' 518 



MANUAL OF GARDENING 



Dahlias may be taken up and divided as soon as they begin growth. 



Gladiolus and tuberose bulbs should be planted now. It is a good 

 plan to extend the planting through March and April. 



Pansies. — Plant them out in the beds where they are to flower. 



Routine work. — Sodding should now proceed rapidly. If sods can- 

 not be obtained, the ground may be planted with Bermuda grass. 

 Plant small pieces of the grass a foot apart and water them if the 

 weather is dry, and they will grow rapidly. Hedges should be cleared 

 up and put in good shape. All planting of trees and shrubs should be 

 finished this month. All pruning of trees must be done early in 

 the month. Young roses cannot be set too early in February. They 

 thrive best when planted in fall. Roll the drives and repair them when 

 necessary. The lawn will now require constant care, and the mower 

 should be used before the grass becomes 1^ in. high. 



Bush-beans may be planted February 14. On alluvial land it is best 

 to plant them on slight rises as a protection against the rains which 

 sometimes occur toward the end of the month. If frost should 

 threaten just as the beans begin to peep out, cover them an inch deep 

 with the plow or hand cultivator. Sow Early Mohawk first, and at 

 the end of the month sow Early Valentine ; a week later sow the wax 

 varieties. 



Cabbage. — Sow early varieties, such as Early Summer, Early 

 Drumhead, and Early Flat Dutch. Etampes, Extra Early Express, 

 and Winnigstadt sown for small heads in the order named have done 

 very well in southern Louisiana. The earlier sown plants should 

 be transplanted as often as convenient. Should worms cause trouble, 

 dust the plants with a mixture of one part of pyrethrum powder 

 to six of fine dust. 



Carrots, celery, beets, endive, kohlrabi, onion sets, parsley, parsnips, 

 radishes and purple-top turnips must now be sown. 



Corn. — Plant Extra Early Adams, Yellow Canada, Stowell Ever- 

 green, and White Flint toward the middle of the month. Sow again 

 a week later, and again after another week. If the first two sowings 

 fail, the last one will give the early crop. 



Cucumbers. — Sow and protect with small boxes during cold days 

 and nights, or sow in pots or on sods. Protect the seedlings wuth sashes 

 or canvas, and plant them out late. 



