The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.Shaw, Ellen Eddy
General
The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.
Shaw, Ellen Eddy
Gardening -- Juvenile literature
"There are two methods for the planting of onions. One way is to use
seed; the other, sets. Sets mean little onion bulbs. These are placed in
drills about six inches apart and so that the little bulb may be just
beneath the surface of the soil. Do not set too low. These bulbs are
ready before seed onions. Seeds are rather slow in development. If you
make sowings pretty thick the tender tops may be used, and so the
thinning process is done to advantage.
"I believe that all your gardens should have some parsley in them. It
can be planted as a border, since it grows low and has a fringy,
decorative effect. If you were Italian girls and boys you would have
parsley if you had nothing else; for the Italians always use it in their
soups. There is a European variety, not as pretty as the common variety,
which grows taller and ranker. It has a stronger smell. An Italian boy
who was living in America had a garden in which he grew both kinds of
parsley. He was asked which he liked the better. Straightening up, he
pointed to the European saying, 'Smells stronger.'
''I believe none of us have raised parsnips. It takes 1/4 of an ounce of
seed to plant 100 feet of drill. Any deep, rich, moist garden soil will
do. Just as early as the ground is workable, the seed should be sown.
Sow in drills of 1/2 inch depth and 6 inches apart. The plants should
finally stand about eight inches apart. They may be dug before or after
frost. Some people think that the early frosts improve the flavour of
parsnips.
"I suppose there is no vegetable so well liked as peas. Who would wish
a Fourth of July dinner without peas? The early varieties of peas go
into the ground just as early as possible. I like best to dig trenches
six inches deep and about eighteen inches apart. As the peas are dropped
into the trench, cover over with about two inches of soil. As the plants
grow, fill soil into the trench. Of course, peas have to be brushed. So
as soon as the little runners form put brush behind the plant and start
the twiners about the brush stalks. A variety of pea called Gradus is
very excellent in flavour.
"As for potatoes--well, now, just see Peter grin! He has covered that
subject. Of course, I can add nothing to an expert's advice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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