GOOD GARDEN! — 
/ It’s easy to grow a good gar- 
Yes: den... and fun, too! A hand- 
ful of seed packets, a trowel, 
a spading fork and a rake are really all you 
need to get started. These items will open 
the way to one of the most profitable .. . 
and healthful ... of all pastimes for home- 
loving folks. Just keep these things in mind 
before you start your digging: 
YOUR SEEDS Buy only the 
very best... 
from sources 
which are known, over a long period of 
years, to sell only FRESH, late-harvest seed. 
SP Avoid buying from sources which look like 
they’ve been indifferent to the length of time the seed’s been packaged. 
STAFFEL’S Fresh-packaged GARDEN SEED is dated clearly on the 
reverse side of the packet so YOU KNOW you are not buying old seed 
which may, or may not, germinate. Planting tip No. 1: Buy it at STAF- 
FEL’S or your friendly STAFFEL DEALER. 
den beds in one day. If you’ve 
YOUR BACK 
been pushing a pencil around all 
day long as part of your daily work it naturally follows that you are not 
used to too strenuous exercise. Digging can be effortless, pleasurable and 
stimulating. TAKE IT EASY. Dig up only as much as you can com- 
fortably do without tiring. 
itself nicely to 
WHEN TO PLANT IN TEXAS self nicely to 
all.the year long, depending on the end of the hard-frost season. The fol- 
lowing hard-frost dates will help you. 
AVERAGE HARD-FROST DATES 
You will want to know when it is really safe to sow the seed of tender 
annuals in order to protect the seedlings from possible freezing or grown 
plants from freezing before they have a chance to bloom. Below are 
listed the average hard-frost dates in Texas. These figures are based on 
United States Department of Agriculture weather records. 
Do not try to dig up all your gar- 
Our climate lends 
SOUTH TEXAS NORTHWEST TEXAS NORTHEAST TEXAS 
Last in Spring Last in Spring Last in Spring 
Feb. 10th April 15th March 21st 
First in Fall First in Fall First in Fall 
Dec. 15th Noy. Ist Noy. 10th 
LET THE 
TWELVE 
T’S EASY TO GROW A 
— 
YOUR SOIL 
Ea] 
Make up your mind to use the soil you 
have, Trucking top soil into your garden 
is expensive, and not always satisfactory. 
There are very few soils which cannot be 
used to advantage. An ideal soil is spon- 
gy, water retaining; sandy enough to 
crumble easily and with enough clay con- 
tent to hold it together. Leaf mold, peat 
moss or other weed-free organic matter, 
worked into the soil will do wonders. 
Test your soil for acidity or for alkalin- 
ity. This you can do with an inexpensive 
device such as our Sudbury Soil Testing 
Kit. If the soil is too acid, add the amount 
of lime your test kit recommends. 
Never work your soil or try 
to dig in fertilizer when it 
is wet. 
IF YOUR SOIL IS TOO ALKALINE 
Around San Antonio and vicinity, the 
soils are usually of an alkaline nature. 
Sulphate of Alumina, Iron Sulphate (Cop- 
peras) or Soil Sulphur, added to your 
soil from time to time, will correct this 
condition. Keep in mind that it is well 
to acidify by degrees. Wait about six 
weeks before you retest after a corrective 
application. Your soil may need another 
treatment. 
If your soil cracks badly in the summer, 
mulch it with peat moss or leaf mold. A 
recent discovery in Krilium, the wonder 
soil conditioner, makes softening up of 
hard-baked soils almost effortless (see 
page 13). 
Do not be carried away by the 
extravagant claims of “Miracle” 
fertilizers. Only three elements 
can make your soil fertile: 
food, water and common sense. 
KIDS ENJOY IT TOO! 
There’s nothing like having their very own garden to teach 
children a sense of responsibility and make them self-reliant. 
The thrill of growing their own flowers and vegetables will keep 
them occupied and ever eager to see how their efforts will turn 
out. Zinnias, Balsam, Cosmos and many other flowers are easily 
grown. Radishes, carrots, spinach and beets are splendid sub- 
jects for children to cultivate and harvest. Bring kiddies down 
to our store and let them select their own seed out of our well- 
stocked seed trays. They'll love it! 
THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN HAVE FUN GARDENING! 
