Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. VI St. Louis, Mo., April, 1918 No. 4 
THE ECONOMIC GARDEN 
One of the most popular, interesting, and instructive of the 
outdoor gardens is the economic garden, so named because 
of the material grown there. The value of this garden lies 
in the educational features embodied in its various sec- 
tions, giving the city-dweller a comprehensive idea of the 
manner in which various economic plants are grown, as well 
as setting forth possibilities that may well be incorporated 
in his own home grounds. 
This tract, about two acres in extent, 1s oval-shaped, di- 
vided from east to west through the center by a rough stone 
walk, bordered with birch which will eventually form a 
pleached alley. At the upper or south end, on either side 
the central walk, are located beds of farm crops, vegetables, 
savory herbs, bee plants, ornamental grasses, and lawn 
— The north end is divided into three terraces. The 
rst comprises four ideal back-yard garden arrangements ; the 
next is devoted to hedges of various sorts, as well as dwarf 
=e small fruits; and a medicinal garden occupies the last 
errace. 
At either end of the garden is a circular pool. The cen- 
tral north-and-south walk is lined throughout its oo. 
with trained fruits, while the outer border consists of trellis 
work supporting numerous hardy and tender vines. A cut- 
flower border surrounds the entire garden, which in turn is 
screened off from the main garden by a thick border planta- 
tion of trees and shrubs. 
Farm Crops.—The plots in this section are mainly sam- 
ples of crops to be grown upon a large acreage and used as 
staple articles of food or in the manufacture of economic 
products. Several crops are of such unusual interest as to 
require special mention, such as Mandan corn, teosinte, pea- 
nut, Australian salt bush, and beggarweed. 
Mandan corn is described as the earliest-fruiting corn 
known and one which withstands drought, cold, and neglect. 
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