70 TRANS ACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS 



of any business except one, the nursery business, which we who 

 have tried, know needs more than the professions. 



The practice of gardening must necessarily vary much under dif- 

 ferent conditions of soil and climate, as also in our own State of 

 Illinois, Northern, Central and Southern, but some of the rules 

 laid down are of universal application. The production of a 

 garden the world over will depend very much on the rain-fall, 

 or artificial supply of water, and the judicious application of 

 manure and labor applied at the proper time. 



The Greeks borrowed their methods of gardening from the 

 Persians. In our day and age we have abundant opportunities 

 of borrowing ideas from a mixed race of people, from every civi- 

 lized quarter of the globe directly and indirectly through the 

 Horticultural Journals, from men who are born gardeners; from 

 men who are gardeners in name; from men who are gardeners 

 for the love of it ; and the little money and glory there is in it. 

 Every farmer should be a gardener to the extent of supplying 

 himself and family with healthy, life-giving, and life-sustaining 

 vegetables and small fruits. 



The pioneers in horticulture are true missionaries, and have 

 done good work in helping mankind in this particular. 



In treating this subject it is necessary to give directions for 

 starting right. If the new beginner cannot comply in every par- 

 ticular, let him come as near to it as possible so as to make a start. 



After selecting a good piece of ground convenient to the house, 

 make a liberal application of barnyard manure, ten to twenty two- 

 horse wagon loads per acre ; this should be spread as evenly as 

 possible over the intended garden and then broken up fine and 

 evenly scattered. Plow under to the depth of eight inches. 



A heavy clay soil will be benefitted by running a subsoil plow 

 in every furrow, that will loosen to the depth of four inches 

 without turning on top ; then drag the entire surface both ways 

 with an Acme pulverizer until it suits you, so that in early spring 

 it will be all ready to lay off and plant. 



During the winter months post yourself by every possible 

 means as to varieties adapted to your locality, avoiding the mis- 

 takes made by others, and making note of the success of your 

 neighbors. 



The next important step is to lay out your ground so that the 

 greater part of the la 7 ) or m cultivating can be done with tools at 

 your command at odd times, with one of the farm mules or 

 horses. Arrange for a "drive" also as hereafter stated for the 

 convenience of hauling and applying manure. 



A convenient length would be six hundred feet. Three rows 

 of strawberries this length should make an adequate supply for a 

 family of six persons. 



The ground, if possible, should be nearly level, with a fair sur- 

 face drainage. Plant your rows so as to run parallel north and 



