222 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



removed, put in a pile and burned clean as soon as it is dry. 

 This may seem like a waste of vegetable matter that could 

 have been added to the compost heap, but the eggs, cocoons 

 and pupae of various insects, hibernating adults, and the 

 germs of various blights and fungous diseases are carried 

 over and protected in material of this kind, to be on hand 

 to make trouble next season. Thorough cleanliness is es- 

 sential in fighting insects and diseases. 



Fall Sowing for Spring Crops 



The only sowing that may be done at this time of the 

 year in the Northern States is a last planting of radishes. 

 In states a little farther south, where killing frost need not 

 be expected until late in October, there may be last sowings 

 of early varieties of peas, spinach, beets and lettuce. Prep- 

 aration should also be made now for onions and spinach 

 to be wintered over. Onions should be sown considerably 

 thicker than in spring, as some may be winter-killed. One 

 of the early Globe varieties, such as Yellow Strasburg or 

 Danvers, should be selected, as these make thick stands 

 and are ready for eating earlier than the flat sorts. Al- 

 though seed onions that have a good start and are pro- 

 tected by a winter mulch will stand very severe weather, 

 the Egyptian or Perennial Tree onions are still hardier 

 and are sure to prove successful with the amateur. They 

 come in clusters of miniature onions — the heads that form 

 at the tops of the seed stalks instead of seeds on this va- 

 riety — which should be separated and planted in the same 

 way as sets. They should be pushed deep into the soil, as 

 the more the stalks are blanched the better they are for 

 eating green. 



A number of other vegetables may be sown late in the 

 fall for extra early results next spring, but these should be 

 put in so late that they will not sprout this fall. Radishes, 

 lettuce, spinach, carrots, smooth peas, turnips and cabbage 

 will usually come through all right and start up in spring 

 earlier than any that could be planted then. The ground 



