F E B R I A H Y . 19 13 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



19 



without injury to quality. Heads are 

 almost globe-shaped, of unattractive dark 

 green appearance with bronze hues. But 

 the heart these outside leaves hide and its 

 quality cause the outward appearance of 

 Crisp-as-Ice to receive small consideration. 

 There are many other good varieties 

 in the different classes of lettuces which 

 may do as well or better than those de- 

 scribed here. No hard and fast rules can 



be laid down as to which will do best 

 under the greatly varying conditions of 

 soil and climate in different parts of the 

 country. But the above ten will be found 

 as generally reliable as any. Until per- 

 sonal tests acquaint you with the superior 

 characteristics of others, you will be safe 

 in adopting them. 



A few words about culture: Plant your 

 lettuce rows at least 2 feet apart. When 



seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin them 

 out to stand 4 inches apart in the row. 

 Do not delay this important work. Upon 

 it depends to a large extent your success 

 with this crop. As plants begin to crowd 

 each other in the row, thin them out to 

 stand 8 inches and later 16 inches apart. 

 Give shallow but frequent cultivation. 

 A dust mulch on the lettuce bed is better 

 than sprinkling with the hose every day. 



One-Man Suburban Garden for Six— By James w. Reed, 



This account was awarded one of the $100 prizes in our Garden Contest 



Glen 

 Ridge, N. J. 



THIS garden lies on an eastern 

 slope, within fifteen miles of the 

 New York City Hall. It is 90x1 50 

 ft. in size, and its area is a little 

 more than a quarter of an acre. It sup- 

 plies the needs of a household of six. 



The soil is a heavy loam, reddish-brown 

 in color, underlain by a sub-soil of disin- 



Luscious 

 m - m fruit 



*T 



tegrated red sandstone. There are a good 

 many small stones in the soil, with an 

 occasional bowlder. The soil originally 

 gave an acid reaction, which has been 

 largely overcome by the application of 

 lime. 



In the spring of 1903, when the garden 

 was started, the entire area was so over- 

 grown with wild berry bushes, shrubs and 

 an occasional small tree that it was nec- 

 essary to mow the briers and brush, and 

 to cut down the trees before it could be 

 plowed. After plowing the roots were 

 grubbed out, gathered and burned. The 

 plot was then raked, the stones removed 



and the entire area planted to corn, pot- 

 atoes and garden vegetables, without the 

 application of any manure. 



In the spring of 1904, most of the trees, 

 vines and plants were set as shown on 

 the plan (on next page.) Plowing was un- 

 dertaken in that and the following years 

 but not since. During the last six years 

 no plowing has been attempted for fear 

 of injury to the trees and vines; but the 

 entire area has been dug up with a 

 spading-fork each season. 



After each spading the stones have been 

 raked up and removed, but some still 

 remain. Owing to the prevalence of the 

 stones and their flattened shape it has been 

 almost impossible to use a hand wheel-hoe 

 or cultivator. In fact, almost all the work 

 of the garden has been accomplished with 

 a spading-fork, hoe and rake. 



Furthermore, from the start this garden 

 has been developed on economical lines, 

 with a view to making it pay each year by 

 its products for the time and money ex- 

 pended upon it. Every stroke of work 

 in or about it has been done by the owner; 

 not an hour or a day having been hired 

 from season to season. Only a moderate 

 amount has been spent on fertilizers but 

 every effort has been made to develop 

 and conserve the natural resources of the 

 soil. 



From every source litter and leaves have 



been saved and spaded under to increase 

 the supply of humus in the soil, or spread 

 as a mulch under the trees. As a con- 

 sequence, the garden has continually in- 

 creased in fertility and productiveness. 



In April and May, 1904, roots of aspar- 

 agus and rhubarb, four varieties of straw- 

 berry plants, currant and gooseberry bushes 

 blackberry, raspberry and black raspberry 

 canes, and twelve grape vines were set. 



The grapes still remain where first set, 

 in the long row across the garden, but most 

 of the others have been removed and reset, 

 once or more, some have been superseded, 

 some displaced altogether. 



Most of the fruit trees shown on the plan 

 were set where shown in the spring of 1904. 



Others have been set from time to time 

 as the trees became available, or as it 

 seemed desirable to secure other varieties. 

 There are now too many trees; but as they 

 come into bearing it will be possible to 

 ascertain the quality of the fruit borne by 



One man (the owner) does all the work on the 90x150 ft. garden which supplies the family with all the fruits and vegetables it can use 



