850 V 6:3 ( COLLEGE OF J •^ i THE^NIOR AGRICULTURIST >\ Paper Issued Bi-Monthly for the Junior Gardeners of California by the Chico State Normal School at Chico, Cal. Admitted M Second Class Matter October 23, 1912 Vol. 6 Chico Cal., February-March, 1918 No. 3 Marking off row! JUNIOR GARDENEItS, ATTENTION! Have yuu started your home garden? If not, do not let another week pass without planting seeds. We are pleased if you have your garden under wax So far as growing plants is concerned, there are the following classes of boys and girls: (1) those who grow nothing, (2) those who start seeds and quit at the first setback, (3) those who overcome little problems and difficulties to bring their plants to harvest time. Of the three classes which do we admire the most? The "do nothing," the "quitter," or the "producer"? V^iA^nO.! 1 "0 U Jl^/a> nn Proper way to thin out plants. Fig. 2. PLANTING TABM Variety AsparaRiis (seed).. AsparaRiis (plants) Beans, bush Beans, pole Beets Brussels sprouts _. Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Corn Cucumber Dandelion Egg plant Horse-radish Kale Kohl rabi Leek Lettuce Muskmelon Watermelon Onion Parsley Parsnip Peas Pepper Potato, Irish Potato, sweet Pumpkin Radish Khubarb Rhubarb loots Salsify Spinach Squash Tomato Turnip Quantity of seed for 100 feet of row 1 oz. 50 About 1 lb. 8oz. 2 oz. i oz. (2 pkts.) i oz. (2 pkts.) 1 oz. i oz. i oz. (2 pkts.) IJ lbs. per 100 hills h oz. (2 pkts.) I oz. (4 pkts.) i oz. (1 pkt.) 70 roots 1 oz. (1 pkt.) 1 oz. (1 pkt.) h. OZ. h OZ. (3 pkts.) h oz. (3 pkts.) i OZ. i oz. 1 oz. (1 pkt.) i oz. (2 pkts.) 2 lbs. 1 oz. (1 pkt.) 5 lbs. 75 slips i oz. (2 pkts.) 1 oz. J oz. 33 plants 1 oz. 1 oz. h oz. (2 pkts.) k oz. (1 pkt.) i oz. (3 pkts.) General time of sowing where winters are cold Early spring _.__ .^M Early spring ^^P^ Late spring Late spring Spring Early spring Early spring Spring Early spring Spring (rather late) Late spring Late spring Spring Early spring in hot-bed.. ... Spring Spring Early spring Early spring ^ Early and late spring Late spring and early summer Late spring Early spring Spring Early spring Early and late spring Early spring in hot-bed Late spring Late spring Late spring . Spring, S. Spring Early spring Early spring Early spring and fall Late spring Early spring in hot-beds Spring and summer Adapted from O. O. Morse catalog. THOUSANDS of boys and girls joined the California Junior Gardening Club last year. Together they planted home and school gardens. Together they harvested the crop. We do not know what became of all the beets, carrots, radish, daisies, pansies, and the like. Plants were kept at home, others were sold, given to the poor, used at school luncheons, and so on. Some boys and girls made enough from their gardens to buy a bicycle, a watch, a wagon, a pair of skates, several rabbits and chickens. A garden plot skillfully worked will easily pay $25 for the season. Trv it. THE SCHOOL GARDEN. Urge your teacher to start a school garden for your class. Perhaps you like grammar, arithmetic, geography so well that you can spare no time to prepare a seed bed and plant a few flowers and vegetables, or it may be that your school yard is already filled with trees, shrubs and flowers. The Chico State Normal School has seeds to send you, and this paper is sent you free. We ask only that you plant and care for the seeds. VK4.KTA11LE.S. atwut San and Central llifornta April. T... April- t. 8 August, S nd. S >-July to Aug. July to Oct. 8 T. 15th to .Tun? 15th lunp I.. April. T u May M.ril July to Oct.. y-JuJy to Oct- March nd ii to June IK"-. to March Crop matures (ill illHfUt) "Garden culture" 'for hand cultivation Third spring Next spring -- Hy-GTt days 75 days, up «5 days, up 6 months JMK1.T0 days Early 110 days ,. 6 months ....~.-.. so-100 day* 120 days 6 months l«j days, up <* months — 45 days 4 months Lat? summer 65 days, up 1210-140 days .^^ 120-140 days 135-150 days Any tim? — 4 months .-..- K to 12 w?ek8 130-150 days July to September- ._ 100-125 days 30-45 days Second spring Next spring 5 months _ 40 to 45 days S. 65 and W. 15(» days 150 days 6(A75 days 1 3 i-2" 1-2" f-r r i-r r k' 1-2* r 4" v 1-2- l-r I" 2-4" r 4-8" 3- 1-2- I" i' 3-4* \—r 1-2* i-V Leave Put rows ;- planU •part i apart : In rows I'se the trench system In irrigatit 3 PREPARATION OF THE SEED BED. l*IaIU^ need air. food, moisture and warmth, just a.