HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 1912 
In Your Garden 
Secretary of Agriculture Wilsort recently made a statement to the efifect 
that practically all the advanced prices which make up the increased cost of 
living go to the many handlers between the producer and the consumer. 
In the present acute agitation of the high cost of living, there has not 
been a sufficient realization of the fact that every man holds a partial solu¬ 
tion of this great question in his own hands. During the summer, half of 
your living expense is for things that should come out of your own garden. 
Improved methods and higher quality of seeds have made it possible to cul¬ 
tivate the small tract, so that a plot 25 x 50 ft. with a reasonable amount of 
cultivation and planted with seeds of a tested quality such as Henderson's 
should supply all the vegetables required by a family of six or seven. To 
get the best results, it is neces.sary to have the best seeds. The sixty-four 
3 ears of successful seed growing and selling that is behind every packet of 
. Henderson’s seeds should and does make them the best that it is possible to 
buy. Henderson’s are tested seeds. 
SPECIAL OFFER 
Our 1912 Catalogue—Everything for the Garden 
A book of 204 pages, over 800 illustrations, color plates, 
etc., the biggest and best we have ever published, will be 
mailed on receipt of 10 cents. In addition we will also 
mail our Henderson collection of 6 Henderson’s Special¬ 
ties, in a coupon envelope, which will be accepted as 25 
cents on any order of one dollar or over. 
Peter Henderson & Co. 
35-37 Cortlandt Street 
New York 
SL 
LEAVENS FURNITURE 
Is distinguished from the “ordinary” by 
three predominating features: 
First — Its solid construction, withstanding the 
most strenuous usage. 
Second — The simple artistic lines of the designs, 
conforming with ideas of the most discrim¬ 
inating. 
Third — Custoih finishes to Srit the individual 
taste and harmonize with the surroundings. 
No home furnished with “Leavens 
made” furniture can be criticised for 
lack of good taste or, refinement. 
Moderate prices prevail on our entire 
stock. Careful shipments made, insuring 
safe delivery. 
Send for full set of over 200 illustrations 
WILLIAM LEAVENS & CO., Mfrs., 32 Canal Street. Boston, Mass. 
{Continued from page 84) 
used. Remember, however, that a ripe cu¬ 
cumber is not a waste product. Sliced and 
fried in a rich batter—as eggplant is 
often prepared — they are surprisingly 
good. Don’t forget to try some this season. 
Eggplant. — No rival has yet appeared 
to contest first place with Early Black 
Beauty. Not only is it earlier and with a 
better habit of growth than the older 
sorts, but the fruits, which are freely set, 
grow large enough for any purpose. The 
best quality, however, is to be had by tak¬ 
ing them before the seeds are fully de¬ 
veloped. 
Eor best and quickest results, the little 
plants, started with tomatoes, should be 
put in pots after the second transplanting, 
and have a good ball of roots developed by 
setting-out time. Eggplants are very 
greedy feeders, and will assimilate all the 
food that can be given them. Liquid 
manure, while the fruits are forming, is 
excellent. 
Leek. — Prize-taker is a new leek that is 
being used extensively for exhibition pur¬ 
poses in England, where this vegetable is 
much more popular than it is here. 
Lettuce.—The varieties of this ever- 
popular salad plant still continue to in¬ 
crease. I shall mention but one of each of 
the four types: Loose-head, Early Head¬ 
ing, Summer Heading, and Cos. Grand 
Rapids is without any doubt the grandest 
loose-head sort so far. Wayahead, I be¬ 
lieve, is now entitled to first place among 
the newer early sorts. Brittle Ice is a fine 
big long-standing summer sort. Trianon 
Cos is an exceptionally fine strain of this 
type, and the Cos lettuces have a quality 
all their own. Although they are not new, 
I want to mention in passing that sweet, 
tender little bronze-tinged lettuce Mignon¬ 
ette, and the thick dark-green hard-headed 
New York. They should be tried along 
with the others. The six varieties men¬ 
tioned above, all quite distinct, make a col¬ 
lection that should give the most fastidious 
gardener satisfaction. 
Quality in lettuce is secured by rapid 
growth, which depends largely upon fre¬ 
quent cultivation. Midsummer plantings 
should be shaded, if possible, until 
sprouted. Also be careful to thin out ade¬ 
quately while the plants are still in the 
seedling stage — say to two or three inches 
apart, and when these touch take out every 
other one, as they will then be large 
enough to use. The Cos lettuces must be 
tied up, to bleach the hearts. 
Aluskmelons. — There are so many de¬ 
licious muskmelons, both old and new, that 
I hesitate to make selections. There is 
one to be introduced this year, however, 
which if the description of the introducers 
is not stretched, is something entirely new, 
and that is Henderson’s Bush muskmelon 
-— not that it is supposed to grow on a small 
tree, but the vines are represented as hav¬ 
ing much the habit of the bush squashes. 
I shall await the outcome of my own trial 
of this new melon with much interest, for 
{Continued on page 88) 
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