66 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



March, 1907 



entirely during the day, and during the night 

 ventilation is given by leaving the sash open, 

 at first only a small crack, which is increased 

 gradually until it is four or five, inches wide. 

 The handiest thing with which to prop the 

 sash open is a block of wood. 



Lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, onions and 

 leeks can be subjected to airier conditions 

 than peppers, egg plants and tomatoes. 

 Lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage may be 

 planted out about April 20th. Onions and 

 leeks are better not disturbed until they 

 attain the size of a lead pencil. Peppers 

 and egg plants require a frame having a 

 slightly warmer temperature; they may be 

 planted out about May 20th. Syringe egg 

 plants occasionally for red spiders. Toma- 

 toes will make a stronger, sturdier growth 

 if kept a little on the dry side. 



LETTUCE 



Sow March 1st and for succession sow 

 every two weeks. Varieties: Private Stock 

 and Trianon Cos. 



Lettuces are divided into two classes, the 

 cabbage with the round head, and the Cos 

 with long, hard and narrow leaves. The 

 cabbage variety is the most tender, and the 

 Cos the best flavored. Sow the seed in finely 

 raked soil and give them a very thin covering. 

 After the young plants have made their true 

 leaves, transplant to other frames, placing 

 the plants nine inches apart each way. These 

 may be grown on in the frames for the earliest 

 crop, which will be ready for use about 

 April 20th. 



The plants raised from the second sowing 

 may be transplanted to 4 x 4 inches. Trans- 

 plant to the open ground about April 15th 

 placing the plants nine inches apart, in rows 

 which are twelve to fifteen inches apart. 

 When transplanting lettuces, always select 

 the strongest plants, discard all the weaklings, 

 secure all the roots possible and all the soil 

 that will adhere to them. When planting, 

 keep the leaves well up from the soil, firm 

 well the earth about the roots, water and 

 shade for a day or so, or until they take hold 

 of the new soil. 



As long as the plants are in the frames, 

 give them plenty of air. Stir the soil at least 

 once a week to keep it mellow and to keep 

 down the weeds. As soon as the ground can 

 be worked outdoors, make the successional 

 sowing there, rather than in the frames. If 

 the weather should be dry, keep the ground 

 constantly hoed and watered. In the ex- 

 treme hot weather, grow lettuce in a partly 

 shady place, as it runs to seed very quickly. 



Good lettuces can be had in the late fall 

 and early winter, if occasional sowings of 

 seed are made in coldframes from August 

 15th to September 15th. If the frames are 

 protected from the extreme cold, good heads 

 may be had up to Christmas. In order to 

 insure good heads of lettuce, keep water from 

 the heart, and heading will be materially 

 assisted by an application of nitrate of soda, 

 which may be applied by strewing it over the 

 surface of the soil, or it may be given in 

 liquid form by dissolving a 3-inch potful in 

 twenty gallons of water. When thoroughly 

 dissolved this will water about 162 sq. ft. of 



Coldframes protected from winter winds by high 

 fences, which are screened in summer by grape vines 



soil. Two applications, at intervals of ten to 

 fourteen days, will be sufficient. 



TOMATOES 



Sow March 1st, and for main crop April 

 i$th. Varieties: early, Dwarf Champion 

 and Earliana; late, Stone and Table Queen. 



These two sowings will keep up a supply 

 from June 20th until November. 



Sow the seed in drills six inches apart, cover 

 lightly and water to settle the soil. When the 

 plants are about three inches high, transplant 

 to other frames, placing them from four to 

 six inches apart each way. Set the plants 

 so that the seed leaves will be just above the 

 surface of the soil, and shade for a few days. 

 Keep the soil a little on the dry side to en- 

 courage a short stocky growth. Until ready 

 to harden the plants, keep a temperature of 

 from 50 to 55 . Transplant to the open 

 ground about May 15th, in soil which is not 

 rich, or they will make too much growth and 

 few fruits. Set the plants four feet apart 

 each way (Dwarf Champion needs only two 

 and one-half feet), support the plants with 

 a trellis or stakes and train about five stems, 

 selecting the strongest shoots and removing 

 all weak ones and laterals, or side shoots, 

 tying them as they grow to protect them from 

 wind, etc. In the fall, should there be dan- 

 ger of frost, tomatoes may be picked in the 

 green or half-ripe state and put on straw or 

 boards, and be ripened in coldframes. 



PEPPERS 



Sow March iph. Varieties: Bull Nose 

 and Red Cayenne. 



A few plants of peppers will supply a good- 



The commonest and cheapest type o£ coldframe. 

 Lettuce is perhaps the most important winter crop 



sized family. They require a temperature 

 of from 6o° to 70 . Sow in drills which are 

 three inches apart and water very sparingly 

 until the young plants attain a height of 

 three inches. Transplant to other frames, 

 putting the plants three inches apart each 

 way, and transplant to the open ground 

 about May 20th. 



Peppers prefer a deep rich soil and are 

 ready for use about July 15th. They may 

 be planted fifteen inches apart in rows which 

 are two feet apart. 



BEETS 



Sow March 1st, and for succession every 

 two weeks until August i$th. Varieties: Bas- 

 sano, Eclipse. 



Sow in drills which are one inch deep and 

 ten inches apart. Maintain a temperature 

 of from 50 to 55 , and when the plants are 

 three inches high, thin them out to two or 

 three inches apart. The surplus plants may 

 be transplanted outdoors, setting them three 

 inches apart, in rows which are twelve inches 

 apart. The first beets in the coldframe will 

 be ready to eat about May first. Beets- 

 delight in light, rich soil and require . an 

 abundance of water. The leaves may be 

 used for greens. 



CARROTS 



Sow March 1st, and for succession 

 every three weeks until July i$th. Varieties: 

 Parisian, Scarlet Horn, Half Long Danvers. 



Sow in coldframes in drills four inches 

 apart. When three inches high, thin the 

 plants to about one inch apart. Early 

 Parisian is the best for coldframes, as it is a 

 small carrot and one which matures quickly. 

 It is ready for use in about six weeks. Later 

 sowing outdoors of Early Scarlet Horn and 

 Half Long Danvers may be made as soon as 

 the ground can be worked, in drills which 

 are one inch deep and fifteen inches apart. 

 Thin out as directed above, and keep the 

 surface of the soil frequently stirred to keep 

 it open. 



EGG PLANT 



Sow March 15th. Varieties: New York 

 Improved, Black Beauty. 



Egg plant needs a hotbed. Have a rich, 

 light seed soil and keep it rather dry, as the 

 seed will not germinate if it is kept too wet. 

 Maintain a temperature of about 8o°. When 

 about three inches high, transplant to another 

 hotbed, setting the plants six inches apart 

 each way. Syringe the plants frequently, 

 especially the under sides of the leaves, to 

 keep down red spider, and avoid cold 

 draughts. About June 1st, transplant to 

 open ground in very rich soil, setting the 

 plants two feet apart in rows which are three 

 feet apart. Water freely during dry weather, 

 and dust lightly with an insecticide to destroy 

 the potato bugs. The fruit will be ready for 

 use about the middle of July. 



ONIONS 



Sow March 10th. Varieties; White Globe 

 and Prizetaker. 



Onions require a very rich soil, liberal 

 and frequent dressings of manure, and 



