More Hints for Planting Vegetables 



Thin out the young onions and use them for the table. 

 {See Onion, page 28) 



ICELERIAG. Sow seed at the same season and give 



the same treatment as celery. Transplant to moist, 



rich soil in rows two feet apart and six inches apart in 



the row. Give thorough culture. It is not necessary 



to earth up or "handle" the plants. When the roots are 



two inches in diameter, they are ready for use. 



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 % 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 May 15. When seedlings have three 



I or four leaves well started, prick out about three inches 



I apart each way. Keep the soil moist and transplant 



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



I CHINESE CABBAGE. This vegetable is easily raised 



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



rows which have been occupied by earlier vegetables. 



[ Do not plant too early. 



I COLLARDS. Sow the seed thickly in rows in rich 

 I ground, transplanting 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. 

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

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

 the kernels will rot. Make a shallow hole in the soil 

 with the corner of the hoe. Drop in six kernels of corn. 

 Cover with about one inch of fine soil and press down 

 firmly. This is called a "hill" of corn. Have the hills 

 about four feet apart, and plant in rows about four feet 

 apart. When the corn is six inches high, thin out all 

 except three or four of the strongest plants in each 

 hill. Hoe the corn often, but do not hoe deeply. 

 CUCUMBER. Delay planting until all danger of frost 

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

 Seed must be covered about one-half inch deep. Plant 

 in hills, dropping eight or ten seeds to the hill. When 

 six inches tall, thin to three in a hill. 

 DANDELION. Sow early in spring in very warm rich 

 soil, in drills; thin to five inches and cultivate well. 

 Plants will be ready for cutting the next spring. When 

 grown for the roots, sow in September and cultivate 

 well during the fall and following summer. The roots 

 can be dug in October. 



EGG PLANT. This semi-tropical fruit requires con- 

 tinuous warm weather for best results. The seed ger- 

 minates slowly and should be started in a hotbed. Set 

 the plants in the open ground when two inches tall if 

 the weather continues warm. Shade young plants 

 from hot sun and spray with Paris Green to protect 

 from potato bugs. 



ENDIVE. For early use sow in rows about April 15; 

 for later supply sow in June or July. When well 

 started, thin the plants to one foot apart. 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 endive 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 

 together and store in dark cellar, 



FENNEL. Culture is about the same as for celery. 

 GARLIC. Separate sections or ' 'cloves" of each bulb and 

 set in rows ten or twelve inches apart and four inches 

 apart in the row. Take up in fall and store in cool, dry place. 

 HORSE-RADISH. Set roots in ground vertically, 

 small end down, with tops of roots one to three inches 

 below the surface. Cultivate thoroughly until the leaves 

 cover the ground; their shade will keep down weeds. 

 KALE OR BORECOLE. Sow the seed about one-half 

 inch deep in rows two or three feet apart. W^hen the 

 plants come up, thin them so that they are from 18 to 

 24 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 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. For fall 

 use, plant the last of July. 



LEEK. Sow in rows early in spring, covering one-half 

 inch deep. Thin the plants to six inches apart in the 

 row and draw the earth about them when cultivating. 

 If you desire very white and tender leeks, transplant 

 when about six inches tall, set four inches apart in 

 trenches about two feet apart, and gradually earth up 

 like celery. 



After the plants are grown, cultivate less deeply than at 

 first to avoid injury to the roots 



27 



