CHAPTER III 



Picking 



The picking of one's flowers or vegetables depends partly 

 upon the purpose. Let us first consider 

 vegetables. 



As vegetables are grown solely for food, 

 and as their garden is seldom admired ex- 

 cept for neatness and thriftiness, the picker 

 does not hesitate to take what he needs 

 wherever he finds it. What he wants is a 

 full basket. But as he picks there are 

 certain things he should remember. 



In the first place, his vegetables should 

 be young. Some of them, such as okra, 

 kohl-rabi, and string beans, are ready to 

 punish him if he leaves them too long, for 

 they become stringy. But other plants, 

 even though they do not become stringy, 

 should be picked just as early as these. 

 The basket fills faster, to be sure, if the 

 peas and corn and summer squash have 

 been left to grow to their full size, but the 

 vegetables are no longer delicate. It is 

 safe to say that most vegetables should 

 be picked before they come to their full 

 size. 



In the second place, vegetables should 

 be picked "at the last minute" ; that is, 

 as late as will give the cook proper time to prepare them 



14 



Fig. 10. — "Snap" 

 Beans. 



If from good seed, 

 and if not too old, 

 they have no strings 

 at all. 



