Guide to better gardening . v . vegetables 



CAULIFLOWER. The same methods that produce 

 good cabbage will produce good cauliflower. The only 

 difference is that cauliflower heads must be protected 

 from sunlight to produce desirable white curd. Gather 

 the tops of the leaves together loosely as soon as the 

 heads begin to form. In shutting oft' the light, do not 

 cramp the heads. One precaution — start cauliflower 

 late enough so that plants will be ready for setting in 

 place during early summer. If plants are set out too 

 early, small button-like heads will form. 



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THIXXIXG CARROTS— When the young plants are a 



few inches tall, thin them to stand one to three inches 



apart. 



CELERY. Celery seed will sprout at comparatively 

 low temperatures, but it needs constant and abundant 

 moisture. The soil for starting plants should be fine 

 and loose, and the seed must be covered only 34 inch 

 deep. It takes about two weeks for seed to sprout. For 

 fall and winter use in the North seed may be planted 

 from March 15 to Alay 15. \\'hen seedlings have three 

 or four leaves well started, prick out about three inches 

 apart each way. Keep the soil moist and transplant 

 to open ground when plants are 75 to 90 days old. 



These carrots stand at about the 

 allow each root to grow to full 



right distance apart to 

 size without crowding. 



CHLXESE CABBAGE. This vegetable is easily raised 

 as a succession crop. The plants can be set out in the 

 rows which have been occupied by earlier vegetables. 

 Do not plant before midsummer or the plants may go 

 to seed. 



COLLARDS. Sow the seed thickly in rows, transplant- 

 ing when about four inches in height: or sow where the 

 plants are to remain and when well-started thin to two 

 or three feet apart in the row. Usualh' sown in mid- 

 summer so crop will mature in cool weather. Frost im- 

 proves flavor; can be gathered and eaten during winter 

 months in south. 



CORN. Plant when all danger of frost is past, and the 

 ground is warm and dry. If planted in cold, wet soil, 

 the kernels will rot. To plant in so-called "hills," make 

 a shallow hole in the soil with the corner of the hoe and 

 drop in six kernels. Cover with about two inches of 

 fine soil and press down firmly. Have the "hills" about 

 four feet apart and in rows about two and one-half 

 feet apart. When the plants are six inches high, thin out 

 all except three or four of the strongest in each hill. To 

 plant in rows like beans or peas, make a shallow trench 

 with the hoe, drop in the kernels three to four inches 

 apart, and cover about 13^ inches deep. When plants 

 are well up, thin late varieties to 10 to 12 inches apart 

 and early varieties to 6 to 8 inches apart. Corn poUen- 

 ates better and ears fill to the tip if seeds are planted 

 in a "block" of rows rather than in one long row. 



COWPEAS OR SOUTHERN PEAS. Seldom planted 

 north of Ohio River. Plant same as bush beans but 

 space seeds 3-4 inches apart in rows 3 ft. apart. If 

 you have not recently grown cowpeas in your garden 

 buy some inoculant from your seed dealer. It helps 

 cowpeas grow better and to bear more pods. 



CUCUMBER. Delay planting until all danger of frost 

 is past. Soil should be warm, fairly moist, and loose. 

 Seed must be covered about one inch deep. Plant seeds 

 4 inches apart in rows 6 to 8 ft. apart. When 2 inches 

 high thin plants to 12 inches apart. Easily trained to 

 climb on fences, saving space. 



EGG PLANT. This semi-tropical fruit can be grown 

 very successfully in the northern states if the plants are 

 started indoors in flats or in a hotbed, and are not trans- 

 planted to open ground until soil is warm and all dan- 

 ger of frost is past. Shade young plants from hot sun 

 and spray with paris green or arsenate of lead to pro- 

 tect from potato bugs. 



ENDIVE. For early use sow^ seed in spring; for later 

 supply sow in June or July. When well started, thin 

 the plants eight inches to one foot apart in the row. 

 When nearly grown, tie the outer leaves together over 

 the center to blanch the heart of the plant. Two or 

 three successive plantings during July will provide en- 

 dive for winter use. Just before killing frosts in fall, dig 

 the plants, being careful to take plenty of soil with the 

 roots and to avoid injury to the leaves. Pack closely to- 

 gether and store in cool, dark cellar. 



KALE OR BORECOLE. Sow the seed one-fourth to 

 one-half inch deep in rows two or three feet apart. When 

 the plants come up, thin them so that they are from 

 eight to twelve inches apart in the row. 



KOHL RABI. As early in spring as possible, sow the 

 seed in rows in light, rich soil. When plants are well 

 established, thin three to six inches apart in the row. 

 Plant at intervals of ten days for a succession of bulbs 

 until hot weather, after which they fail to grow. 



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