>> badly as you do. You must prepare your seed bed with these needs in mind. Spade and stir the soil well in order that air and warmth may enter and that plant food may become free for use. Work the soil thoroughly so that the tiny roots will touch the soil particles and yet have room to grow easily. Planting. Mark off your rows with string or the edge of a board. Carefully dig your seed trenches. Keep them straight. See the planting table for distances between rows, etc. Do not sow seed too close together. If you do there will be many a back- ache later as you thin out the young plants. Having sowed the seed, press the soil over the seeds by walking on a six-inch board placed over the row. This insures plenty of moisture and food for the tiny roots. Irrigation. Dig into the soil an inch or two. Press a handful of soil together. Open the hand. If the .soil particles cling together — if the indentations of the II fingers are left the soil does not need water. If the soil is dry beneath the top layer, irrigate. Figure 3 shows the right and the wrong way to irrigate. Use the trench method. The boy is in the right. The little girls knows better, but she was willing to pose for the picture. Thinning. Although we have warned you not to plant seeds too close together we are inclined to think you will still do so. At any rate, it will be necessary to thin out the little plants. Do this soon after the plants come up. See the plant calendar. Figure 2 shows the proper way. Stand astride the row and pinch out the weak plants. One must be particularly careful in thinning out beets, carrots and radish. If two plants stand close together they wind about each other. Harvesting and marketing. The harvest always rewards the faithful gardener. Here are some suggestions for the use of your school and home crop. Vegetables and flowers taken home. All their lives your parents have been doing their best for you. What have you done for them? Here is an opportunity. Take some of the best vegetables and flowers home as a gift. Sometimes parents wish to buy their vegetables from the school garden. If you sell to your parents, charge the regular price and be sure that your vegetables are worth what you charge. THE MARKET. With a few boards arrange a place for the display of the garden's output. Ask your friends to come to the market for their vegetables and flowers, and deliver your products. Again, be sure that your vegetables and flowers are worth the price. Good goods and "square" methods always pay. Some groceryman in your community might be glad to handle your output or rent 3^ou a portion of his window. THE SCHOOL LUNCH TABLE. In many schools there is a lunch room for the pupils, with a teacher in charge. A few flowers on the table would add to your enjoyment and we are sure that fresh, juicy vegetables would. THE DOMESTIC SCIENCE CLASS. The school board, if asked, would be glad to buy vegetables from you for the cooking class. GIVE TO THE POOR. A portion of your harvest might well be given to the needy. Why not have a big Thanksgiving and carry vegetables and flowers to those who need them most? A flower is always welcome. Think of your friends, and think of those who have no friends. People who make others happy are most happy. THE SCHOOL GARDEN LUNCHEON. Near the close of the term ask your teacher to let your class have a school garden luncheon. Prepare the vegetables and serve them as a class. Invite a few of your friends to partake of the luncheon. A nice menu card is a radish, turnip, or a beet done in water colors, afterwards cut out. Cornucopias made of paper and filled with flowers at each plate make a pleasing gift to the guests. EXHIBITS. During the term ask your teacher to set aside one afternoon for a flower and vegetable show, or have the exhibit on luncheon day. Invite your friends and have a flower souvenir for each. CONTESTS. Contests may be undertaken and prizes given by the state for the best flowers and vegetables. If so, enter the contest and try your best to win. i|