284 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



June, 1907 



Country Gentleman corn. Belter for succession now 

 than an early variety; stays in good condition longer 



leaves are of a very dark green tint and less 

 pleasing in flavor than the two preceding 

 varieties. 



Many gardeners prefer the bunch, or 

 cutting, lettuce to the heading varieties as 

 being more readily grown and as being 

 available for use at any stage of growth. 

 For June plantings of this type, I suggest 

 the Black-seeded Simpson and the Morse, 

 both good sorts with a large amount of leaves 

 of a light golden tint, of handsome appear- 

 ance and excellent flavor. 



The cos, celery, or romaine type of lettuce 

 may be had during the hot months with good 

 cultivation, and is esteemed for its mild 

 flavor and refreshing crispness. The best 

 garden type is the Dwarf White Heart and 

 its smaller, earlier prototype, the Express 

 Cos. These do not need tying to blanch 

 the inner leaves, as they fold over closely 

 at the top. 



The secret of summer lettuce is to make 

 frequent plantings of small quantities of 

 seed, and to keep the ground well hoed close 

 up under the leaves every tv/o or three days 

 and after each hard dashing rain, as the plants 

 will "bolt," or run to seed, if the soil is 

 allowed to become packed and hard. 



LEEKS FOR LATE FALL AND WINTER 



The seed of these can be planted thinly 

 in drills like onions, during the month of 

 June, for late fall and winter use. When 

 the young plants are well started, they should 

 be thinned out to stand three or four inches 

 apart, and when they reach good size, draw 

 loose earth up around the stems to blanch 



them. The plants are hardy and may be left 

 in the row until needed for use, but it is 

 better to dig them late in the fall and set them 

 closely together in a trench or coldframe, 

 as they are more accessible for use after the 

 ground freezes. For a medium-sized stalk 

 plant the American Flag, which is simply 

 the old London Flag renamed. For a very 

 large, thick stalk plant the Scotch Champion, 

 or any of the novelties of recent introduction. 



MUSKMELONS FOR SEPTEMBER USE 



A planting of an early muskmelon made 

 aoout the middle or last of June in a favorable 

 location, will produce excellent flavored 

 fruits in September after the vines of the early 

 planting have been killed by blight or con- 

 tinued fruiting. For this late planting, the 

 Netted Gem, or Rocky Ford, and the 

 Emerald Gem are unsurpassed, yielding a 

 large number of small, or "individual''' fruits 

 of the very best flavor. 



MUSTARD GREENS — A THIRTY-DAY CROP 



The finely fringed, or curling mustards 

 are very ornamental in appearance, and a 

 row of well-grown plants adds to the attrac- 

 tiveness of the garden. The young leaves 

 are good "boiling greens" at any season, 

 and a leaf or two adds a delightful pungency 

 to a cool salad, or furnishes an ornamental 

 garnish. The Fordhook Fancy is the most 

 distinct and showy, having a curved, heavily 

 fringed, dark green leaf resembling an ostrich 

 plume, while the Southern Giant Curled has 

 a shorter, broader leaf with finely cut edges. 



Mustard for salads is ready in about ten 

 days; for greens, about thirty days. 



RADISHES FOR JULY AND AUGUST 



A crisp, juicy radish, freshly pulled, is a 

 treat for the breakfast table. With rich soil 

 and frequent hoeings, to promote a rapid 

 growth, and frequent plantings of seed 

 radishes may be had even in the summer 

 months. The small, round extra earlies 

 are not adapted for June planting this far 

 south, as they become hollow, or pithy, unless 

 pulled while extremely small, but some of 

 the long, slender varieties are crisp and 

 tender, while the larger, thicker roots that 

 require a longer growing season have hard 

 crisp flesh of excellent flavor, even when 

 grown under the warm summer sun. 



For very mild, quick-growing, slender 

 sorts plant the Long Scarlet Short Top and 

 White Icicle, and for a succession the Long 

 Cardinal, Chartiers and White Delicious. 

 If round, or globe-shaped, radishes are 

 wanted plant Large White Globe, Golden 

 Globe and Surprise. 



THE REGULAR TIME FOR RUTABAGAS 



For a fall supply of these hard-fleshed and 

 fine-grained Stone turnips, the middle or 

 last of June is the proper time to plant the 

 seed. The Sweet German, or French, is 

 the best of the white-fleshed sorts with the 

 Improved Purple Top for a yellow. To 

 my mind, the new Strap-leaved Neckless 

 is a great improvement over all the older 

 Rutabagas, as it grows more quickly, has a 

 smaller amount of foliage, with a perfectly 



smooth, round, or ball-like bulb. The flesh 

 is fine grained, mild flavored. This type 

 may be had in either the yellow or white- 

 fleshed varieties as preferred. The foliage 

 of this new type is distinct as it is a strap- 

 leaf, while the older sorts have a long leaf 

 divided into large lobes. 



SPINACH FOR JULY AND AUGUST 



Spinach may be had during the summer 

 just as readily as during the cooler spring 

 and fall months, by using the new, large- 

 leaved varieties. These plants make a 

 longer growth of foliage and stand for a much 

 longer time before running to seed. More- 

 over, since their leaves are much longer and 

 of heavier substance, a smaller area will 

 afford a much more abundant supply. 



For June plantings, choose the Victoria 

 or the new Long Season. The former grows 

 more quickly and has larger leaves. 



WHY TO PLANT TOMATOES IN JUNE 



Make a second planting of tomato seed 

 early in June, in an open air seed bed, in 

 order to have plenty of tomatoes after the 

 early varieties have ceased to bear. Watch 

 the young plants closely and dust them 

 frequently with an insecticide to preserve 

 them from the small black fly. Transplant 

 this second planting to the rows as soon as 

 large enough to handle. For this planting, 

 I prefer an early variety such as the Chalk's 

 Jewel or Fordhook First as the larger, later- 

 fruited sorts, are often caught by frost before 

 they can ripen. For a small garden early 

 sorts of the bush type, such as the Quarter 

 Century and Dwarf Champion are excellent. 



Tender, juicy siring beans may be had all summer 

 by making frequent plantings. 



