SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 41? 



I would not know how to do without a garden. How nice in harvest time, 

 when the men come to the house tired and warm, to have some nice, cool water- 

 melons for them to eat, and how much nicer fruit is for dessert than a greasy 

 lard pie. One feels refreshed after eating fruit, but never after partaking of 

 pie. The average farmer has to work very hard, and there is no reason for his 

 denying himself the few little comforts to be had from a garden. But some 

 people seem determined not to see anything beautiful or enjoy any of the many 

 good things in this world. They go through life with their eyes shut to any- 

 thing like pleasure ; they see mammon and nothing else: that is their god. — 

 C. in Post and Tribune. 



PLAN FOR FARMERS GARDEN. 



I designate it " farmer's garden" for it is not supposed that city people can 

 have the room aud conveniences which I shall describe for managing it on my 

 plan. First, I don't believe in having a set aud permanent enclosure for the 

 garden, if it can be avoided ; so I would use for garden purposes any good 

 strip of land near the house bordering on the lawn, if possible, and enough of 

 it to have, say, two-thirds lying to grass, and one-third in use for vegetables 

 each year, following the rotation of a three-years' course, having the ground 

 well seeded to orchard grass and clover, and plowing one-third each year so as 

 to plant on a fresh turned turf worked down to a fine seed bed, which it is well 

 known is not inclined to be weedy the first year. Then seed this down aud 

 take another fresh two-years-old, clean turf, following in this regular three-year 

 course for planting, and mowing the balance. Then the tillage, if properly 

 managed, can be done about as easily as in a large farm lot, mostly with horse 

 and cultivator, as for corn or potatoes. To do this I use a piece of land (as 

 above described) or take similar land that may be fitted near by, for a planted 

 field, mark it out as for potatoes, then do all the planting in these rows; or in 

 case of vines use every other row, and go through it as often as once a week, or 

 ten days; then by using a hoe, or light garden rake, the farmer's garden can 

 be managed with complete success. — H. Ives, in Practical Farmer. 



CELERY. 



Those who know celery only in its rare state lose half the enjoyment of that 

 excellent vegetable. Cut up in small pieces, boiled until tender, then seasoned 

 by adding milk, butter, and salt to the water in which it is cooked, it makes a 

 delicious dish, toothsome for anybody, and especially good for persons afflicted 

 with weak nerves. The parts not sufficiently blanched or tender to eat raw 

 may be utilized in this way. 



THE ORIGIN OF THE TOMATO. 



Many Americans think that the luscious tomato had its origin in this 

 country, because it is so fiealy used here, and that it has become quite recently 



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