The Garden Magazine, September, 1919 



69 



just now (July) my most showy flower. 1 hear little praise of it, but 

 am much interested in it. New shades often develop. I suppose they 

 "throw back," as animals do. A word as to transplanting. This 

 season was perfect for that so long as the heavy rains kept up, but 

 after May 23d it seldom rained, so I had to fall back on my old 

 scheme. I dig a hole as big as my fist or bigger, pour it full of 

 water, hold the plant in the water where I want it and trowel the 

 water full of earth till the plant will stand alone. That is all. It 

 will grow about as surely in dry weather as in wet. If any one knows 

 a better plan I would be glad to hear about it. — John W. Chamber- 

 lain, Buffalo, N. Y. 



Transforming 

 the Back 

 Lot 



I AM very proud of my little garden 



or really my first garden as 1 now 

 have an extra lot 45 x 1 50 devoted to 

 flower and vegetable garden in ad- 

 dition to this. The garden seen in the picture is 40 x 50 and is 4 

 feet below level of back of my original lot, being part of the back lots 

 fronting on another street. It was a briar patch and an eyesore 

 to me so I bought it and transformed it thusly. Gardening is my 

 hobby and recreation and my list of plants contains all the best hardy 

 perennials. Besides all our own vegetables and fruits we have 

 plenty for free contributions to our neighbors. One of the greatest 

 delights I get from my little garden is growing wild flowers. — 

 F. D. Carr, M.D., Batavia, N. Y. 



Sowing New 



Zealand 



Spinach 



IN THE June issue of The Garden 

 Magazine I see the statement 



made — ■ "It is sowing time . . . 



for crops for summer use such as 

 turnips, New Zealand Spinach, etc." This may be good book 

 knowledge but as regards New Zealand Spinach (having grown il 

 for several years past I am able to inform the readers fully), it is nol 

 the most satisfactory time for planting. For the home vegetable 

 patch it is one of the most desirable vegetables, combining all good 

 qualities and having not a single bad one. It is slow to germinate 

 and therefore the time to sow it is not June, May, April, or March 

 but October or November before the ground may be expected to 

 freeze. Then sow it thickly in a patch — say, three feet square. 

 The plants will come up good and strong the following spring. 

 Then transplant when of suitable size to a bed not less than three 

 feet wide — say, in two rows six inches apart and alternately — say 

 ten inches apart in the rows. They send out long vines resting 

 on the ground fully three feet and over. Pick the leaves off separ- 

 ately, boil, and season to taste. From late June until a killing frost 

 comes one can have a constant supply of this delicious vegetable. 

 It is equally as healthful as the common spinach and grown in much 

 greater ease — practically no care at all except a little weeding about 

 the roots. It is a rampant grower not subject to disease or insect 

 attacks. Of course, no one will grow chard any more — horrid night- 

 mare — after having grown New Zealand spinach. Just pick the 

 leaves and let the vines grow. — G. E. Behr, Englewood, N. J. 



TRANSFORMED FROM A BRIAR TANGLE AND AN EYESORE 

 Plenty of flowers the season through (and improving each year) from this redeemed plot at Batavia, N. Y., and the satisfaction of having plenty to give 



away to neighbors 



