THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
June, 1917 
27 2 
subdue a frantic desire to shrewishly scream 
out “I told you so!” when no less than four 
experts recommended their planting. Dr. 
Knapp, of the United States Department of 
Agriculture, voiced a plea for all dried fruits 
and vegetables. He said they were not being 
used nearly as generally as formerly, years 
ago, and that now of all times was the mo- 
ment to revive them — peas and beans being 
especially indispensable. Miss Bagg, as rep- 
resentative from the Royal Horticultural 
Society of England, in speaking of how Amer- 
ica could best serve the Allies said: “Money 
and food, before men. The dried foods are 
paramount in importance, being easy to han- 
dle and transport.” And Miss Creswell, ex- 
pert on canning, spoke of the shortage in 
cans (there being almost 50 per cent, less 
cans available this year than were used last) 
and of the large increase of price in glass jars; 
she said “ People should realize this and every 
one should plant staples which do not require 
canning — every one may grow peas and beans 
to dry and if they only would it would be of 
enormous value to the country.” Clinching 
the matter, our Assistant-Secretary of Agri- 
culture, Carl Vrooman who has spoken and 
written much on the present Agricultural 
situation says, in connection with substituting 
vegetables for meat, “In the war we shall 
probably be called upon to supply meats to 
our allies, along with wheat and many manu- 
factured foods. W e produce no excess of 
meats. Moreover, you cannot grow beef 
cattle in a few weeks or months. But by 
planting now — such legumes as beans, cow 
peas, and peanuts, the meat supply can be 
supplemented materially this summer. The 
public doesnotyet realize that these vegetables 
are so rich in protein and nourishing fats 
that they open up food resources which it 
would be criminal to neglect.” In varieties, 
the concensus of opinion seems to be the Black 
Eyed pea and Navy bean. It appears in 
Virginia the former is as indispensable as the 
potato but in many other States people have 
not even a bowing acquaintance with them. 
On good authority I find an easy and econ- 
omical way to grow them is in connection 
with com. To every grain of corn drop in 
two or three peas; the corn is in no way in- 
convenienced or affected and the cultivation 
and care of one serves the other. When 
planting alone use one quart of peas or 
beans for a row 1 50 feet long. I think our 
meagre acquaintance with these products is 
chiefly confined to an occasional purchase 
to form the foundation of thick soups, but 
they can of course be served as winter vege- 
tables — the beans baked, a la Boston-baked 
beans — and as regards their nutritive prop- 
erties we have just heard from one who knows 
that they stand high in the list. It goes 
without saying that when I think of this huge 
country and my tiny bit of cooperation it all 
seems too laughable to seriously entertain 
but, on the other hand, many drops must fill 
the bucket, and unless we all take care of our 
own special little problem we are bound to call 
on the resources of the county which, we all 
agree, must go elsewhere. In addition, a 
principle seems involved — if we fail to “do 
our bit,” aside from materially injuring the 
United States, we lower the morale of the 
finest country in the world. Lately, when- 
ever the question has been asked: “What is 
your Garden Club going to grow to give away 
next winter, to help the general tension?” 
I’ve hardly been able to suppress a smile, as I 
waited for the stock answer: “Oh, we are 
all growing an extra row of carrots.” Of 
course I know carrots are supposed to enhance 
the beauty and general charm of the consumer 
and I suppose the needy might have personal 
vanity enough to feel a certain thrill of appre- 
ciation and pride as they approached their 
mirrors, in spite of the fact that, in all like- 
lihood, they had to tighten their belts, but 
personally I should prefer feeling that in giving 
substantial dried foods I was helping to pro- 
duce a little muscle and brawn, bringing a 
tinge of red into a child’s cheek and inducing 
— in certain regions unmentioned — that com- 
fortable feeling, described by the omnibus of 
Paris, which, when unable to shelter further 
occupants, swings out a sign bearing the 
word “complet.” — Hally Carrington Brent , 
Maryland. 
Violets and Irises are used along the terraces of this hillside 
garden to hold the soil and prevent washing 
A Hillside Garden. — My garden is 85 x 
150 feet, on a hillside sloping south, which is 
an. ideal exposure for this climate. The hill 
is really a “half grown” mountain, which here 
we call a ridge, so it is rather steep. I had it 
plowed and left rather deep furrows. In my 
ignorance, I thought it would keep the soil 
from washing. After it was all planted in 
early vegetables, such as green peas, beets, etc., 
I waited for the seed to come up. A hard rain 
came first, water formed in the furrows, and as 
it sloped a little to the centre, a break came; 
water, seed, and earth came down the hill 
together and seed came up everywhere except 
on those beds. I was discouraged. Wise 
heads suggested planting on the level. I did, 
with even worse results. I replanted, but will 
not dwell on my failure that year. 
