Sehool HlIm~·Gllr{l~nCircular 1. February, lOla. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF EDUCATION, WASHINGTON INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCHOOL SUPERVISED HOIllE GARDENS. S,uY:M'ATIY. 1. Clean up back yard. 2. Provide drainage where needed. 3. Select crops that will gi ve, so far as possible, continuous use of the ground and a continuous supply of vegetables gom early spring to lute fall. . 4. Secure good seed from It reliable seedsman. This is very im- portant. 5. Use good stable manure freely if possible. 6. Make: 0, good seed bed by digging deeply and by n vigorous use of the hoe and rake. 7. Plnnt in long straight rows. 8. Keep down weeds and thin out superfluous plunts. 9. Mniutain a loose soil mulch by frequent use of the hoe, rake, or wheel hoe. 10. Keep n. close watch for insects and diseuse. This circular is intended to supply garden supervisors with some- information for .innnediate use in conducting the present season's work. Similar circulars dealing with other phases of the work will be prepared from time to time. The garden specialists of the bureau are prepared to supply specific information bearing upon the practical work of the garden. There are abundant Iocnl opportunities for gaining information relating to gardening, Seed catalogues usually give specific direc- tions for the culru re of most crops. SOlTIe seed houses have these directions printed on the seed packages. The United Stutes Depnrt- merit of Agrlcultllre has many bulletins relating to gardening thnt may be obtained free upon application. The various State colleges and experiment sterions .issue bulletins for free distribution and are prepared to answer inquiries by correspondence. CLEANING UP TIIE B,\OK YARD. In order that all available space may be utilized for the growing of vegetables, the back yard should be completely rid of nll rubbish. If there is only II small amount of ground, it will be very helpful if 24.15jO-16 /:J 2 SCHOOL SUPERVISED HOM"E CARDENS. ROY high board fence can be replaced with one made of chicken wice. This will allow 11 maximum amount of light and a free cir- culation of all', both of which are desirable for the. best development of the plants and the prevention of such diseases us mildew. Board fences are sometimes objectionable in that they often prevent free surface drninnge. Tho yard should be so graded that no water will stand on the surfuoe of the ground. Sometimes nn open ditch lead- ing into the alleyway or on to some lower ground will be necessary. SELEUI'ION OJ·- eRQI'S. Beginners in gardening should be encouraged in the selection of the more easily grown crops, such as onions, radishes, lettuce, peas, benne, turnips, carrots, beets, tomatoes, and cabbngee. Too £1'0- quently the boys nnd girls select too nmllY crops nnd fail to raise enough of any to be of use for either the home or market. For market purposes, the fewer the crops, consistent with continuous cropping, the greater- the chances for success. Too much stress can not be placed uJlon the necessity for selecting crops that will be required to supply the home 01' for which there is a good market, In this connection it is well to select CI'OpS that £it into the general cropping scheme and those that will give a continuous succession of crops. The fol- lowing crops ate suggested for the vm-ious seasons: First planting (early sprinq) .c-Rndishes, onion sets, spinach, kale, turnips, garden peElS,lettuce (from plants, if obtaunuble}, cabbage, and cauliflower. Second planfring (from two to fOU1' weelt8 Zatm').-Beans, beets, carrots, corn, pnrsely, and white potatoes. 1'Mrd planting (from t·wo to three weeks Zate-r).-Beuns, beets, tomatoes, eggplants, melons, cucumbers, sweet pctntoes, okra, and corn. Fourth pZani:ing (August).-BeIlIlS, beets, white potatoes: turnips, cnrrota, find mustard. Fiftlt planting (ltUe September and Octobe1').-Onioll sets, lettuce (from plants}, spinach, kale, mustard, turnips, and cnbbnge. In the southern sections these five seasonal gl'OUP6 of crops are recognized, The crops of the fifth group are harvested during the winter months or in the early spring. In the northern sections the first four groups only are recognized, except when the crops are given some protection by means of cold frames. Some of the crops of the fourth group nlso, when planted .in August, will not mature in the North. rROCU"RF. coco SEED. The first step in this direction is to send to some reliable seed firm for cubnlogues. The individual orders from the pupils may be com- SCHOOL SUPElRVISED HOME GARDENS. 3 bined into one common order find special prices obbulued. Seed mllY be purchased either by the package or in bulk. Orders should be put in early, :for there should be no delay when the planting season urrives and the supply of seed of the most popular varieties SOOn becomes exhausted, Many dealers put out seed in penny or two- penny packages. The seed catalogue usually gi\TCS the amount of seed required for n certain length of row. PItEPARATIOX OF SOIL. The soil should be broken up in the spring just as early as possible, and yet it should not be handled while wet. Sandy soil may be worked much earlier than clay soil and is therefore better adapted to early cropping. A spading fork is probably the best tool with which to break up the soil. Deep spading gives better opportunity for root develop- ment. A liberal dressing of well-rotted stable manure spaded into the soil supplies plant food, improves the pbysicnl condition, nnd serves to hold moisture during dry seasons. Limo is often beneficial in that it "sweetens 1l the soil, or neutralizes the ucid cboracter. Soils that fnil to glve good results after receiving attention in other ways will usually respond to an npplicution of lime. (A.pply nt the rate of 1,000 pounds per 1101'e.) It may be applied in the fall or just before spading in the spring. In order that the seed mny have the most fnvornble conditions for germination and thnt the small seed- lings may be given a good opportunity to develop, the soil should be well pulverized before planting. PLANTING. Plunting should always be done in long stmight raws, for this fncilitatee cultivation nnd contributes to the appearance. A garden line 01' some heavy twine may be used for the purpose, "Many of the crops, like onions, spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, turnips, pnranips, snlsify, and lettuce, may be planted in rows about 18 inches "pad, Other crops, like corn, tomatoes, potatoes, clnn, and limn beans, require more room and should be planted in rows ubout 3 feet apart, (See seed cntalogues.) In general, the small seeds should be planted shallow i that is, no more than 1 inch in depth. The lnrge seeds require n depth fr-om 2 to 3 inches. The depth of planting is dependent to some extent upon the character and con- dition of the soil. The lighter and warmer the soil, the deeper the seeds should be planted. When the soil is heavy and somewhat cold, it is safer to plane slightly shallower. 4 SOROOL BUPERVTSP.D R01\t:E GARDENS. The soil should be mnde firm OVI}l' the seed after planting. This is usually done by patting it with a hoe. In tmnsplanting plants, also, the soil should be well firmed about the roots. THINNUW AND WEEDING. Seeds are usually sown more thickly thnn necessary, and the super- fluous plants resulting must be regarded as weeds. The superfluous plants of such crops as beets, onions, carrots, and spinach may be used for" greens II or salad, or they ma,y be trensplnnted. All weeds, of course, should be promptly removed. A small hand tool, called ft. weeder, is useful for the purpose. CARE OF TIlE onOWING OROPS. Frequent and thorough cultivation is most essential in successful gardening. Cultivation libcl'lIteS plant food, preserves moisture, find improves the sanitary condition of the soil. .An effort should be ninde to keep a loose, dust-like mulch on the surface to prevent the evaporation of water. To maintain this mulch it will be neces- 'sury to cultivate soon after each ruin or each watering. (Do not cultivate while the soil is eticlry.) A. good hoe and n, steel rake are the necessary tools, the former for use when the soil is hard or when large weeds ure present; the lntter for preparing the ground nod for maintaining the soil mulch. A wheel hoe is very useful and will save much time in cultivating. When artificial watering is practiced it should he remembered thnt one heavy application is better than many spri .nldings. Keep u close watch for insects and disease. < \