60 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



their growth, if not actually killed by it. I would advise a pretty 

 early planting of the small sweet corn, to be followed about two 

 weeks later with the larger, better varieties. Of course weeds 

 are not allowed and the soil must never be allowed to crust over 

 by heat. In the corners of the garden where the plow will not 

 reach, you can profitably have a few ever-growing onions, 

 spinach, sweet herbs and horse radish for the family. Of course 

 these ways will be ridiculed by the professional market gardener, 

 but it is none of his business as he is not compelled to follow us. 

 What would be wise and profitable for him would be folly and 

 extravagance for us, and vice versa. 



Although we cannot hurry up the planting of the beans we 

 must not neglect them. The bush beans for early, and for late 

 the genuine lima. We have tried some of the so-called "im- 

 proved varieties," but have, after trial, been compelled to go 

 back to our first love, the old large lima. It is on this plant that 

 you may exercise your patience, ingenuity and skill. I have 

 secured a good stand by gently helping the baby beans to the 

 light of this world, with my knife gently loosening the soil 

 around the swollen seed leaves so that they could open them- 

 selves to the sun, and even removed the tough skin for the same 

 purpose. Then, too, the average young lima bean will need 

 several lessons before he can succeed in climbing; and I have 

 even been compelled to lash him to the stake, once taught he 

 climbs hand-over-hand. Don't let more than three plants grow in 

 a hill, otherwise you will have a crop of all vines. I don't know 

 w T hat to say about late cabbage. For the last few years- the 

 worms have made cabbage life a burden. Paris green will kill 

 them, but it must be faithfully applied early and late. 



I wish to include among the indispensables Khubarb and 

 Asparagus. The former, to do well, will ask for the whole 

 manure heap, and the latter will not be willing to divide the 

 aforesaid heap. But for the former, it can be helped by re-set- 

 ting and dividing, and the latter, by giving plenty of room for 

 the plants. This last, you need make but once in a lifetime. 

 I know beds in continual use for more than forty years, 

 and have one myself almost twenty years old, and still doing 

 well. 



This is about all I want to write. I hope some of you will be 

 foolish enough to ask questions. A nice old gentleman did this 

 last year, but he died, or will, die after it. 



As I close, a vision of green, soft things comes up before me, 

 beautiful to behold, but still more beautiful to realize, minister- 

 ing not only to fleshly appetite, but invigorating the senses, and 

 causing us to render grateful thanks to God, the Giver. I have 

 said it could not be bought, begged, nor borrowed, and I now 

 believe its value cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. You 



