Horticulture on the Farm. 27 



assists a housekeeper better in setting a good table than a good sup- 

 ply of fruits and vegetables. Potatoes everyone has, cabbages most, 

 but it is less common among farmers to have always on hand, beets, 

 turnips, salsify, celery and other roots; and if they have them, 

 they are too often kept in poor condition, and consequently laid 

 aside as worthless before the end of winter, and the owner takes 

 little pains another year to raise what has proved of so little value. 

 Good, airy cellars, and careful storing are essential in keeping 

 vegetables for family consumption. Good farmers will seldom 

 think of wintering their stock without some roots; and still we see 

 numerous families through our land, that have but few or no vege- 

 tables in winter, unless it be potatoes, cabbages or onions. I could 

 not raise a first class short-horn without some green food in winter, 

 and I would consider myself a beast if I undertook to raise my 

 children with less thoughtful care for their digestion, their growth 

 and permanent health than I gave my dumb brutes. 



Gardens must be cultivated, trees must be planted, pruned, 

 mulched and dug about; care and attention must be given. Noth- 

 ing can be had without these. One of the ways to make a farmer 

 poor is to purchase and plant fruit and ornamental trees, and by 

 planting flower and vegetable gardens and then not give them one- 

 half the care and attention required, with the expectation of first- 

 class fruit and vegetables, thus wasting their money, their time 

 and their seeds. It is not worth while to invest in anything that 

 you have not the time, the means or patience to properly care for. 

 Nurserymen, gardeners and professional horticulturists do not need 

 reminding of the proper season for performing the various oper- 

 ations on the fruit and vegetable grounds. Always on the alert, 

 they are ready to do everything at the most favorable moment. 

 We farmers must needs be mere amateurs, and as advice is best 

 received from one of our own class, I venture to say my little say, 

 for I feel that could I write what I do not know on my subject, it 

 would be a vastly better paper. "We cannot spend but a small por- 

 tion of our time in the garden or fruit } T ard, still there are many 

 hours and days that we maybe profitably employed in the yard and 

 garden with our help and not neglect the fields. There is no excuse 

 for not having a good garden. I have my opinion of any man that 

 has none. Wealthy men in our cities are not satisfied unless they 

 have fresh fruit and vegetables from their own grounds. People of 



