The Circle of Knowledge: A Classified, Simplified, Visualized Book of Answers

by Unknown

Their cultivation was even ancient in Peru. It was widely diffused from Chile to Colombia at time of Spanish discovery, but there were no evidences of culture in Mexico or by North American Indians. It was introduced into what is now North Carolina and Virginia late in the sixteenth century; taken to Europe first by the Spaniards early in the sixteenth century and to England by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. Sweet Potatoes are the thickened roots of Ipomoea Batatas, a climbing plant. This plant is extensively cultivated in most tropical countries, although not known in a wild state. The root contains much starch and saccharine matter. They are second only to the potato in the United States, being widely grown in the South—Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee producing over half of the total crop, which in acreage and value is about one-fifth that of the potato.

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a well-known plant, the root of which is a valuable salad; it has been cultivated from a remote period. It is now possible to have a supply the whole year round. Crisp, tender radishes with delicate flavor are only obtained by quick growth on rich, moist soil. The earliest crops are grown in frames on hotbeds, the crop being ready about five weeks from sowing. The earliest sowing outdoors can be made from December to February in sheltered sunny positions, the beds being covered with a thick layer of litter. There are round, oval and long-rooted varieties.

Tomato or Love-apple (Lycopersicum esculentum). The fruit of this plant is fleshy, usually red or yellow, divided into two, three or more cells containing numerous seeds imbedded in pulp. The tomato is one of a genus of several species, all natives of South America, chiefly on the Peruvian side. In the warmer countries of the United States, Europe and other countries in which the summer is warm and prolonged, it has long been cultivated for the excellent qualities of the fruit as an article of diet. The tomato is extensively grown as a field crop for canneries in the United States, and in the North is one of the chief winter-forcing crops. It is exceeded in acreage only by the watermelon and sweet corn among the minor vegetables. In the United States the crop exceeds thirty million bushels, nearly half of which is grown in Maryland and New Jersey.

Turnip (Brassica rapa). Although the turnip is of great value for feeding stock, it is not very nutritious, no less than nine to ninety-six parts of its weight actually consisting of water. One of the best early varieties is purple top strap leaf. Early flat Dutch is also good. The Swedish turnip, or ruta baga, which was introduced into cultivation from the north of Europe more recently than the common turnip, and has proved of very great value to the farmer, is regarded by some botanists as a variety of the same species, and by some as a variety of B. napus, but more generally as a variety of B. campestris, a species common in cornfields and sides of ditches in Britain and the north of Europe.

Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris). The most popular melon in cultivation, is extensively grown in warm climates throughout the world, but most abundantly in southern Russia and the southern United States. It leads all minor vegetables in acreage, being surpassed only by the major vegetables, potato and sweet potato. Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Missouri are the chief growers in the order named. Very anciently it was cultivated by Egyptians.

Yam (Dioscorea alata). Yams, the tubers of various species of Dioscorea, are cultivated in nearly all tropical countries. Yam tubers abound in farinaceous matter and often reach a large size. They resemble but are inferior to the sweet potato.

PLANTING TABLE FOR GARDEN VEGETABLES

Time given is for latitude of New York. Each one hundred miles north or south will make a difference of from five to seven days in the season. The distances given here indicate the distance apart the plants should stand after thinning. The seed should be sown much nearer together. Class A. These plants may be started early (in the greenhouse or hotbed, in early spring, or outdoors in the seedbed later), and afterwards transplanted to their permanent location. Class B. These crops usually occupy the ground for the entire season. Class C. These are quick maturing crops which, for a constant supply, should be planted at several different times in “succession”—a week or two weeks apart. Class D. These are crops which often may be cleared off in time to permit planting another quickly maturing crop, usually of some early variety. Class E. These crops are supplementary to those in Class D and may be used to obtain a second crop out of the ground from which early crops have been cleared.

