HOUSE AND GARDEN 
454 
June, 1911 
Garden Suggestions and Querries 
(Continued from page 449) 
sow the seed, give the bed a thorough 
soaking, if the soil is dry. Then, when it 
has dried out to the proper condition (so 
that it will not be at all sticky or lumpy 
when you work it), make the drills six 
inches apart and a quarter to a half inch 
deep, according to the seeds to be sown. 
Sow the seed thinly. If the ground has 
been made properly moist, and the seed 
is good, almost everyone will germinate; 
and it is better not to have to thin out very 
much, as the plants remaining are likely to 
be injured. Five or six seeds to the inch 
will be enough, if the seed is fresh and 
strong. 
If the weather is very hot and dry it may 
be necessary to shade the seed-bed until 
the seedlings break ground. With very 
fine seed, and with lettuce and celery, the 
shading is very important. In old cold- 
frames it is easily given by supporting the 
sash, a foot or more above the frames, and 
spraying or sprinkling with a solution of 
plaster, lime or clay, and water, to make 
the glass opaque (or light frames, 3ft. x 6, 
covered with protecting cloth, are still bet¬ 
ter. These may be made at a total expense 
of twenty-five to forty cents, and are useful 
in many ways). 
As the plants grow tall, cut back one-half 
of the leaves, thus inducing a thick, stocky 
growth. Keep the bed clean and the sur¬ 
face loose at all times and the day before 
transplanting, if the soil is dry, give the 
plants a copious soaking. 
THE HEAT LOVERS 
Nothing is gained by attempting to start 
the pole-beans before warm weather comes, 
but everything should be ready when it 
does come to give them a quick start and 
rapid growth. To this end special hills are 
prepared, by digging out the soil and in¬ 
corporating old, fine manure. If the sod 
is heavy, add leaf mould or sand. Sow ten 
or fifteen beans in a circle, marking a place 
for the pole — if it is not already in place— 
and cover not more than two inches deep. 
When well up, thin out to two or three 
plants, and watch for the first “runners” 
which may need to be started up the poles. 
In sowing limas, try to select a time after 
rain and when it does not seem likely that 
one will occur for several days more. 
Plant with the eye down, and if the soil is 
at all wet or heavy, cover in the drill with 
sand, or the light soil from some other 
place. Okra seed rots very quickly in 
damp soil. Sow several seeds in a place, 
making the hills about two feet apart, and 
thin out to the best plant when well up. 
Special preparation of hills for melons 
and squashes was described in the May 
House & Garden. In growing the vine 
vegetables the best way to fight the various 
bugs which are the special enemies of these 
plants, is to use bottomless boxes eighteen 
to twenty-four inches square, and eight 
inches deep, covered with mosquito wire 
netting, or protecting cloth. For further 
information about fighting these and other 
plant pests read the article on page 424 of 
this magazine. 
Choice 
Plants and 
Shrubs 
Before selecting 
anything in the line 
of trees, plants or 
shrubbery for your 
suburban or coun¬ 
try home, you 
should visit our 
nurseries or send 
for descriptive cata¬ 
logue which we 
send free. 
Experienced 
and Competent 
Gardeners 
Any ladv or gentleman requiring their services can have 
them by applying to us. No fees. Please give particular's 
regarding place. 
Julius Roehrs Co., Exotic Nurseries, Rutherford, N. J. 
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information about roofing. 
The Keasbey & Mattison Company 
Factors 
Ambler, Pennsylvania 
SunDialShop 
Stutique^ 
anterior 2Dccoration 
MRS. HERBERT NELSON CURTIS 
22 East 34th Street NEW YORK CITY 
TELEPHONE 2970 MADISON 
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