2 BECKERT SEED AXD BULB COMPAXY 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR 

 GARDEN MAKING 



Any piece of ground is suitable for making a garden, even a 

 rocky hillside such as abound in the locality of Pittsburgh. The 

 first step toward having a garden is to remove all stones, rub- 

 bish or trash, and by thorough spading break up the surface to 

 a depth of ten to twelve inches. Then rake thoroughly until the 

 surface is as smooth as it can possibly be made. 



The greatest question in any garden is that of soil fertility, 

 as most soils lack humus. Humus is just another name for 

 decayed vegetable matter. Dead leaves, strawy manure, even 

 rotted weeds will add humus to the soil, and such matter should 

 be incorporated into your soil when digging. Garden making 

 outdoors in this locality starts about the middle of April, when 

 seeds should be sown of all hardy vegetables, such as Lettuce, 

 Onions. Radishes, etc., etc. An}' time after the middle of May 

 Beans, Corn and seeds of vining vegetables, such as Cucumbers. 

 Melons and Squashes should be sown. Finally, after Decoration 

 Day, plants should be set out of Tomatoes, Peppers and Egg 

 Plants, these being the most tender among the vegetables. 



After the garden has been dug. raked and seeds have been 

 planted, the most important operation for the balance of the 

 season is that of cultivation. Cultivation should start as soon as 

 the little seedlings break the soil. With either hoe or rake or 

 wheelhoe, or any type of cultivator, the soil should be pulverized 

 and broken up until it presents a fine dust mulch. 



In the list of various phases of cultivation is that of properly 

 thinning out or transplanting the seedlings. Xo plant can do its 

 best growing in a crowded row. This operation of transplanting 

 or thinning out should be done as soon as the seedlings are large 

 enough to be handled, generally three to four inches tall. 



Many crops may be planted repeatedly to provide a crop suc- 

 cession throughout the summer. The majority of vegetables we 

 offer may be planted very early in the spring, up to the middle 

 of May, when final sowings should be made for fall crops. The 

 exceptions to this are Parsnips, Salsify, and other long season 

 crops that require from early spring until late fall to reach full 

 size. 



