Page:How and what to grow in a kitchen garden of one acre (IA howwhattogrowin00darl).pdf/23

 

Row No. 1. 25 grape vines, planted about 7½ feet apart. The first three years these are trained to plain stakes or bean poles, the space in the rows between the vines being planted with strawberries, peas, beans or some other low-growing crop, to occupy the ground and insure good cultivation. When the vines have made strong canes and have reached the tops of the poles, a post is set at each vine and a trellis made, as described in the chapter on grapes. This row is six feet distant from the north boundary line of the garden.

Rows No. 2. These rows are twelve feet distant from each other and from the row of grapes, and are planted with blackberry vines, at a distance of three feet in the rows. Though this may seem like a good deal of “elbow room,” it is as close as they can be planted to keep them in good order; if planted closer they will form an impenetrable jungle by the end of the second season.

Rows No. 3. These two rows are planted with red and black raspberries, the rows also twelve feet apart, but the plants set 2½ feet apart in the rows.

Row No. 4. This is planted with rhubarb, sage and thyme, currants and gooseberries, and is twelve feet distant from the rows on either side.

Row No. 5. Is twelve feet from row No. 4, and is planted with asparagus, as described in the special chapter on that vegetable.

Rows No.6. These two rows are to be planted with spring-set strawberries for the next year’s crop, and are four feet distant from the asparagus and from each other. The strawberries are intended to be grown on the matted row plan, and to be cultivated with the horse cultivator; if they are to be grown in stools, another row can be planted between them, and the whole worked with the wheel or hand hoes.

Row No. 7. This row is for watermelons or cantaloupes, and the line of hills is six feet distant from the row on either side. The space in the row between the hills can be planted with egg plants, cabbage, lettuce or such other plants as may be desired.

Row No. 8. This row is a space four feet wide, with room for the cultivator on either side; this is raked fine and planted in four rows one foot apart, the first row containing beets and carrots; the second, onions; the tables raised will hardly cover the original cost of the seed. The gardener who sells his products, unless his crops are of the best, will soon find his trade falling off, and will be compelled to seek new customers each market day. Personally, I have found it more satisfactory and productive of better results to buy 2