( y Preparing it Properly 
Planting Hints (Concluded) 
PEPPERS. Culture, soil, and temperature requirements 
for peppers are about the same as for eggplant. A moderate 
dressing of guano, poultry manure, or complete commercial 
fertilizer hoed into the soil after the plants are six to eight 
inches tall will be beneficial. 
PUMPKIN. Pumpkins are less sensitive to unfavorable 
conditions of soil and weather than melons or cucumbers, 
but they are cultivated in about the same way. ~ 
RADISH. Sow radish seed as early as the ground can be 
worked. Make the rows in the same way as for lettuce, 
beets, and carrots. Sow the seed thinly, and cover with 
about half an inch of soil. If the plants seem crowded when 
they come up, thin them out. Radishes will be crisp and 
tender if they grow quickly and have plenty of moisture. 
RHUBARB. Sow seed in rows an inch deep and thin the 
plants to six inches apart. In the fall transplant to a per- 
manent location, setting the plants three to four feet apart. 
The stalks should not be taken for use the first year. 
ROQUETTE. In early spring, sow the seed in shallow rows 
about 16 in. apart, and for succession sow every few weeks. 
Water freely. The young leaves are ready for cutting when 
plants are eight to ten inches tall. 
RUTABAGA. This vegetable requires a longer growing 
season than turnip and needs more moisture. Seed may be 
sown from mid-June to mid-July. Culture is practically the 
same as for turnip except that the plants should be thinned 
to eight or ten inches apart in the rows. When grown, pull, 
top, and store in cool cellar or pit. 
SALSIFY or VEGETABLE OYSTER. Sow seed early and 
quite deep, giving about the same culture as for parsnip. 
Succeeds best in light, rich soil that has been stirred quite 
deeply. 
SORREL. Sow in rows early in spring and thin the seed- 
lings to six or eight inches apart in the row. Cutting may 
begin in about two months, and the plants will continue 
in full bearing from three to four years. 
SPINACH. Plant seed as early as that of radishes and 
lettuce. Have the soil fine and loose. Make the rows about 
18 inches apart. Sow the seed thinly, and cover with about 
an inch of soil. Press down firmly. When the plants are 
about three inches tall, thin them so that they are about 
five inches apart in the row. Keep out the weeds. 
SQUASH. Plant about the same time as corn, when the 
ground is warm and dry. Make hills the same as for corn, 
about four to six feet apart. Put six or eight seeds in each 
hill. Cover with about an inch of fine soil and press down 
firmly. When the plants come up, thin them so that only 
three or four of the strongest ones are left in each hill. Well- 
rotted manure may be mixed with the soil in each hill before 
the seeds are planted. 
SWISS CHARD. Plant at about the same time as lettuce 
and radishes. Make the rows in the same way, and about 
18 inches apart. Sow the seeds about one inch apart in the 
row, and cover with about an inch of soil. When the plants 
are three or four inches high, thin them so that they are 
eight or ten inches apart in the row. Hoe the plants often, 
and keep out the weeds. 
TOMATO. Set out tomato plants when the weather is 
warm and sunny, and there is no danger of frost. Set the 
plants three or four feet apart each way so that they will 
have plenty of room. Water around the roots of the plants 
when setting them out if the ground is dry. Hoe often until 
the plants are quite large. 
TURNIP. For summer turnips, sow the seed as early as 
that of radishes and lettuce. Scatter the seed, or sow it in 
rows like those of radishes and lettuce. Cover the seed with 
about half an inch of soil. For fall and winter turnips, sow 
the seed in July in the same way. 
' 29 
Plant seeds thinly. Large seeds such as peas and’ 
beans should be three to four inches apart in the row 
About four times the diameter of the seed 1s a good 
general rule to follow for depth of planting. This 
means covering large seeds one to two inches deep, 
medium-sized seeds one-half to one inch deep, and 
small seeds one-quarter to one-half inch deep 
AN 
After planting, press the soil down firmly with the 
flat of the hoe to bring the seeds into contact with 
the soil motsture and hasten germination 
