THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 245 
The crops in Plans I-V may be planted in the spring 
as soon as the frost is out of the ground; it will not 
injure them if the ground freezes after the seeds are in. 
In central latitudes, such as Boston, Chicago, and Kansas 
City, these gardens may be planted from the fifteenth 
of March to the first of April. Where there is sufficient 
moisture in the soil, fall plantings may be made from 
the fifteenth of August to the first of September. In 
the Southern states, plant in February for early spring 
crops, and from September to November for winter use. 
Plans IX-XIV may be planted as a succession after the 
crops in Plans I-III are harvested. 
Plants which mature at about the same time should 
be kept together, so that the whole plot may be sown in 
vetch or some other fall cover crop just as soon as the 
crop is harvested. 
Planting the gardens. After the earth has been spaded 
and raked over, stretch a line the entire length of the 
plot, so that the rows in the small gardens will join to 
form continuous rows In the large area. Plant the middle 
rows first, then those outside. So far as possible, a row 
should contain crops that require about the same atten- 
tion and mature at about the same time. This method 
will economize space and enable the student to learn 
the use of the wheel hoe. 
Watering the garden. The land can usually be kept 
moist by keeping a loose layer of soil on the surface. 
After every rain cultivate the garden as soon as it can 
be worked. During severely dry weather in midsummer 
