REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 295 



then be nearly filled from a pile of fresh horse manure and leaves, two to one 

 (previously piled up to heat), well mixed and trodden down, and when the 

 violent heat of fermentation has subsided to, say 90°, put on fire or six inches 

 of rich soil, and sow seed. After this, great pains should be paid to watering, 

 admitting air during the day, and covering the sash at night till the plants are 

 transplanted. 



A paper was next read by Mr. Doney on a selection of the best twelve vege- 

 tables for the family garden, which he made as follows, with some remarks 

 about each vegetable on the list: Asparagus, rhubarb, beans, peas, 

 potatoes, onions, pumpkins, tomatoes, squash, melons, celery, and cabbage. 

 He would have more in his garden, but these would be his selection if limited 

 to twelve. Some varieties were recommended : Of peas, McLain's Little 

 Gem, Champion of England, Saxton's Alpha, Early June; of cauhliower. 

 Early Paris and Early Erfurt; and of celery, Boston Market, or other dwarf 

 sort. 



A paper written by Geo. Sawyer, of Grass Lake, was read by the secretary 

 (Mr. S. not being present) on 



FARM YARDS AND GARDENS. 



As we pass through the country in this part of the State (which, by the way, 

 is the very garden of Michigan), how forcibly are we impressed with the differ- 

 ence in the way in which farmers care for their farms, yards, and gardens ! 

 On the one side they seem to think they cannot spend too much labor, or take 

 too much pains, to have their farms look well, and really vie with each other 

 as to who shall have the best cultivated, and consequently the best-looking 

 farms. While upon the otlier hand there is directly the opposite feeling mani- 

 fested — yard rough and neglected, with no garden worth mentioning. Who can 

 pass by a nicely-kept yard, in connection with a fine vegetable and flower garden, 

 without exclaiming how pleasant, how home-like, no matter how humble the 

 dwelling? But there are so few of these in the country that you can ride mile 

 after mile, through the very best and riciiest part, without passing a single 

 well-kept yard and garden. The idea seems to prevail very largely among 

 farmers tliat time spent in caring for anything more than a potato and cabbage 

 patch in the way of a garden is time thrown away; at the same time, a great 

 majority of them will spend more time in town than would care for a beautiful 

 garden, which would add so much toward making home pleasant and attractive 

 for their families, and, at the same time, cast a refining influence over their 

 children that would not forsake them during their entire lives. And right 

 here let me say that there is a feeling quite prevalent among farmers that 

 they are compromising their dignity by working in the flower garden or with 

 the lawn mower. This is all wrong, and our society should be the means of 

 correcting such improper notions. The vegetable garden that the family can 

 run to and gather at will is a great convenience, and there is no measuring the 

 comfort derived from it. 



In my vegetable garden I would have all the staple varieties, from the aspar- 

 agus that comes so early, and is so welcome after the long winter, to the celery 

 that is dug in the fall and transplanted in the cellar for winter use. It is not 

 necessary to raise a large amount of these things; a well-selected variety, and a 

 little of each, will supply any ordinary family, and it is so easily done, too, 

 that a few minutes each day, or an hour now and then, as the case may be, 

 will suffice to grow all that is needed. A very small amount of labor will give 

 a family a constant supply of fine, crisp radishes simply by making a bed of 



