148 SUGGESTIONS FOR GARDEN WORK BY MONTHS 



surplus plants from hotbeds, herbaceous plants from the flower 

 garden, vines, trees, shrubs, and harvests of asparagus, rhubarb 

 and winter onions this month (Fig. 88). 



The permanent flower garden should be given much attention. 

 Divide the large clumps of such perennial plants as phlox, larkspur, 

 golden glow, and others. Trim out the dead tops of the old plants 

 and give the bed a good cleaning up. After spading all bare spots, 

 apply some manure as a mulch to keep the ground mellow and 

 enrich it. 



May.— Probably the last spring frost will occur during this 

 month. After that almost any of the vegetables may be risked in 



Fig. 88. — The surplus products from the home garden and orchard should be marketed 

 frequently directly to consumers in the town market. First day of Holyoke market. Com- 

 pare with verify. (Massachusetts Agricultural College.) 



the open garden. Do not plant many hot weather crops until the 

 soil is warm. Additional plantings should be made of such hardy 

 crops as beets, peas, onions, lettuce, radish, and transplant more 

 cauliflower, cabbage, and kohl-rabi to the open garden early in 

 the month. 



The last of May is soon enough to risk tomatoes, peppers, corn, 

 and beans in the open garden. 



Apply nitrate of soda or other nitrogenous fertilizer to the 

 asparagus bed early in the month. Set forcing frames with glass 

 tops over clumps of asparagus and rhubarb if they have not begun 

 growth before the first of May. Fight cut-worms that are working 

 abundantly in May. A paper collar around all transplanted plants 



