STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51) 



buying the new-fangled tools, if he listens to the oily tongues of 

 the brazen-cheeked agents, and as for trees and shrubs, he must 

 buy them, to get rid of the persistent, prevaricating, persuading 

 peddler. But a "Kitchen Garden,'' he can neither buy, beg, 

 nor borrow. He must make it himself. I own, it is pretty hard 

 for some of us, who have almost learned to buy everything and 

 sell everything, except the farm. 



When I say "he must make it himself," I mean to be under- 

 stood literally. I would not exclude the wife or mother, for she 

 is part of the farmer, and generally has nothing else to do in the 

 spring and summer times. I have seen excellent Kitchen 

 Gardens that owed their good looks to the mother, from the 

 time the plow left the soil. This makes me think that Kitchen 

 Gardens are like children, who generally owe their good looks, 

 whether of form, feature or clothes, to the same good woman. 

 This makes me think, too, that children, one's own I mean, are 

 good things to have in the Kitchen Garden. But I would as 

 soon have the bull or the turkeys in mine as the ordinary "hired 

 man"; he's no good. One's own children can be utilized and 

 educated, at the same time, in the Garden. 



The Garden must be near the house, where the owner will see 

 it many times a day, and often improve the waiting moments. 

 It must be enclosed, at any rate, a part of it. It must be well 

 manured every year. 



It should face the south and it should not have any trees near 

 it. It should contain, for the ordinary farmer's family, about 

 one-fourth of an acre. After plowing the work will be done 

 with hand tools mostly. If you wish to have a garden next 

 year start now. In our stiff clay soils, several day's time in the 

 spring can be gained by throwing with the plow the soil into 

 narrow ridges, say two furrows on each side, and giving surface 

 drainage to the dead furrows so formed. 



Just as soon as the soil will work kindly, in my vicinity about 

 the middle of March, I plant the Extra Early smooth peas, fol- 

 lowing them at intervals with American Wonder and Champion. 

 At the same time set out onion seedling sets, and plant salsify. 

 This has been my first installment of work for twenty- three 

 years. I do not advise the making of hot beds as profitable for 

 any ordinary farmer, but as a means of education for children it 

 is not surpassed. I learned much myself in this way, and have 

 found no trouble in interesting my children in their care. But 

 financially it is better to buy plants. For two dollars I can se- 

 cure all the early plants of every thing I need. I mention cab- 

 bage, cauliflower, tomato and sweet potato plants as needful for 

 every one. Beets, turnips and carrots will do well enough 

 planted out doors. It will not do to hurry the planting of any of 

 the bean family, as they are sensitive to cold and are stunted in 



