29G STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



daughters who flocked home at call, entertained the coni{)any with courteous 

 generosity, supplementing on the ample board at noon the contents of the 

 lunch baskets, sufficient though they were, with toothsome delicacies and sub- 

 stantials, and serving tlicm witli thoughtful care. 



After dinner the company gathered in the spacious parlors and after some 

 matters of business were disposed of, engaged in discussion, President Dumont 

 beinij in tlie cliair. 



Ciias. Manwaring said: The great drawback to successful farm gardens is 

 lack of time, as their contents require more attention than do farm crops, and 

 none but the owner will do the work properly; hired men will not doit. 

 First, a forcing bed is necessary to a good garden, to start plants early, that the 

 farmer's table may be supplied as soon as that df the city dweller. As soon as 

 the ground can be worked, plant seeds of the vegetables which are not hurt by 

 frost and !r>llow with others as the season advances. But without thorough 

 cultivation all else is of no avail. Every garden ^hould have its currant-patch 

 and its strawberries as well. Plants of the fatter sort set one year, cultivated, 

 and the runners kept back, will the next year produce plenty of berries. 



H. G. Buck: I have been, during my life, very successful at gardening, and 

 considered that my garden furnished half my living in summer, and the best 

 half. But now hens pull up the turnips, and what they miss of the cabbages 

 the worms eat up ; I have planted peas in hills and drills, and moles go under 

 and take every one, and finish up with the sweet corn ; the white grub takes 

 off the onions; of cucumbers and melons I get a few, but I have lost faith. 

 This year I got a few peas up and the rabbits took them. So I have had a quite 

 successful failure again. 



Mr. Manwaring: I put everything into long rows so as to use a cultivator, 

 and always have success. 



T. J. Strong: A good garden will afford half the family's living, but it is 

 almost impossible to get it. I remember when I only had to plant and culti- 

 vate to be sure of success, hue now the season is often bad and I have to war 

 against worms and bugs. Have tried squashes several years but failed until 

 last year, when I threw dry ashes on the plants as soon as they came up, and so 

 got a crop. 



One member had got a line crop of winter squashes among field corn. So 

 had another, but the bugs found them out the second season. Another said 

 last year squashes succeeded everywhere. 



Mr. Buck: Saltpeter water (a tables-poo nful to a pail of water), sprinkled on 

 the vines will kill squash and cucumber bugs, and solution of carbolic acid will 

 kill cabbage worms. 



S. P. Warner: Many plant too soon. Corn should not go in till the apples 

 bloom. For peas plow the ground in the fail, drag in the spring, plow a fur- 

 row, sow peas in it, turn a lurrow, and plant in the next one, roll down. They 

 are then in so deep that neither moles nor drouth will harm them. I plant all 

 in rows wide apart so as to cultivate with horses. Frequent hoeing and deep 

 cultivation are the secrets of successful gardening. 



M. T. Smith: If a plan can be hit upon by which farmers may have good 

 gardens it will be very important. I have the habit of going to the garden to 

 work alter supper, and find it real pleasure. If moles trouble in one spot move 

 to another. Tiie soil should be deep, rich, and mellow, plowed in the fall. 

 Whtfn the seed starts work has iust begun. Use hoe or rake as soon as the 

 sprouts appear. Have a fixed hour for garden work, either in morning or 

 evening or both. Wrap paper about tomato and cabbage plants and cut-worms 



