An Agricultural Calendar

May

Given Lebanon's natural formation, it is difficult to draw up a general monthly agricultural calendar that can be relied upon. Each chapter of this study should therefore be divided into two parts: the first concerning the mountain regions, and the second the plains. Some modifications must also be made to this division according to the variety of altitudes and the seasons of the year.

We shall also treat of gardens — flower gardens and orchards — a matter that concerns individuals in the cities and their surroundings.

In the Flower Gardens

Coastal gardens: We assume that they contain flowers — that is, that they are already in order. It remains for their owner to water them three or four times a week. The soil must also be turned over repeatedly to remove harmful weeds, and it is essential to treat the roses with sulphur and nicotine to guard against the cotton disease and aphids (the sulphur is placed on a light rag and the rag is shaken over the roses); as for the nicotine, 40 or 50 grams of it are put into a tin of water and this water is sprayed on the plants.

Mountain Flower Gardens

They must be watered two or three times a week, and the ground must be turned over to remove the weeds. Plant in them zinnias, stock, verbena, marguerites, and carnations, and set also bulbs of dahlia, gladiolus, and petunia. Green plants intended for decoration inside the house should be planted in pots.

Vegetables

In the plains: In this season the time for planting has already passed. Where a vegetable garden is already in place, it must be watered two or three times a week and the earth hoed as described above. It is essential to watch for the insects and diseases that strike the crops, such as tomato scab; for this ailment there is a remedy called, in the French expression, (bouillie bordelaise), at the rate of 200 grams to a tin of water. As for the disease [...]

of the mole cricket (Courtillère), to treat it use crushed corn after soaking it six hours in water; pour off the excess water, knead the crushed grain with a quantity of (fluosilicate de baryum), and then scatter the said grain over the crops.

In the mountains: If the garden is not ready, you can put it in order now, for summer does not begin for another three months. Plant the vegetables from now on (tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, onions... string beans, chickpeas, parsley, cucumbers, squash). Water two or three times a week. Hoe the ground to destroy the weeds, and keep watch against diseases and insects.

Fruit

In the plains: As regards the citrus trees, one must wait for the end of flowering before hoeing the ground, to avoid the falling of the blossoms. The bananas should now be dressed with manure, and the cherries grafted.

In the mountains: As regards apples and pears, one must wait for the end of flowering before treating these trees with the following solution:

Water: one tin (that is, twenty liters)
Lead arsenate: 60 grams
Sulphur ready for solution: 100 grams
Cold lime: 120 grams

And you must spray them with this solution a second time after 15 days have passed.

Apricots are treated by spraying agricultural D.D.T. at the rate of 100 grams to a tin of water. As for the vine, it is treated like the roses (with sulphur).

General Remarks

Allow us, dear reader, to offer you this piece of advice:

After the day spent at your daily work, instead of receiving visitors or paying visits or moving from theater to cinema to café, would it not delight you to attend to your little garden — especially if you established it yourself? Such work is like a fruitful outing that exercises the muscles of your body and relieves your head of some of its worries and troubles. And if you cannot attend to your garden or orchard at that hour, you can go out early in the morning for this purpose.

And after you have worked the soil and watered it and settled among the flowers, you will feel the well-being of the body and the soundness of the mind. Summer is at the gates, and it calls you to attend to the farms and gardens in Lebanon's various summer resorts. Come, then, to the nurseries from now on, if you wish to delight yourself and your family with beautiful sights — with gardens and flowers.