~ Mark Means Company, 1946 Annual Seed Catalog, Lewiston, Idaho a 

HOW TO PLANT A VEGETAI 
LOCATION— 
PREPARING THE SOIL 
Exposure for the vegetable garden 
should be sunny. No common vegetable 
will grow under trees, or in the shade of 
buildings—only a few herbs will thrive 
under such conditions. 
The garden should be as open and as 
sunny as possible. Sometimes buildings 
On adjacent lots may shade the garden a 
little, but if the sun reaches the soil at 
least half a day, you will be able to grow 
most any vegetable you desire. 
Plan the vegetable rows to run from 
north to south. This direction gives the 
most benefit from the sun. Another way 
is to plant the taller kinds behind so 
that they never shade the small ones. 
Good soil is as essential as sunlight to growing 
plants. Most soils will grow vegetables, or can be 
made suitable by thorough, deep spading and lib- 
eral applications of manure, peat or other humus 
material at that time. Dig as deep.as the spading 
fork or spade will go, forcing it straight down be- 
. fore lifting and turning the soil over, breaking up 
all clods. Grass may be turned under to rot and 
make humus, but the roots of perennial weeds, like 
dandelions and thistles, should be removed. Throw 
out all large stones, building refuse and other ma- 
terial detrimental to growing plants. 
SOW SEEDS AT RIGHT TIME 
Sow seeds at the proper season and avoid waste. 
We have the highest quality seeds available. 
Work down the top soil with a rake until it is 
level, fine and in perfect physical condition, before 
attempting to plant seed. 
Seed should be sown thinly in shallow rills, made 
with a stick as shown in the sketch. To make the 
rows Straight, follow a line of string stretched be- 
tween stakes placed at either end of the row. 
The depth of this rill depends on the variety sown. _ 
Check with the depth of planting chart on page 8 
before sowing seed. 
Seed may be sown directly from the packet, or 
by rubbing a pinch of seed between the thumb and 
first two fingers. This latter method gives a thinner 
distribution of the seed. Small seeds should not be 
thicker than 10 to the inch. Sow one row at a time 
and after each row, cover the seed lightly, touch- 
ing the loose soil with a rake. Place the board used 
for walking between the rows on top of the sown 
seed and walk across it to firm the soil for better 
germination. 


If the soil is moist, but not wet, at the time of 
sowing, watering will not be necessary before the 
seedlings are up. If it dries out, however, sprinkle 
carefully so as not to wash out the small seedlings. 
USE PLENTY OF GOOD FERTILIZER 
Fertilizers are very important. The food value of 
garden vegetables for human consumption depends 
greatly on their mineral content, derived from the 
soil. The vitamin content depends on the vigor of 
growth and the abundance of sunlight. Therefore, 
the fertilizing of the soil is important to insure 
vigorous growth and healthy mineral and vitamin- 
rich vegetables. A good practice is to spade com- 
mercial fertilizer, balanced to supply the neces- 
sary proportions of nitrogen, phosphorous and 
potash. Later in the season, applications of fer- 
tilizers in small doses, as side dressings, keep veg- 
etables in active growth. Ask us for special fertilizer 
formulas for vegetable gardens. 
WATERING IS IMPORTANT 
Watering will be necessary during the growing 
season. It should be done early enough in the day 
to evaporate drops of water from the leaves before 
nightfall. Water generously, soaking the soil deeply 
each time, rather than by quick ‘‘sprinkles’’ with 
the hose. In this way, the roots will grow deep, feed 
better and be protected from drouth, in case water- 
ing is missed during a hot dry spell. Once every 
week or ten days should be ample for moist soils. 
No rules can be formulated to determine the neces- 
sity of watering. Observation of the soil, and test- 
ing with a shovel, will best determine when t- 
water. 
