244 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



money, and if lie must procure the support of his family from 

 his farm, why not give them the most healthful and best as long 

 as it is the cheapest? 



Location of a Farm Garden. — The garden should be near 

 the house, so that it may be readily accessible and under the con- 

 stant supervision of the household. It ordinarily devolves upon 

 the housekeepers to gather its products from day to day as they 

 are wanted, and they do not always have time to go very far to 

 gather its products in time for dinner, and, if it is near by, a 

 great many leisure moments may be utilized in weeding and 

 taking care of it. It should be so enclosed with hedge or fence 

 that neither fowls or stock can enter it. It is not reasonable to 

 expect success if cattle occasionally break in and the poultry are 

 allowed a free range in it at all times, as their instinct leads them 

 to the freshly moved soil for some of their most essential food. 

 They will always scratch where not wanted to, and have a par- 

 tiality for the place where the gardener has formed his new beds 

 and planted his choicest seeds. 



Soil. — It is a mistake to suppose that some speciHc soil is in- 

 dispensable to success. Good gardens have been made on rocky 

 hillsides, on arid sand banks and on heavy clay soils. One of 

 the most successful market gardeners in the state, J. M. Smith, 

 of Green Bay, is located upon sandy ground, said to be lighter 

 and poorer in its natural state than the prairie of La Crosse. By 

 good cultivation and liberal manuring he is able to raise good 

 crops of the choicest vegetables and fruits, at a profit; but neither 

 rock, sand or heavy clay are desirable, and there are but few farms 

 in the west that cannot furnish us a better. A variety of soils 

 would be convenient, allowing us a dry, sandy place for the very 

 earliest vegetables, and one that is cooler and more moist for 

 cabbage, cauliflower and celery. The very best soil for all pur- 

 poses is a sandy loam which will work easy, dry off quickly after 

 a rain, and yet sufficiently retentive of moisture to withstand 

 drouth, and it should be brought into a high condition of fertil- 

 ity by deep plowing and liberal application of animal manures. 

 Where sand predominates, it will be benefited by the addition of 

 lime, ashes, and muck or peat. If too stiff a clay, it will become 



