September : First Week 



LATE WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN: LAST 

 PLANTINGS; GETTING READY FOR THE 

 FIRST FROSTS; PREPARING FOR WINTER 

 WORK UNDER GLASS 



The first rule for the home gardener at this time of the 

 year is to let not a single weed go to seed. Do not let the 

 weeds even form seed pods, because many of these will 

 ripen and shell out if they are cut when green. Go over 

 the grounds from one border line to the other; even in 

 gardens that are kept clean, weeds at the ends of the rows, 

 along the fences, or in plots that have gone by, often are 

 left to be cut and burned in the fall — too late to prevent 

 their sowing trouble for next year. 



One reason, perhaps, why stray weeds are left is that 

 among the usual garden tools there is none especially 

 adapted to their removal. Weeds should be cut below 

 the surface, to prevent their sprouting again. The hook- 

 bladed knife used for thinning cane-fruits is ideal for this 

 purpose. If one of these is not available, however, a tool for 

 this purpose may easily be made from a piece of hoe blade 

 or a mowing-machine knife blade. Cut the piece of hoe 

 blade three inches or so wide, heat it and hammer it out 

 straight at the shank; attach this to a stout handle four 

 or five feet long in such a way that it can be used with a 

 straight thrust. The mowing-machine knife blade may be 

 fastened to a handle in the same way, or in such position 

 that the cutting edge is uppermost, so it will cut with a 

 pull. With either of these implements the removal of large 

 weeds is not hard work. You do not need to stoop over, 

 and no vegetables or flowers need be uprooted in the process. 



All the refuse of vegetable crops such as peas, beans, 

 early cucumbers, cabbage stumps, and so forth, should be 



