A YEAR'S CYCLE IN THE GARDEN 173 



shallow rooter. I prefer to plant corn in rows 

 because all kinds do not grow the same size, and so do 

 not require the same spacing. This is easily regulat- 

 ed by thinning when the corn is planted in rows. 



Plant Golden Bantam for a first crop; it is not only 

 a very early corn, but one of the best flavored. And 

 don't forget Stowell's Evergreen and Country 

 Gentleman, which are the best of the late corns. 



Melons and Lima Beans. If melons have not 

 been sown as suggested last month, see to it at once 

 and always put plenty of seed in each hill, as it is 

 very poor economy to be saving of seed. Put at 

 least 12 seeds in each hill, as the plants are easily 

 thinned out at the proper time, when only 3 plants 

 should be left in hills if 8 feet apart; but if they are 

 10 or 12 feet apart, 4 plants may be left. 



Sow Lima beans if the weather seems settled and 

 there is a little warmth in the ground; you don't 

 gain anything by planting Limas before. A few 

 cool nights after the plants are above ground will 

 cause them to turn yellow and the result is a season 

 of very slow, stunted growth. May 10 is quite 

 early enough for New York and similar localities. 



If rain occurs within 48 hours of the time of sow- 

 ing, the seed will rot and the work must be done 

 over. In heavy soils, 96 hours is not too long a 

 limit to place. Examine your seeds after a rain- 

 fall and see if they are rotting or not. Making a 

 circle around the pole about two inches deep, 

 filling this with sand, and sowing the seeds in the 

 sand may save you from sowing the seeds a second 

 time, as the sand dries very quickly after a rain. 



