100 



BECKERT SEED AND BULB COMPANY 



HELPFUL HINTS FOR GARDENERS 



Heavy Soils can be made lighter by work- 

 ing in Granulated Peat Moss or Humus. 



Sandy or Iiigrht Soils will hold moisture 

 better if Granulated Peat Moss or Humus 

 is added. 



Sour Soils need lime, but be sure the crop 

 you are going to grow does best in sweet 

 or sour soils and lime accordingly. 



Ground Cover, Winter. Garden Kale, sown 

 in early September, makes a most attract- 

 ive ground cover for flower beds and may 

 be turned under in the Spring to add humus 

 to the soil. 



Early and Xiate refers to the time it takes 

 for the crop to mature from time of sowing 

 seed. Early varieties may be used to ad- 

 vantage to plant in late Summer to get a 

 crop before frost. 



Summer Lettuce. Crisp-head and Cos 

 Lettuce are best for Summer use. 



Gladiolus flowers should not be cut too 



close to the ground, leave enough foliage 

 to supply nourishment to the new bulb. 



Gladiolus flowers should be cut as the 

 first flower is opening, and they will last 

 longer in water. 



Snails and Beetles will seek shelter under 

 small boards scattered through the garden. 

 Lift the boards daily and destroy the ac- 

 cumulated insects. 



Moles, according to old gardeners, will 

 not go near caster oil beans; plant a few 

 and be I'id of these pests. 



Cucumbers will be almost free of beetles 

 if a few radishes are planted in each hill. 



Don't Cover Seed Too Deeply. 



Eating* Insects are controlled by poison 

 on the surface of the foliage. 



Suddng* Insects (aphis) must be wet with 

 the spray (Black Leaf 40; Aphine; Agripax) 

 to be effectively controlled. 



Transplanting* should be done as soon as 

 possible after lifting the plants. 



Make a Plan of your garden before plant- 

 ing. 



Iiabel everything for ready reference. 



Thin Out and give all plants plenty of 

 room in which to develop. 



Nitrate of Soda is fine for all leaf crops, 

 but do not use very much on fruit, flower 

 or root crops. 



Herbs are easy to grow and make a most 

 interesting as well as useful addition to 

 your garden. 



Smooth Peas may be planted as soon as 

 the ground can be made ready. 



WrinMed Peas should not be planted until 

 the weather has become settled. 



Sprays and Sprayers are necessities and 

 must be kept in readiness for insect attacks. 



White Clover, if sown very thickly, will 

 help to eradicate weeds and crab grass. 



Hard-Shelled Seeds should be soaked ir. 

 warm water before sowing. 



Weeds are more easily controlled when 

 small. 



Cultivate or Hoe frequently to conserve 

 moisture. 



Water Only when absolutely necessary, 

 and then soak, don't sprinkle. 



Iiate Plantings should be sown slightly 

 deeper than early Spring plantings. 



Novelties in both vegetables and flowers 

 should be given a trial. 



Dormant Spraying will not only control 

 l)lights and diseases, but will kill the eggs 

 of many insects. 



Pall Sowing of many flower seeds is be- 

 coming popular. See page 45 for list of 

 seeds that may be sown in the Fall. 



Winter Vegetables. Beets, Carrots, Tur- 

 nips and Squash may be kept in a cool cel- 

 lar practically all Winter. 



Pruning* with care will increase the yield 

 of both fruits and flowers. 



Bird Houses will attract our feathered 

 friends, who will pay rent by eating insects. 



Order Early and avoid the late Spring 

 rush. 



Hotbeds and Cold Prames will prolong 

 your garden operations two to three months. 



Sweet Peas should be sown as early in 

 tlie Spring as possible. 



Tulips, Hyacinths and Narcissi; leaves 

 should be brown before they are cut off. 



Lawns will be benefited by an applica- 

 tion of Bone Meal in early Spring, and Sul- 

 phate of Ammonia twice during the Sum- 

 mer. 



Harden Off all plants grown in hotbed 

 fi-ames or in the house, by exposing to the 

 air for a few hours a day, before trans- 

 planting to the garden. 



Hardy Annual Flower Seeds may be sown 

 as early in the Spi'ing as the ground can be 

 worked. 



Ornamental Grasses are fine for making 

 up mixed bouquets; grow a few. 



Delphinium flower spikes should be cut 

 as soon as they are faded, and a second crop 

 of flowers will be borne in the Pall. 



New Zealand Spinach, unlike other Spin- 

 aches, thrives in the hottest weather. 



Everlasting Plowers are not only beauti- 

 ful in the garden, but very pretty bouquets, 

 that will last all Winter, may be made from 

 them. 



Rhubarb requires a very rich soil; cut ofC 

 the seed stalks at fast as they make their 

 appearance. 



Chinese Cabbage grows best when started 

 in late July or early August. 



Sulphate of Ammonia is the best Sum- 

 mer fertilizer for lawns. 



Perennial Flower Seeds may be planted 

 outdoors any time from May 1st to Sep- 

 tember 10th. 



