because the top and root systems do 
not interfere, and radishes, which 
come up quickly to mark the rows, 
mature before they compete with 
carrots. When thinning carrots, beets 
and other similar root crops, do so 
when they are about three to four 
inches in height, leaving them only 
one inch apart. When the roots touch 
each other, pull out every other one. 
When they touch each other again, 
pull out every other one once more, 
so that those now left will be three 
inches apart or the distance to which 
they are usually thinned at the begin- 
ning. Following this procedure inthe 
home garden provides for young, 
tasty carrots and beets over a much 
longer period of time, and produces 
about 50 percent greater yield from 
the same space. 
Two or more varieties of vegetables 
may be planted at the same time so 
that they will mature in succession. 
For example, Marcross and Golden Cross 
Bantam corn may be planted at the 
same time — the Golden Cross Bantam 
being ready to harvest about the time 
the Marcross is finished. This method 
not only produces earlier corn but it 
saves the bother of planting the same 
variety every 10 days. Simpson, New 
York 12 and Great Lakes lettuce, planted 
at the same time, will mature in suc- 
cession, as will Golden Acre and Marion 
Market cabbage. These varieties, called 
“early’’ because they mature in a 
short number of days, may also be 
planted at a later date than the longer 
growing varieties. 
In selecting vegetables give atten- 
tion first to those which are highest 
in nutrient quality and those which 
produce in highest yields — such as 
snap beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, 
carrots, swiss chard, lettuce, peppers 
and summer squash. Then, if there is 
sufficient room, grow other vege- 
tables which do not yield as much or 
take up more space. 
Make garden plans as early as pos- 
sible. The earlier they are made, the 
more time there is to change them, 
because it is very difficult to sit down 
and make a plan in 10 minutes which 
is going to be practical. The follow- 
ing points should be considered when 
planning this garden: 
Select those vegetables which the 
family prefers. In other words, don’t 
plant a lot of Swiss Chard if folks 
won't eat it. Plan a garden so that 
there will be a good supply of vege- 
tables, but not such an overabundance 
of one kind at one time that the fam- 
ily groans in protest before the last is 
gone. Figure the amount needed for 
freezing, canning or storing, and re- 
member that only the best grown 
should be preserved — good meals in 
the winter depend on putting up 
foods of excellent quality in the 
summer. 
Many gardens provide a feast early 
in the summer and a famine later. 
What could be more dismal than 
looking forward to the middle of 
August with nothing more than spin- 
ach, radishes and a few odds and ends 
left as reminders of bygone days of 
plenty! Plan, therefore, to plant an- 
other crop as soon as the first one is 
taken out. Do not plant the same or 
similar crop in the space occupied by 
the first. It is best not to follow beets 
with carrots or another similar root 
crop — lettuce, kale or snap beans 
would be a better choice because root 
crops following each other are likely 
to have deficiencies of certain ele- 
ments. Also, it is best not to plant 
vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, 
or Brussels sprouts in the same spot 
more than once in every fourth year. 
These crops may leave a residue in the 
soil which is toxic to related crops 
when planted immediately thereafter, 
or may be affected with diseases 
which carry over in the soil and at- 
tack the same kind of plants the next 
year. 
Those crops which are to be stored 
should be planted as late in the season 
as possible so that they will be in 
prime condition when stored and still 
palatable when they are served during 
the later months. It is better, for ex- 
ample, to freeze or can the few extra 
carrots which were planted between 
the middle of April and the first of 
May than to try to store them over 
winter. Carrots for storage purposes 
should be planted between the mid- 
dle of June and the first of July. 
Try to plan the work so that it can 
be done in as short a time as possible. 
Chief plantings should be made over 
a period of about a month. This 
means that radishes, spinach and let- 
tuce will mature before such crops as 
beans, corn and tomatoes — reducing 
the need for hoeing or weeding the 
entire garden at once. Most crops 
should be worked when the foliage 

Aluminum sulfate will quickly make a rabbit 
change its diet. 
is dry to avoid spreading disease, ex- 
cept when it is necessary to dust the 
plants early in the morning so that 
the dust will stick. 
Control for Rabbits: One or two 
tablespoonfuls of aluminum sulfate 
dissolved in a gallon of water to 
which a small amount of soap flakes 
has been added will repel rabbits 
when applied to radishes, beans, 
beets, vine crops and any others to 
which the mixture will stick. A 
whisk broom may be used to shake it 
on the plant. Only one application is 
necessary because it puckers a rab- 
bit’s mouth so effectively that he is 
not in the least inclined to try a sec- 
ond bite. The sulfate mixture is easily 
washed off so that there is no danger 
of a person’s becoming ill from eating 
vegetables to which it has been ap- 
plied. It leaves no residue, but a rab- 
bit prefers not to take a chance a sec- 
ond time even though he cannot see 
whether or not the plant has been 
treated. This does not kill rabbits — 
it just changes their diet. 
This mixture will not stick to such 
plants as cabbages, cauliflower, and 
broccoli. A dust made by mixing one 
part of finely ground aluminum sul- 
fate with 20 parts of white flour has 
been found effective for these and 
similar plants. Only one application 
is necessary. 
xk k * 
From all signs, the 1945 garden 
crop is scheduled for a good bit of 
thought and planning before it actu- 
ally gets under way. Even in average 
times, the home vegetable garden is 
of economic value — a value that is 
increased many times over with the 
nation at war and essential foods none 
too plentiful for civilian use. 
29 
