The Care and 
Culture of 
Root Crops 
Root crops must penetrate 
the soil to a considerable 
depth. They cannot be 
grown in stiff clays. 
Carrots and beets are es- 
pecially in demand as 
table vegetables and are 
particularly suited for can- 
ning. Parsnips and turnips 

thinning is important to 
proper growth. 
Beets are best when from 
1 in. to 2 in. in diameter. 
Beet tops, too, are deli- 
ciously tender at this size. 
Turnips are at their best 
at this size also—parsnips 
after a frost. 
Sow seed in hills 3 ft. to 
4 ft. apart each way, about 
5 seeds to the hill. Don't 
do your planting until the 
ground is warm. For good 
supply, plant 3 times, 3 
weeks apart. 
Thin out to 3 strong plants 
in each hill when 5 in. 
Steps in the 
Culture of 
Sweet Corn 
trate of soda previous to 
or during rain will hasten 
the growth of young plants. 
Working the soil is ex- 
tremely important to good 
growth. Hoeatleast weekly 
until 3 ft. high. Do not work 
so close to the plant as to 
endanger the roots. 
are equally delicious and 
- may be stored over winter. 
Better plants result from 
careful cultivating and 
weeding. 
Thin seedlings as soon as 
big enough to handle. No 
matter how sparsely you 
have sown the seed, early 

Pluck carrots before they 
are full grown. This is 
when they are most tender 
and best suited for canning 
as well. Store larger sizes. 



For Best Results with Tomatoes 
Set out when apple blossoms fall. Staked plants produce 
better fruit and can be set 24 in. apart in rows 3 ft. apart. 
Avoid soils fertilized this year with fresh manure. Give 
light feedings every 3 weeks after flower buds appear. 
soil about them cultivated 
and free from weeds. 
Trim lower leaves and 
suckers as plant grows. Do 
not allow branching forma- 
tion. Tomato plant culture 
is easier if growth is con- 
fined to the main shoot. 

Plant 3 ft. apart each way. 
Fill hole with water before 
placing plant. Cover to 
protect from sun. Keep the 

Stake the plants when 12 
in. high by use of sturdy 
6 ft. stake set 4 in. from 
plant. Tie plant to stake as 
the height increases, using 
soft twine. 


About RADISHES 
The secret of getting crisp, delicious radishes is quick 
growth. So use plenty of plant food in the soil where 
they are planted. This is undoubtedly the easiest of all 
vegetables to grow; the seeds germinate in a few days, 
and are ready for eating in 3 to 5 weeks. 
All through the planting season, a succession should be 
sown every 10 days, so that you may have plenty of mild, 
tender radishes for relish and salads all through the 
season, 
high. Light dressing of ni- 
Wi... 
etabtte 

Sweet corn is most delicious 21 days after silking. Judge 
when corn is ready to pick by feeling whether the kernels 
make the husk tight at the tip instead of stripping back 
the husk. Pick corn just before it is to be cooked or used 
for canning. 

How to Grow Head and Leaf Lettuce 
Plant leaf lettuce as soon as the ground can be worked in 
the spring. Head lettuce planting can follow about two 
weeks later; make permanent transplanting when second 
set of leaves appears. Leaf lettuce is higher in vitamins 
than head lettuce. 
Leaf lettuce can be left 
right in rows. Thin it out 
somewhat and allow it to 
grow along. When picking, 
cut off with shears just 
above ground—a new crop 
will grow. 


fA 
Sow seeds in shallow drills v 
a foot apart in early spring. Peo ae % 
Keep sowing every three yy ees 
weeks until midsummer. In Hot 
this way you'll have let- EA 
tuce for the table all sea- SA 
son long. eae 
Grow head lettuce by 
transplanting at 12 in. in- 
tervals the small plants 
grown from seed of head- 
ing variety. These plants 
are fragile and need pro- 
tection from sun. 


About CUCUMBERS 
FOR SMALL PICKLES (gherkins)—Cucumbers should be 
gathered when only 2 or 3 inches long—about six weeks 
after sowing. 
For “dill’’ size pickles, they should be 4 to 6 inches long. 
FOR SLICING—they are best when plump and cylin- 
drical—but before they bulge in the middle or develop 
a yellow tinge at the blossom end, 
21 
