114 The Bulletin. 



to make and maintaiu. a good vegetable garden. The farmer used to large 

 areas of general farm crops feels that he is stooping from his dignity or is 

 wasting his time when he undertakes anything so small as he imagines the 

 vegetable garden to be; consequently, he plows it, perhaps, and leaves the 

 planting and tilling to the "women folk." As a matter of fact, there is not 

 on the farm a piece of land of the same area, the profit of which approaches 

 anywhere near to that of the vegetable garden. Farmers' Bulletin 255, United 

 States Department of Agriculture, says upon this sub.iect : "From careful 

 observation, the statement can safely be made that a well-kept garden will 

 yield a return ten to fifteen times greater than would the same area if de- 

 voted to general farm crops." Besides, the fact that there can be had at a 

 minute's notice a bountiful supply of fresh, clean vegetables is a value that 

 cannot be reckoned in dollars and cents. 



The great question of keeping the boy and girl on the farm would be more 

 than half solved if people would only realize the important part the vegetable 

 garden plays in this regard. It is hardly likely that too much attention can 

 be given the vegetable garden ; for the rapid growth of southern cities and 

 towns and the growing popularity of the southern summer and winter resorts 

 are constantly increasing the demand for good garden vegetables of all kinds ; 

 hence, if the gardener has a surplus, he or she can find a ready market for it. 



The essential things to be considered in discussing the home vegetable gar- 

 den are : location ; planning ; preparation and cultivation ; fertilization ; equip- 

 ments. 



In locating the garden, the question of its proximity to the house is of vast 

 importance; for naturally most of the work is done during spare moments 

 that could not be taken advantage of if the garden were located a half-mile 

 from the house. Too often it is the case that all the gathering and most of 

 the work are done by the housewife. Even where the work is done by the 

 man. the woman, having to do the gathering, goes back and forth between the 

 house and the garden many times during the year ; and many times she has 

 to carry with her a child or two. All these things tend to add to the work 

 of the already overburdene<l housewife, which condition could be materially 

 improved by exercising a little care and forethought. 



Other things being equal, the general lay of the land determines to a con- 

 siderable extent the earliness of the garden crops. Well-drained land sloping 

 _ently to the south or southeast is preferable for the production of early 

 crops. Wind-barriers, such as hills, woods, hedges, buildings, etc., on the 

 north and northwest, produce very much the same effect. If none of these 

 are so located that they can be taken advantage of, a tight board fence will 

 answer the purpose, and at the same time act as a safeguard against farm 

 animals and poultry. Choose a location that is well drained or bring it to 

 this condition after it has been chosen. None of the vegetables will tolerate 

 "wet feet." In many cases it will pay a hundred per cent to tile drain the 

 garden. 



It is a serious mistake, which, however, is often practiced, to wait till 

 planting time to begin to plan the garden. The rainy da.ys in winter could be 

 advantageously utilized for this purpose. A diagram showing the location of 

 the various iu'osi)ective crops is indispensable for a well-arranged garden. A 

 plan of this kind will save nnich trouble and vexation in the future. It is 

 imi)ossible to olitain the most pleasure and profit for the time, labor, and 

 money expended unless the garden has been carefully and .iudicipusly planned. 



If circumstances will i)ermit, make th§ rows long, thereby s'aviug time in 

 turning and economizing land — and incidentally sparing temper and the horse's 

 hide. Grow vegetables in rows long enough and wide enough to permit cultiva- 

 tion by horse and wheel-hoe. If the rows are very long, it may be necessary to 

 plant more than one kind of vegetable in the same row, in which case it is 

 exceedingly important that the plants are compatible — that is, require the 

 same general treatment and practically the same growing season. For exam- 

 ple, salsify and parsnips would be an ideal comI)ination. while parsnips and 

 lettuce would be a very faulty pair. The perennials, such as asparagus, rhu- 

 barb, etc., should be planted at one side whore they will not interfere with 

 the plowing and tilling of the other crops. The larger growing plants, as 



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