General Cultural Information 
FLOWER AND HERB 
CULTURES 
All culture letters in the flower and herb 
seed listings, and on the actual packets of 
seeds refer to the following directions. 
Please follow them carefully to be certain 
of good results. ‘Where two or more let- 
‘ters are given, choose the one below that 
you can most easily follow accurately. 
CULTURE A 
Sow when soil can be worked, usually 
in late March or April, in bed, border or 
row where plants are to grow, after spad- 
ing soil to a depth of at least six inches. 
If soil is clay-like and hard, work in peat 
moss, humus, leaf mold, rotted manure or 
even sifted coal ashes until all lumps are 
broken. Sow seed thinly and cover with 
fine soil to a depth 4 or 5 times the diam- 
eter of the seed. Water the bed with fine 
sprinkler. While the soil should not be 
allowed to become soggy, at no time 
should it dry out completely. As plants 
appear and develop, thin out so that they 
are not crowded. Plants removed may 
often be transplanted elsewhere if desired. 
Typical seeds for this culture are Lark- 
spur, Cosmos, Poppies and Calendulas. — 
CULTURE B 
Same procedure as A, except earliest 
planting date is May 10th. Applies to ten- 
der annuals and quick blooming peren- 
nials. Typical subjects are Asters, Bache- 
lor Buttons, Zinnias and Morning Glories. 
CULTURE C 
Sow in outdoor seed bed about May 10th 
to be transplanted later. The seed bed 
should not be more than three feet wide, 
preferably raised a few inches above land 
level, and surrounded by a wooden frame: 
Soil should be mixed with liberal quanti- 
ties of sand, peat moss or humus until soft 
and workable with no large lumps. Seeds 
may be sown in rows and covered with 
fine soil to a depth four or five times their 
diameter. Water with fine sprinkler, and 
keep moderately moist until germination 
takes place. Partial shade from a lath 
frame, or even a full covering of' burlap 
is advisable until seeds are up, when full 
sun is needed. Seedlings are carefully 
transplanted when the second or true 
leaves form. Indicated with many peren- 
nials such as Delphinium, Dianthus, Cam- 
panula, and all quick growing annuals 
that can be transplanted easily such as 
Marigold, Mignonette, Kochia and 'Cal- 
liopsis. «if 
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CULTURE D 
Same procedure as C, but best planted 
about July 15th. Indicated with nearly all 
perennials and biennials. Typical of these 
are Digitalis, Lupin, Pansies and Shasta 
Daisies. 
CULTURE E 
For extremely fine seeds and slow ger- 
minating subjects of good hardiness. Sow 
in pans, pots or flats outdoors, or in a cold 
frame, using soil made with equal parts of 
well sifted loam, sand, and peat moss. 
Vermiculite, humus, leaf mold or well- 
rotted manure may be substituted for the 
peat. Place in shade, and do not allow 
soil to dry out. Containers should be 
watered from bottom by placing in a pan 
of water. Transplant seedlings to perma- 
nent location when true leaves form. If 
seedlings are not ready until cold weather 
sets in, they should be wintered in a cold 
frame, and transplanted again in the 
spring. The time for seed sowing is not 
toc important in this group but early 
spring or late fall usually give best re- 
sults. Typical in this group are Primula, 
Lilies, Dictamnus and Aquilegia. 
Cultural Information 
CULTURE F 
For fine seeds of tender subjects, par- 
ticularly those requiring a long growing 
season to mature. Sow indoors in cans, 
pots or flats of soil made up as in E cul- 
ture. Cover seeds lightly and place con- 
tainer in pan of water until moisture 
comes to top of soil. Cover with glass or 
Paper and keep warm and dark until 
sprouts appear. Uncover immediately, and 
rlace in window. with southern exposure. 
Keep temperature between 60 to 70 de- 
grees. When: true leaves appear, trans-’ 
plant to other flats or move to permanent 
location outdoors after May 10th. Typical 
of this group are Petunias, Salpiglossis, 
Salvia and Lantanas. 
CULTURE G 
An alternate to culture F where facili- 
ties are not available indoors, or where 
conditions indoors are too hot or dry. Sow 
in hotbed around March Ist or cold frame 
after April 1st, in pots, pans, flats or in 
the soil of the frame itself. The soil 
should be prepared as in E culture. Keep 
moderately moist. On warm, sunny days 
prop up one end of frame. In cold or be- 
low: freezing temperatures, keep frame 
closed and cover tightly with a blanket or 
bags filled with leaves or straw. When 
true leaves have formed on ‘‘seedlings, 
transplant to more spacious position in 
frame or to permanent position in open 
after May 10th. All subjects with sug- 
gested F culture do quite well under G 
culture, and some like Snapdragons, 
Stocks, Candytuft, Asters and Verbena 
seem to do better. 
