^34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



only from horticulture, as in this it is frequently seen that either less 

 or more labor than is necessary is applied when ordinary results are 

 expected. 



It is but a short time since an experienced and successful fruit 

 grower said that he failed oftener, when pressing farm work was on 

 hand, to obtain a full crop of fruits, from lack of culture than any 

 other cause. Not only of fruit growing is this too frequently the 

 the case, but in the failure of other products, if the real cause were 

 traced to its source. 



A careful observation of the way some farmers, as well as many 

 persons having a parcel of land manage a private garden, will seldom 

 fail to show this. The preparations may be correct as to fertilizers, 

 properly added to the soil, plowing, planting and care at the start, 

 weeding in due time, but soon other duties call the would be gardener 

 away just at the very time the crops most need his attention. He 

 may be aware of this but at the same time he thinks this work can 

 be put off till to-morrow, to-morrow comes and some other duties call 

 him away again, and thus circumstances come and go until he finds 

 procrastination to be the thief of time, and what would have taken 

 but a few hours to do at the proper time, now, takes perhaps as many 

 days, not to speak of the loss by the injury done in the meantime, 

 to the crop, which can never be fully regained no matter how good 

 the after-care may be, and instead of seeing his table regularly and 

 abundantly supplied in their season with wholesome, palatable, and 

 health giving vegetables and fruit, fresh from the garden, he has to 

 be content with seeing it set with salt pork, potatoes, boiled cabbage, 

 hash for a variety, and mush for a change, or buy the garden vege- 

 tables and fruit, which as a rule, means that he and his family will 

 be without them half of the time. 



Too often the garden is neglected to such a degree, that instead 

 of being — as all kitchen and fruit gardens should be — a source of 

 health, profit, and pleasure, the crops are smothered by weeds. The 

 soil having been well plowed and fertilized the previous season, is 

 conducive to their growth, to ripen an abundant supply of seed and 

 in tarn give more work for next season. Par better had such a 

 deplorable piece of ground called garden, been seeded to grass than 

 be a loss to the owner and an eye-sore to the public. 



As gardeners are also either farmers or have some other calling, 

 and other pressing work is on hand, pressing garden work may also 

 be on hand, either one, or the other, or both must be partly neglected. 

 It will be seen that often the real cause of failure, is undertaking 

 more work than can be properly done. Since experienced horticul- 

 turists realize the fact that most failures come from lack of culture 

 let us for a moment stop and listen to what the most successful hor- 

 ticulturists have to tell us about this matter. 



" The commercial gardener, from the keen competition ever going 