Name and Variety	Time to Plant	Class	How to Plant and Care for
Asparagus (Plant).	April.	B	Plant 4 inches deep, at distance of 1 foot; in rows 3 feet apart; heavily manured, spreading the roots out evenly. Do not cut for use until second spring. Keep bed clean; cut off tops in the fall. Transplant third spring.
Asparagus (Seed).	April-May.	B	Seed 2 to 4 inches apart, in rows 15 inches apart; 1 inch deep.
Beans, Bush Lima. Burpee Improved.	March 15, under glass. May 1, outside.	B	Tender. Set out in May. Plant 2 inches deep in rows 2 feet apart.
Beans, Pole Lima. King of Garden.	May 15, outside. Ready in 10 weeks.	B	Tender. Plant 2 inches deep in hills 4 feet apart. Pinch off at 6 feet high. 1 pint of seed to 50 hills.
Beans, String. Bountiful. Hodson Wax. Bountiful. Hodson Wax. Bountiful. Hodson Wax. Bountiful.	April 15, outside. May 1, outside. May 15, outside. June 1, outside. June 15, outside. July 1, outside. July 15, outside. Ready in 6 weeks.	C	Tender. Plant 2 inches deep in rows 2 feet apart, 6 inches apart in row. 1 pint of seed to 75-foot row.
Beets. Eclipse. Crimson Globe.	March 1, under glass. April 15, outside. May 15, outside. June 15, outside. July 15, outside. Ready in 9 weeks.	A-D B-E	Transplant outside in April. Hardy. Plant 1 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart, 6 inches apart in row. Soak seed over night. 1 ounce of seed to 50 feet. Winter in sand or pits.
Brussels Sprouts. L. I. Half Dwarf.	March 15, under glass. May 1, under glass. Ready in 20 weeks.	A-E	Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart, 1 foot apart in row. 1 ounce of seed to 1500 plants. Hang in cellar for winter.
Cabbage. Copenhagen Market. Drumhead Savoy.	March 1, under glass. March 1, under glass. May 1, under glass. Transplant to garden. Ready in 18 weeks.	A-C	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 3 feet apart, 2 feet apart in row. Manure well. 1 ounce of seed to 2500 plants. Winter in pits upside down.
Carrot. Half-long Danvers.	April 1, outside. June 1, outside. Ready in 15 weeks.	C-B	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 11⁄2 feet apart, 6 inches apart in row. 1 ounce of seed to 100 feet. Winter in sand or pits.
Cauliflower. Dwarf Erfurt.	March 1, under glass. April 1, under glass. May 1, under glass. Transplant to garden.	A-C-E	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 3 feet apart, 2 feet apart in row. 1 ounce seed to 2500 plants. Manure well.
Chard. Lucullus.	April 15, outside. Ready in 8 weeks.	...	Hardy. Plant 1 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart, 1 foot apart in row. 1 ounce of seed to 50 feet.
Celery. Golden Self-blanching. Fin de Siecle.	March 1, under glass. April 15, under glass. Ready in 18 weeks.	A-E	Hardy. Set out in May. Barely cover. Rows 3 feet apart, 1⁄2 feet apart in row. Rich, moist soil. Transplant twice. 1 ounce of seed to 3000 plants. In August bank up to blanch. Winter in pits.
Corn. Golden Bantam. Evergreen. Country Gentleman. Mexican. Country Gentleman.	April 1, under glass. April 15, outside. May 1, outside. May 1, outside. May 15, outside. June 1, outside. June 1, outside. June 15, outside. July 15, outside. Ready: Early 9 weeks. Ready: Late 11 weeks.	B-E	Tender. Set out in May. Plant 2 inches deep in rows 4 feet apart, 2 feet apart in row. Manure and remove suckers. 1 quart of seed to 200 hills.
Cucumber. Cool and Crisp.	March 15, under glass. May 1, outside. June 1, outside. July 1, outside. Ready in 9 weeks.	A-B	Tender. Set out in May. Plant 1 inch deep, 4 feet apart. 1 ounce of seed to 50 hills.
Endive.[133] Green Curled.	July 1. Ready in 8 weeks.	A-E	Hardy. Plant in rows 2 feet apart, 1 foot apart in row. 1 ounce of seed to 100-foot row. Transplant to dark cellar to blanch for winter.
Eggplant. Black Beauty.	March 1, under glass, with good heat. Transplant to garden. Ready in 15 weeks.	A-B	Very tender. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 3 feet apart, 2 feet apart in row. Rich and moist soil. 1 ounce of seed to 1000 plants. Store dry for late fall use.
Kale. Dwarf Scotch. Siberian.	May 15, under glass. Transplant to garden like cabbage. July 1, outside. Ready in 20 weeks.	E	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart, 1 foot apart in row. 1 ounce of seed to 200 feet. Mulch for winter.
