Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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(An (01]tu (Eiiu (A-CSarbrntnq, Ihe following article, written last July, shows the work of one of our graduates.—(Editor.) When the appeal for war gardens was made this spring, the people of Akron rallied at once to the call with plow and spade,and war gardening became as exciting as the hazardous nature of its name implies. 1 he enlistment into Akron’s Home-Garden Division of the General Army of Defense has far exceeded all estimates. The garden movement is not new in the Rubber City. For several years “The Beacon Journal,’’ Akron's leading newspaper, has sponsored, not only home and vacant lot gardens, but the school gardens as well. This year, with the increased interest in gardening, the staff, thinking it advisable to establish a garden department which should organize the garden work of the city, selected two trained horticulturists to direct this undertaking. They furnish information to garden recruits; conduct a clearing house for vacant lots; manage the school gardens, and conduct a home, vacant lot, and school garden contest. The “spring rush” was strenuous, to say the least. Through this office, war garden signs and several hundred Food Garden primers, published by the National Food Emergency Commission, have been distributed. Garden advice is published daily in the paper. I he school gardens have been maintained for several years, with the “Beacon Journal” as administrative head, by funds contributed by a group of wealthy business men who are interested in this proposition which means so much educationally, socially and economically. But the most productive school plot will not furnish sufficient vegetables for a not infrequent family of seven and four boarders. Such families solved the problem of supply by applying to the “Journal” for a vacant lot. with the result that nearly two hundred people throughout the city arc gardening on lots offered through the garden department. Nothing seemed to daunt these people, no matter what the condition of the lot might be, so eager were they to plant some beans or potatoes. In many cases, father, mother, the boarders and all the children had to set to work to carry off more bushels of stones and tin cans to the acre than they may ever hope to gather in potatoes. The two hundred gardens assigned by the “Journal” represent only a small part of the land that has been reclaimed. All the rubber companies have opened up large tracts for their employes and the Northern Ohio Traction Company offered 75 acres of their right of way for garden purposes. The eight-hour working schedule allows several hours a day for work in the war gardens. The home gardeners have shown the same ingenuity in making use of every bit of available ground. Front yards, the space between the sidewalks, abandoned excavations, former flower beds, and even 9

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If single glass sashes are used, mats are very essential for cold nights. They are usually made of rye straw. Shades, too, must be included in the hot bed equipment. After pricking out in the hot sun, it is very important that the young seed lings be protected from the strong rays of the sun. Hot beds differ from cold frames in that they are artificially heated from below as well as being warmed by the sun’s rays. This is sometimes done by means of hot water or steam pipes or hot air flues; the usual method, however, is by the use of fermenting horse manure . The manure is collected with from 1 3 to l z its bulk of straw or dried leaves. It is then put into a pile 6 feet wide, 4 feet high and any desired length. If it is dry, it should be moistened with a fine spray; the manure should by no means be soaked. After 4 or 5 days steam will be given off, this shows that heating has begun. Now the pile must be turned. After it has heated through a second time, it should be put into the bed. The depth depends upon the climate, the season, and the crop. If a great amount of long-lasting heat is desired, put the material in to a depth of 2 or 3 feet. If growing a cool crop in spring, such as lettuce or radishes, the manure need not be deeper than 8 to 10 inches. Pack down with a fork when putting it in, but leave it a few days before treading. After it has again warmed up, thoroughly tread it. A layer, 5 to 7 inches, of finely sifted soil containing a large amount of sand and humus is put on top of the manure. After a few days the temperature will drop below to 90 degrees; and this is the time for sowing seeds and pricking out. The uses of the hot bed are innumerable. In it seeds are sown very early, so that large, vigorous plants can be set out early in the season. Tomatoes, egg-plants and peppers are treated in this way. Many other plants may be started in the hot bed, pricked out into a cold frame, and later planted out, thus obtaining a very early start. Lettuce and radishes are often grown and carried to maturity all winter in the hot bed. Hot beds are excellent for growing sweet potatoes and melons. Flowers may be started early in the year to be planted out later. A hot bed will take the place of a greenhouse to a certain extent with a much smaller outlay of capital; and will be found invaluable to the gardener. Great care must be exercised in managing a hot bed. The watering must be done judiciously. Water thoroughly when watering, but do not give an excess. Cultivation should follow as soon as the soil permits. Ventilation is a vital point—when the plants are overheated they will never recover. Too little air will make them soft and make them damp off. An entire lack of air will result in burning. On the other hand, do not chill the plants but watch the temperature to determine the amount to be given. Always give a little air on sunny days. A hot bed, like every other part of gardening, requires constant and careful attention but the pleasure and profit derived fully repay any expenditure of labor. 8 Ruth Anne Gerhard.

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porch boxes have been drafted into service. The sight of lettuce and radishes growing lustily in the front yard is a pleasant relief from the not uncommon combination of petunias and salvias. Three hundred home gardeners entered the garden contest and about one hundred and fifty vacant lot gardeners wished to compete. When the judges learned the number of visits they would have to make, they said, “Call us ‘slackers’ if you must, but how can we visit four hundred and fifty gardens?’’ But it has been clone. The prospects for more gardens in 1918 are very encouraging as already requests have been sent in for assignments for next year. Ruth LaGanke, Class of 1916. CONSERVATION OF COAL IN GREENHOUSES. The four greenhouses at Ambler used to burn a hundred tons of coal per season. Last year this amount was reduced to forty tons, whilst, at the same time, the income from the greenhouses was almost doubled. This happened before the days when economy was popular; but now we can tell to sympathetic ears how the feat was achieved and the coal bill for the greenhouses diminished to half. Just four very simple rules were followed: 1. Lower temperatures in the houses to the great improvement in color or scent and health of the plants. 2. Low fires on mild days and nights irrespective of the month these happen to occur. This was always a safe saver. 3. Keeping low fires in the morning even after cold nights when anticipating sunny days. 4. Early closing of the ventilators to retain the sun's heat when anticipating cold nights. Briefly then, in stoking, use the natural heat of the sun and thy intelligence. 10 Edna M. Gunnell.