

 (2) use of barnyard manure, (3) commercial fertilizer containing considerable 

 nitrogen. Crops for these experiments may be corn, potatoes, cabbage, or 

 other crops grown on rather extensive scale. 



15. Tillage. — Compare by experiment, (1) deep and shallow plowing (2) 

 fall and spring plowing. Also compare deep and shallow cultivation of corn 

 and other garden crops. . 



16. Cover Crops. — Some students should conduct home projects in im- 

 provement of soils through cover crops, using them in the spring as green 

 manures. Comparison should be made with plots left bare during the winter. 



17. — Drainage. — -If gardens with under-drainage can be found in the com- 

 munity, make a study of the benefits resulting therefrom. 



18. Irrigation. — If any system of irrigation is in use in the vicinity, co- 

 operate with the owner in determining the benefits derived from irrigation. 

 Make a list of the items of expense for installing and operating. 



19. Some student may find it possible to conduct a project of installing 

 and operating overhead irrigation, (Fig. 50), or some other inexpensive system. 

 Records should be kept of the cost of installing, cost of operation, and results 

 obtained. Yields should be compared on irrigated and nonirrigated plots of 

 the same crops. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Enumerate the benefits of home gardening. 



2. In what ways may time and labor be saved by the home gardener? 



3. What are some of the elements of success with the door yard garden? 



4. What is meant by the vegetable border? 



5. What plans are necessary if horse-culture is to be used? 



6. Distinguish between the home garden, the small market garden, and the 



truck garden. ,;> 



7. Make a list of garden crops to be started at different seasons. 



8. Describe a good type of soil for successful gardening. 



9. What are good ways of adding humus to soils? 



10. What are the effects of liming sandy soils? Clay soils? 



11. Give some directions regarding the use of commercial fertilizers. 



12. What are the advantages of deep plowing? Of shallow cultivation? 



13. What are some good winter cover crops for your section? 



14. When should they be sown? With what fruit or garden crops can they be 



used? 



15. What are the advantages of under-drainage for gardens? 



16. Describe plans for irrigation with which you are familiar. 



17. Make a list of garden tools which you consider essential for good results. 



References.— U. S. Farmers' Bulletins: 218, School Garden; 256, Pre- 

 paration of Vegetables for the Table; 460, Frames as a Factor in Truck 

 Gardening; 856, Control of Diseases and Insects; 871, Vegetables as Conserv- 

 ers of other Foods; 879, Home Storage of Vegetables; 884, Saving Garden 

 Seed; 916, Community Drying Plant; 934, Home Gardening in South; 937, 

 Farm Garden in North; 959, Spotted Garden Slug; 984, Farm and Home Dry- 

 ing of Fruits and Vegetables; 1044, City Home Garden; 1196, Containers for 

 Vegetables and Fruits; 1211, Home Canning of Fruits and Vegetables. 