I was determined to have a garden, so in 
the fall, I divided the hill into four sections, 
terraced it by making a drop two feet or more. 
Then a three-foot walk at the base of each 
terrace. I had it limed and plowed, then 
planted Crimson Clover as a winter crop, 
both for benefit of the soil and to hold it during 
the winter. Wise heads were sure my banks 
would wash unless sodded. I had no sod, 
but I did have an abundance of California 
Violets and German Iris, so I planted a row 
of Iris at the top of the bank and the Violets 
on the slope, another row of Iris on lower side 
of walk. It was planted very thickly, so there 
would be no break for water to get through. 
It not only holds the dirt, but is a beautiful 
sight when in bloom. Where I had to build 
the terraces up, one man plowed a deep fur- 
row, another filled it in with corn-stalks, 
leaves, and any rubbish convenient. The 
next furrow plowed would cover it. It re- 
quired much work, but it paid. I now have 
good soil, and best of all, no washing. The 
picture shows how pretty it is, even when not 
in bloom. Last summer, it was put to a good 
test. For a month, we had rain almost every 
day, on several occasions, a “near” cloud- 
burst, but not a wash! In one section, I have 
four rows of red raspberries and four rows of 
strawberries and any winter crop, such as 
spinach, mustard, and turnips (which we plant 
here for early spring) so that section is not dis- 
turbed, but mulched with leaves and straw. 
The other three are plowed and left rough, 
the freezing and thawing make it very mellow 
by spring. — Bland N. Tomlinson, Tennesjee. 
Bulbs and Peonies. — “It’s always fair 
weather when good fellows get together,” and 
likewise there is always good talk when gar- 
deners get to gossiping. I agree with Mr. 
Rockwell when he says that this column is 
just like a walk and a talk in a friend’s gaiden. 
We have a “gossip exchange” at every meet- 
ing of I he Garden Club of Myers Park, Char- 
lotte, N. C., as every member answers roll 
call with an experience or a question, and some 
of the information thus gained seems to me to 
be worthy of my passing it on. 
At this season of the year our attention is 
on bulbs, and we have learned, by tales of 
bitter experience, that bulbs must be allowed 
to die down in their own sweet time, and wiO 
resent being hurried out of the way. So 
never disturb them when the tops are still 
green, and never cut down those green tops. 
Tulips have short legs, we have also learned, 
only because you have expected nothing bet- 
ter from them, and have planted them too 
near the surface of the ground. Plant them 
deep and their pride being thus aroused, they 
will rise to heights of glory. A club member 
who has proved by her beautiful Peony 
blooms that she knows what she is talking 
about, tells us not to fertilize Peonies until 
just before blooming time; early fertilization 
makes a rank growth of leaves and stems at the 
sacrifice of blooms. She also recommends 
fertilizing Peonies with manure water (water 
in which rotted manure, tied in bags, has been 
allowed to stand for some time). — Sarah P. 
Thomas, Charlotte, North Carolina. 
A Comment on The Garden Magazine. — 
I have read Lennie Greenlee’s complaint in 
a recent number and the replies thereto in 
later issues. I like some articles better than 
I do others because I am able to carry out their 
lessons. I take it that The Garden Maga- 
zine is a publication intended to serve a very 
large and varied public. Some wealthy sub- 
scribers with unlimited space and means with 
professional gardeners to carry out the work, 
some subscribers with only moderate means 
and good-sized space, and others with small 
means and space. Your duty is to try to 
serve all. As far as I am concerned I like to 
read an article even if I am not able to carry 
it out in practice. I really enjoy reading the 
advertisements. They are helpful too. — Mrs. 
R. JV. fV alters, Springfield, Ohio. 
More About the Globe Thistle. — Anent 
Mr. Dulles’ remonstrance in the April 
Garden Magazine against the recommenda- 
tion of Globe Thistles, Echinops, for orna- 
mental purposes, I would like to say that I 
have been growing them for many years — all 
the kinds I could get, and can say with some 
authority that there is no danger of any 
becoming an annoying weed, or even naturaliz- 
ing itself, sparingly save one. After eight 
