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Show IWIPLffifflOENr . II YDUfl BACK ! m i How shall vre get roady for home ; gardonlng activities In 1918 Is a question ques-tion now reaching the United States department of agriculture from all sections. To these questioners the department Is giving the following advice: ad-vice: Determine the location and tho area to be planted to vegetables as soon as practicable. Clear it of rubbish and as material suitable for a compost heap is available, start one. Arrange, If possible, for the necessary fertilizer for the season's garden from local sources such as stables, streets, or abattoirs. Add these materials to the compost heap so as to Insure as large a supply as possible of suitable material ma-terial with tho smallest practicable use of commercial fertilizers. This Is desirable to Insure plant food and to save expense. Commercial fertilizers aro scarce and high and in garden work even -when such materials are abundant and relatively cheap they can not entirely replace stabio manure and compost Each city or town should bo able to supply the major part of the needs of its gardening population if the fertilizers produced within its limits are husbanded for their use. Get Seeds Early. As soon as the spring catalogues are available, select the list of seeds needed to plant the area to be used for gardening. In choosing the list have in mind tho eselectlon of those sorts which did best last season, thoso which tho family relished most, and determine the quantity with care in order that only the seed necessary,, to meet your requirements be purchased. Tho supply of somo of the important varieties of garden seeds Is limited and in order that all may obtain tho quantity needed to meet their needs, every one should co-operate to make i h supply available produce a maxl- mum crop. Place your seed orders early. Plan Your Garden In Advance. In planning tho garden have due ro-;ard ro-;ard to supplying the family with fresh vegetables as well as those desired de-sired .for canning or drying, but retrain re-train from entering tho iield of commercial com-mercial vogotable production unless pou are an experienced practical gardener gar-dener -with suitable soil and location Mid adequate capital to finance tho operation. A . Planning the garden on paper that Is, drawing a right plan to scale on which are indicated the spaces to be devoted to early planted and later crops, tho best planting datos, etc. is an interesting winter evening employment employ-ment for tho entire family. Seo that garden tools are properly protected and aro ready for spring use. Have fruit trees and small fruits pruned and sprayed at the proper seasons. sea-sons. Secure farmers' bulletin No. 818, "Tho Small Vegetable Garden" and books on gardening and prepare yourself your-self to make every seed count. The experienced gardeners of a neighborhood -will find profit as well as pleasuro In the formation of a local garden club. The meetings can bo conducted on the basis of experience meetings to tho mutual advantago of all; beginners should take advantage of the experience of successful locnl gardeners in planning their operations. opera-tions. Many valuable hints can thus be obtained that can not be found In books or papers on gardening. In these times it Is not only a privilege but a duty to pass on the results of garden experience when such experience experi-ence may save another from error or Increase his chancos of success. Tho effort should be to provide for one's needs only. Plant proved sorts in sufficient1 quantity only to supply the table and to meet the canning and drying requirements. re-quirements. Make tho seed supply 100 per cent efficient. Husband tho local fertilizer supply by beginning early to accumulate manure ma-nure and other materials for a compost com-post heap. Tell your neighbor the sorts .that did best for you last year and how you reated them to secure best results. "Point out tho "don't" as well as tho "do" In gardening. Help the other fellow to help himself! oo Our last census shows 522 different vocations, but there are really 900 occupations. In America 100 occupations occupa-tions are beyond the reach of the man without a high school and technical training. There aro fifteen different types of engineering. |