May, 1919 
MAY WORK AMONG THE VEGETABLES 
Sowing the Warm Weather Crops, Transplanting, Thinning, Hilling and Many 
Other Activities Which Make for Maximum Crops 
W. C. McCOLLOM 
Seedlings must be thinned out 
while small, to avoid crowding 
T he leafing of the oak trees is accepted as 
the natural signal for sowing the heat-lov¬ 
ing vegetables, such as corn, dwarf beans, 
squash, lima beans, okra, etc., as well as the 
transplanting from frame or greenhouse of the 
tomatoes, egg-plants and* peppers. This is by 
no means the dream of a fanciful brain, but a 
.practical basis for determining the true.grow¬ 
ing conditions. Most plants that require late 
seeding must grow rapidly, and any check 
caused by cold, wet weather after planting 
would ruin the crop. Better, therefore, than 
accepting calendar dates is the practice of wait¬ 
ing until natural conditions are satisfactory. 
A few days’ delay in sowing is preferable to 
spoiling a crop by sowing too early. 
Lima beans especially, but all beans in gen¬ 
eral, if sown too early will turn rusty and de¬ 
cay; the roots will show the attacks of the 
fungi which prevail during cold, wet weather. 
Corn, squash, pumpkins, etc., will turn yellow 
and should be discarded and 
resown, as they will not recov¬ 
er. Do not take any chances 
with old seed of any of the 
warm crops. Most of the seeds 
are meaty and deteriorate rap¬ 
idly besides often being infest¬ 
ed with weevil. Always bear 
in mind that the cost of the 
seed is the smallest outlay in 
growing any crop, and it is by 
far the most important factor 
A strong tobacco solution 
spray is used to destroy 
plant lice on the peas, etc. 
to be considered in the entire operation. 
Too much stress cannot be laid upon the 
necessity of keeping the garden moving. The 
gardener who attempts to take things easy at 
this stage is certain to have a very lean harvest. 
All quick maturing crops, such as peas, beans, 
corn, lettuce, carrots, beets, etc. must be sown 
frequently if you are to have a goodly supply 
of fresh vegetables always on hand. There is 
no waste to succession planting; it is rather the 
method of sowing several rows of beans at one 
planting in preference to sowing one row each 
week for three weeks that leads to wasteful 
habits in gardening. Canning will take care 
of any surplus there may be; in fact, it is some¬ 
times desirable to have large quantities matur¬ 
ing at one time so the canning operations may 
be reduced in number. But the fact stands out 
very prominently that for small home gardens 
it is best to have the crops maturing in rapid 
succession, eating what you desire while they 
are fresh and canning the bal¬ 
ance. If through illness or ab¬ 
sence one sowing is lost it is of 
little consequence, as other sow¬ 
ings will be following directly. 
The question of when to can 
is a matter of personal adjust¬ 
ment, but twice a week is not 
too often if you want good, 
fresh vegetables. When we 
speak of timed successions! 
{Continued on page 62) 
Have the soil sojt and mel¬ 
low when you hill. After 
a rain is the best time 
