File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17968986789).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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202 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS June, 1912 forms. The simplest of these cost only a few dollars, $3 to $5, and are capable of accomplishing a great deal of work in a way that is little more than play for the operator. Either single or double wheels may be had, but in a garden of any size the latter form will quickly repay the slight additional cost required. For the wheel-hoe there are numerous at- tachments the various special uses of which may be found described at length in the catalogues of the companies manu- facturing them (I may say in passing that they are well worth procuring and reading carefully for the many good cultural hints contained, if for no other reason). The wheel-hoe does not, however, obviate the use of the fingers. There will be many weeds in the rows which can- not be reached by its swift working blades, and they must be taken out, where the plants are small, with the fingers. A hint or two about this work may be of use. Try to get at it just as the soil begins to dry out after a rain and is still soft and friable, and the roots pull out easily. Also imme- diately previous to weeding run through the rows, cutting up as close as possible, with the wheel-hoe. There are a number of hand-weeders which are useful. I prefer the type which has a little strap over the fingers to hold the im- plement in place in the hand while the fingers are being used. CROPS FOR LATE PLANTING While most of the garden crops can be put in safely dur- ing April and early May, in fact are all the better for early planting, there are some which must have semi-tropical weather, and no danger of frost, before they will do any- thing at all. Nothing is gained by trying to get them started outdoors early in the season, and the only way to hasten the maturity of the crop is to get them along as far as pos- sible indoors or in a cold-frame before setting them outside. In this class are Pole and Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Musk- melons, Watermelons, Tomatoes, Egg-Plants, Peppers, Squash, and Pumpkin. All the vine crops should have specially prepared hills, and it will be well worth while to take the same pains in getting ready for the Pole Beans, especially the Limas. Dig out the hill about two feet square and some six inches deep, and put in a fork-full of well rotted manure, mixing it thoroughly with the soil. Then put back enough of the sur- face soil to fill up the hole within, say, an inch of the top and mix into this a good handful of cotton-seed meal, fine tank- age or bone flour, or a mixture of them. Cover over level with the garden surface and plant. Melon and Squash seed should be covered about half an inch deep, Beans from one to two inches. Always plant the Limas (dwarf or pole sorts) with the eye down, and if possible just when the ground is drying off after a rain, as they root in the soil easily and readily. Melons, Cucumbers, Lima Beans, and even Sweet Corn we now start in paper pots (which are to be had very cheaply), and set out pots and all when the weather is warm enough. This method not only assures earlier results but overcomes to a great extent the dangers from insects and cold, damp weather incident to planting outdoors during this season. "Giant-podded" is the best pole Lima I have grown; and Fordhook and Spicy are my favorite Muskmelons, although there are a great number of excellent varieties and one should suit one's own taste. There is a new "vineless" form which will now make Muskmelons available for the smallest gardens. Tomato, Pepper, and Egg-plants should be pro- cured, if possible, grown in pots rather than in boxes. They are more evenly developed and will not suffer the usual "set-
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The carefully tended Summer garden will produce such tomato vines as this, which may be trained against a wall

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