Lettuce. May King.	March 1, under glass. March 15, under glass. Outside every 2 weeks to Sept. 1. Ready in 6 weeks.	C	Hardy. Plant 1⁄4 inch deep in rows 11⁄2 feet apart. Rich soil. 1 ounce of seed to 3000 plants. Shade and water in summer.
Muskmelon. Emerald Gem. Osage. Early Hackensack.	May 1, outside. May 1, outside. May 1, outside. Ready in 6 weeks.	A-B	Plant 1 inch deep in hills four feet apart. Pinch off ends of shoots. Make special soil of sand and manure. 1 ounce of seed to 50 hills.
Watermelon. Cole’s Early. Halbert Honey. Cole’s Early. Halbert Honey.	May 1, outside. May 1, outside.	B	Tender. Plant 1 inch deep in hills 6 feet apart. Make special soil of sand and manure. Pinch off ends of shoots. 1 ounce of seed to 30 hills.
Onion. Yellow Danvers. Prizetakers.	April 1, plant sets. Seeds April 15, outside. Seeds April 15, outside. Ready in 18 weeks from seed.	A-B	Hardy. Plant seeds 1⁄2 inch deep; sets 2 inches deep in rows 2 feet apart. 1 ounce of seed to 150 feet. Dig and dry for winter. 1 quart sets to 100 feet.
Parsley. Triple Curled.	April 15, outside. Ready in 8 weeks.	B	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart, 6 inches apart in row. Soak seeds over night. Seeds are slow to start. 1 ounce of seed to 150-foot row.
Parsnip. Hollow Crown.	April 15, outside. Ready in 15 weeks.	B	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 11⁄2 feet apart. Seeds start slowly. 1 ounce seed to 200 feet. Winter in place or in pits. Improved by frost.
Peas. Thomas Laxton. Juno. Telephone.	April 15, outside. May 1, outside. May 1, outside. May 15, outside. June 1, outside. June 15, outside. July 1, outside. July 15, outside. Ready in 8 weeks.	B-E	Hardy. Plant early varieties 4 inches deep and late varieties 3 inches deep. Early in double rows and late in rows 3 feet apart. Moist soil. 1 quart of seed to 150 feet.
Pepper. Chinese Giant.	March 1, under glass. Set out in May. Ready in 20 weeks.	A	Very tender. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart. Start in good heat. Hang in cellar for winter.
Potatoes. Noroton Beauty. Gold Coin.	April 1 (early). May 1 (early). May 15 (main crop). Ready in 12 weeks.	B	Plant early varieties 2 inches deep, and late varieties 5 inches deep in rows 3 feet apart. 1 peck to 100-foot row. 8 or 10 bushels to acre. Sprout before planting.
Pumpkin. Winter Luxury.	May 15, outside. Ready in 15 weeks.	B	Tender. Plant 6 feet apart. Manure. 1 ounce of seed to 50 hills. Winter warm and dry.
Radish. French Breakfast.	March 7, under glass and every 2 weeks. Ready in 4 weeks.	C	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep. 1 ounce of seed to 100 feet. Soil light and rich.
Rhubarb (Plant).	April.	B	Set out root-clumps at distance of 2 to 3 feet, in rows 3 to 4 feet apart. Give them dressing of bone meal and soda in the spring.
Salsify. Mammoth Sandwich Island.	April 15, outside. Ready in 18 weeks.	B	Hardy. Plant 1⁄4 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart. 1 ounce of seed to 100 feet. Winter in place or in pits.
Spinach. Victoria. New Zealand.	April 1, outside. April 15, outside. May 1, outside. May 1, outside. June 1, outside. Sept. 1, outside. Ready in 5 weeks.	A-B-E	Hardy. Plant 1 inch deep in rows 11⁄2 feet apart. 1 ounce of seed to 200 feet. Very rich soil. Winter under straw cover.
Squash.[134] Crookneck. Delicata. Early Golden Custard. Crookneck. Hubbard.	March 15, under glass. May 15, outside. May 15, outside. May 15, outside. Ready in 7 weeks. May 15, outside. Ready in 15 weeks.	B	Tender. Plant 1 inch deep, 4 feet apart. Hubbard 6 feet apart. Winter warm and dry. 1 ounce of seed for 25 hills. For Hubbard make special soil of sand and manure.
Tomato. Earliana. Crimson Cushion.	March 1, under glass. April 1, under glass. Set out in May. Ready in 18 weeks.	B-A	Tender. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 3 feet apart, 3 feet apart in row. Keep hotbed cool. Pinch off side shoots. 1 ounce of seed to 2000 plants. Hang in cellar for early winter.
Turnip. Early Milan White.	April 17, outside. June 15, outside. Ready in 9 weeks.	C	Hardy. Plant 1⁄2 inch deep in rows 11⁄2 feet apart. 1 ounce of seed to 200 feet. Winter in pits.