HOUSE AND GARDEN 
AY, I 9 I 3 
ican substitute dwarf sorts such as Max- 
tonan, Blue Bantam and British Wonder 
become more known. Getting and putting 
in a supply of brush for peas, especially if 
any quantity at all are planted, is exceed¬ 
ingly troublesome. Getting supports for a 
few dozen tomato plants or hills of beans 
is not such a difficult problem. But im¬ 
proved garden methods have not spared 
even the old-fashioned bean-pole and its 
shorter brother the tomato-pole. The ob¬ 
jection to these is that they keep the vines 
huddled together so that sun and air do 
not have the free access they should to all 
parts of the plants, thus delaying the ripen¬ 
ing of the fruit and inviting various dis¬ 
eases. There are a number of patented 
tomato supports which overcome these ob¬ 
jections, but if one does not care to invest 
in these, it is an easy matter to make 
some stout garden stakes pointed at one 
end and nail lathes or some similar nar¬ 
row light pieces of wood across these at 
right angles. Bean-poles may be made in 
a similar way, but these should of course 
be made taller and the cross-arms need 
not be so long. These “arms” should be 
placed twelve to eighteen inches apart. A 
length allowing four to five feet above 
ground for the tomato-poles and six to 
eight for the bean-poles will be about 
right, and they should be sunk at 
least eighteen inches into the ground. 
These will of course cost a little more to 
provide than the old-fashioned poles, but 
if properly cared for they will last for 
years, while the latter are good for only 
two or three seasons at the most and then 
go to the woodpile. 
It is always better to set these poles be¬ 
fore planting, as the job can then be done 
better and much quicker. A wooden mal¬ 
let and a crowbar are the only tools you 
need to put them in with, as they will be 
much firmer when driven into place, than 
if placed in a hole and the earth packed 
around them. 
If conditions at the time of planting are 
not just right, the seeds of the tender veg¬ 
etables will rot in the soil much more read¬ 
ily than will those of the hardy crops. 
This is especially true of corn, beans (par¬ 
ticularly lima beans), and muskmelons. 
Therefore the experienced gardener learns 
to watch the conditions of soil and the 
weather outlook, as well as the advance¬ 
ment of the season. The ideal time for 
planting is as soon after a good soaking 
rain as the soil begins to get crumbly and 
workable again. If you plant just before 
a rain the soil may stay wet and cold long 
enough to cause the seed to rot, or the 
surface may become packed so hard that 
the seedlings, and especially those of fine 
seed, can push up through it only with dif¬ 
ficulty. 
Where such small amounts of seed as 
are required for the home garden are used, 
often the most satisfactory way of making 
sure of good germination is to soak the 
seed for a day or more in slightly warmed 
water until it is swelled and ready to sprout. 
It may then be rolled in fine dry earth to 
dry it off, and then sowed in the usual 
“/ built that house fifteen years ago and it's as good today as 
the day it was completed. In all these years my only expetise 
has been for painting the woodwork that you see.” 
The experience of this man and thousands of other wise 
home-builders is conclusive proof that 
Hy-tex Brick 
is the most economical building-material —as well as the most beautiful 
and durable. 
We have just issued a booklet, “Genuine Economy in Home Building,” dealing in a 
comprehensive way with the problems that confront every home-builder. It is beautifully 
illustrated throughout in colors. Sent to any address on receipt of ten cents to cover 
mailing charges. Write for your copy now. 
HYDRAULIC-PRESS BRICK COMPANY 
Dept. G-5, St. Louis, Mo. 
BRANCH OFFICES: Baltimore, Md., Chicago, 
Ill.; Cincinnati, O.; Cleveland, O.; Davenport, 
Iowa; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City, Mo.; 
Minneapolis, Minn.; New York City; Omaha, 
Neb.: Philadelphia, Pa.; Toledo, O. ; Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. 
Grow Your Own Vegetables 
Cut down your living expenses. You’ll be astonished how 
healthful it is to cultivate a garden and how easy if you use 
Planet Jr 
Garden 
Tools 
Adapted to more uses than any other im- 
—. > plement. Opens furrows, plants, covers, 
““ < and marks next row in one operation. 
-«£FRFF instructive 64-page illustrated 
1XLjL< catalogue. Send postal for it today. 
■ S. L. Allen & Co., Box 1202c, Phila. 
operates a 
Three Gallons a Minute 
flowing from a stream, artesian well or spring 
RIFE RAM 
pumping all the time sufficient water 
for house or farm use. Costs little 
to install, requires no attention- 
no operating expense. 
Free information on request. 
RIFE ENGINE CO., 2151 Trinity Building, New York 
“EASY -EMPTYING” 
Grass Catcher 
Prevents damage to grass roots caused by 
raking. Avoids unnecessary work. Saves 
time. Keeps your lawn smooth and 
velvety. Easily attached to any 
mower. “Just lift it off to empty.” 
NON-SLIP BOTTOM 
Is the new strong 1913 feature 
—prevents grass sliding for¬ 
ward. Front flange keeps 
grass out of roller of mower. 
New hook brackets prevent 
catcher jumping off when 
mowing a terrace. 
Ask your hardware dealer to 
show you or write for free 
booklet ‘‘Useful things for 
the Lawn.” 
Specialty Mfg. Co. 
1051 Raymond Av., St. Paul. Minn. 
In writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden 