‘Chéck' these lists to help you select 
plants to meet your needs and to thrive 
under your particular growing conditions. 
VEGETABLE CULTURES 
ASPARAGUS 
The seeds are sown thinly in drills in 
early spring, covered about 1% inch. The 
resulting plants should be thinned to 
stand at least 6 inches apart and when 
one year old, transplanted to their perma- 
nent location. If 1-year or 2-year plants 
are used, they should be planted in 
trenches 12 inches wide and from 6 to 12 
inches deep, depending on whether the 
soil is heavy or light. Spread the roots 
out and place on small mound of earth, 
cover with 2 to 4 inches of top soil. As 
the plants grow, gradually fill in the 
trench. The rows should be 4 to 6 feet 
apart and the plants spaced about 18 
inches apart in the rows. Asparagus needs 
heavy fertilization after the cutting sea- 
son and should be kept as weed free as 
possible. Cutting may begin the second 
year after plants are set. 
BUSH BEANS 
Can be planted as soon as the soil 
warms up. Usually about May 10th and 
successively until August 1st. Plant 1 inch 
deep and 2 inches apart in drills 214 feet 
apart. Thin out to 4 inches apart. One ex- 
ception to above is the Broad Windsor or 
Fava Bean which should be planted about 
three weeks earlier. Do not work among 
Beans when they are wet. 
POLE BEANS 
Plant about May 20th in hills 3 or 4 feet 
apart. 5 or 6 seeds are planted about 1 
inch deep in each hill. Poles 7 to 8 feet 
long-should be placed at each hill. 
BUSH LIMA BEANS 
These are planted the latter part of May 
about the same as Bush Snap Beans, but 
if they are placed in the drill with the 
eye down they will grow more quickly. 
POLE LIMA BEANS 
Plant same time as Bush Lima Beans 
but in hills the same as Pole Beans. 
[52] 
SOY BEANS 
Plant as soon as the soil is warm and 
danger of frost has passed. The seed 
should be sown in rows 3 feet apart and 
covered 1 to 114 inches. The plants should 
stand abcut 6 inches apart. 
BEETS 
May be planted as soon as ground can 
be worked and as late as July. The rows 
shculd be at least 114 feet apart and the 
plants thinned to not less than 3 inches 
apart. Cover the seed 1% inch to 1 inch. 
BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, 
CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER 
These are all grown from plants set in 
rows not less than 21% feet apart and with 
18 inches between plants. The plants may 
be set as soon as the ground can be pre- 
pared. If growing plants from seed, the 
seed should be planted indoors by March 
15th except the late varieties of Cabbage, 
which may be sown outdoors in May or 
June and transplanted into rows in July. 
CARROTS 
Follow the same cultural directions as 
given for Beets. 
CELERIAC 
Sow seeds about May Ist, covering them 
about, 44 inch. When plants are large 
encugh transplant into rows 2 feet apart 
with plants at least 6 inches apart. 
CELERY 
If using plants set them about June Ist, 
8 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Be 
sure to firm soil around roots. About 
August start the blanching process by 
pulling soil up around the plants or by 
using 10- to 12-inch boards on each side, 
leaning against the plants. To raise your 
own plants, start seeds about March Ist 
indoors in flats. 
CORN 
May be planted in hills about 3 feet 
apart each way with about five seeds in 
each hill, covered to a depth of 1 inch, or 
in rows with the plants thinned to stand 
8 to 12 inches apart. Planting may be 
started in thoroughly worked soil the 
latter part of May and continued until 
the middle of July. 
CORN SALAD 
About May ist plant about 144 inch deep 
in rows at least 18 inches apart. The 
plants should stand at least 3 feet apart. 
CUCUMBERS 
May be planted about Decoration Day 
or when all danger of frost is past, either 
in hills thinned to 4 or 5 plants, 4 to 5 
feet apart, or in rows with the plants 12 
to 18 inches apart. Cover the seed about 
14 inch. Cucumbers like a rich, sandy 
loam best, and if possible, it is well to 
use plenty of well-rotted manure. 
EGGPLANT 
Plant seed 4% inch deep in hotbed or 
indoors in flats in March and when plants 
are 1 inch high, transplant, preferably 
intc 3-inch pots. Set the plants about the 
last of May, 215 feet apart in rows 3 feet 
apart. 
; KALE 
May be planted 14 inch deep as soon as 
soil can be worked to stand about 18 
inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Since 
Kale is best after a touch of frost, most 
people sow in June or July for a fall crop. 
LEEK 
Plant in April, covering the seed about 
14 inch, to stand about 4 inches apart in 
rows 18 inches apart. They like plenty of 
fertilizer and blanching may be expedited 
by drawing soil around them at each 
. hoeing. 
