The Garden Magazine, July, 1921 
313 
Ruta-baga, or Swedish Turnip, are members of the Turnip 
family, it is safe to say that they have at least as much nutritive 
value. 
As fifty per cent, of all Americans, regardless of class, 
are over-fed and under-nourished, and seventy-five per cent, 
of all diseases that attack the human body are directly or 
indirectly traceable to this cause, a more thorough knowledge 
of the nutritive value of the various vegetables would undoubt- 
edly help us all to better health. In these statements 1 am 
sustained by a medical authority on the subject of nutrition, or 
rather mal-nutrition. The “tired feeling” that attacks many 
of us in late winter and early spring is evidence that our bodies 
are ill-nourished. And, since such symptoms are most preva- 
lent during that season, it is obvious that, with all our steadily 
advancing knowledge of nutrition, we are not, as yet, fortifying 
ourselves sufficiently against winter. 
The chief causes of ill-nourishment are a lack of a proper 
amount of vitamines and an abundance of roughage. Fat, 
carbohydrates and protein will sustain life. They are, how- 
ever, not alone sufficient to cause the human engine to function 
to perfection. Roughage is needed to remove accumulations 
of impurities; vitamines are the factor needed to create the 
strong red blood essential to disease resistance. 
What to Sow Among Greens and Salads 
T HROUGHOUT July and early August, Endive, Lettuce, 
Kale, and Spinach may be sown. Endive and Lettuce are 
as a rule grown for salad purposes exclusively, although we find 
them as palatable as Spinach and other greens when cooked in 
the same way, especially if combined with Mustard. Its spicy 
flavor makes Mustard a desirable addition to either salads or 
greens, but being a crop requiring very cool weather for perfect 
development, it should not be sown until August. 
Endive may be stored in late fall in frames, the same as Let- 
tuce; and, if handled in this manner, will provide salad right 
up to Christmas or even later; during July, Cos or Romaine 
Lettuce should be given the preference. Either will develop 
strong, upright-growing bunches that keep well and may be 
stored in the same fashion as Endive. Toward the latter part 
of July and throughout early August it is preferable to again 
sow the very early butter-head varieties which will thrive to 
perfection during the congenial cool of the early fall season. 
Until comparatively recently. New Zealand Spinach was 
considered not a hardy plant. As a matter of fact, sown in 
July, it will make an exceedingly rapid growth by frost and an 
abundance of the fine, tender leaf-tips may be gathered through- 
out the fall. Moreover, the last few years have proven that 
this variety will self-seed in many regions and, without extra 
labor or effort in the spring, a new crop of young plants will 
arise where the frost killed the old ones, thus providing a per- 
petual Spinach for nearly all of the country south of Massa- 
chusetts. 
Two types of Kale deserve space in your garden. One is 
Dwarf Green, furnishing exceedingly dense, curled plumes 
within sixty days after seeds are sown. The other one is Dwarf 
Siberian, not so densely curly but so hardy that it will survive 
outdoors in most parts of the country without protection, fur- 
nishing a permanent source of fresh greens of high vitamine- 
bearing qualities. 
A small planting of the Squash known as Italian Vegetable 
Marrow, or Cocozelle Bush (listed by some seedsmen as Summer 
Asparagus or Giant Guinea Bean) is also strongly recom- 
mended. While this is not a particularly hardy variety, still I 
have known well-developed, fully grown fruits of it to keep until 
Christmas; they were, of course, handled with exceeding care 
during gathering and stored in hay or straw on a cool cellar 
floor. The young squashes are very succulent, of particularly 
fine flavor when cooked, and are advised by medical authorities 
for children whose appearance proclaims the lack of vitamines. 
We have found it to be an excellent food for the growing young- 
sters and they will eat quantities of it. Cocozelle Bush Squash, 
sown anytime up to July 15th, will bear clear up to frost, pro- 
ducing the first squash ready for cooking within forty-five days 
from the time seeds are sown. 
Root Crops for Roughage 
R OOT crops are now generally considered just as essential 
to the welfare of our bodies during the winter months as 
are Beans, Corn, and Peas during the summer months. In- 
cidentally, while it is true that some of these root crops, like 
Beets and Carrots, are more tender if stored in cans rather than 
sand or soil, it cannot be denied that, in the process of canning, 
their valuable vitamine-carrying qualities are appreciably 
diminished. Hence, in suggesting varieties, I have been gov- 
erned by their keeping qualities under cellar-storage condi- 
tions rather than by their suitability for canning purposes. 
Beets that may be sown now, that will keep well and give 
a handsome product, are Early Model, Detroit Dark Red, and 
Crimson Globe. Don’t forget, when sowing seeds, to walk 
over the rows to insure prompt and even germination. 
Among Carrots, both Chantenay and Danvers give a satis- 
factory crop. Sow the seeds of these slightly deeper than 
during the spring months to make sure of sufficient moisture for 
quick germination. Should your soil be of a clayey nature and 
inclined to bake, sow Radish seeds of a very quick-maturing 
sort, like Rapid Red or Hailstone, in the same row at the same 
time. The Radishes will act as a sort of nurse crop to the 
Carrots and will not be injurious, since they will be ready for pull- 
ing and eating before the Carrot seedlings begin to crowd. 
Among Turnips, Purple Top White Globe and White Egg 
have about equal merit; the vote in favor of quality going to 
White Egg, which, however, is the later of the two. 
The most practical Ruta-baga to grow for all purposes is 
American Purple Top, although some people prefer the slightly 
sweeter yellow-fleshed varieties of which Golden Globe and 
Orange Jelly are among the best. 
A Few Last Delicacies As Well 
A PRESENT sowing of Bush Beans and of Corn will help 
us enjoy these table delicacies clear up to frost, so why 
confine ourselves solely to the accepted winter crops? Also why 
not put in a row or two of extra-early Peas? True, August heat 
is apt to cut short the vines and you may not gather as many nor 
as well filled pods as earlier in the season, but it is a long 
time between June of one year to June of the next so let’s take 
advantage of every opportunity to procure this greatest of 
table delicacies, green wrinkled Peas! If you have the space, 
arrange to sow a row or two of Little Marvel and Laxtonian; 
both are Dwarfs, good yielders, and require little care and cul- 
tivation. 
In Beans, the planting of Bountiful and Sure Crop Wax are 
advocated as a matter of course. Those of you who return in 
early August and have still a growing season of at least forty- 
five days may sow Red Valentine, this being the only variety 
1 know that will bear young pods in forty-five days. These 
should, however, be picked while quite young, since, when fully 
grown, Red Valentine develops a string. 
Any of the early varieties of Corn may be sown up to July 1 5th 
with the assurance of gathering a fine crop of green ears. Mam- 
moth White Cory, though one of the oldest varieties, must be 
considered one of the most reliable for all sections. Early 
Malakoff, Peep o’ Day, and Golden Bantam mature in the order 
named. 
A last suggestion for the garden’s sake: wherever a space 
becomes bare during July and August, don’t let it become over- 
grown with weeds. Sow some Rye, or Vetch, or Soy Beans, or 
even ordinary Rape, as a cover crop, to be turned under as green 
manure which will provide the much desired humus for the soil 
to the decided benefit of the crops of 1922. 
