GROWING GARDEN CROPS. 163 



GROWING GARDEN CROPS. 

 Arnold Martin, in Nebraska Farmer. 



The purpose of the home garden is to give an abundance and variety 

 of food for the family table as well as for the market. There is no place 

 on the farm where a man can get as large returns for his labor and time 

 as in the garden. This is the place where every member of the family 

 may work more or less; and no one need be ashamed of it as long as they 

 get a living from it. 



Implements used in the working of the garden and the work itself 

 seem degrading to many people throughout the country today. This is 

 true especially among the younger people. To my mind, where children 

 are taught what to do with the earth and how to do it, it is as valuable 

 training as any we can give them. Before rural life will take a better 

 turn, labor, no matter what it is, should be held in morjs esteem. 



Even a garden implement should be looked at by every member in the 

 family as an implement of honorable and profitable and health-giving 

 industry. The impression that working in the garden is degrading has 

 led many away from the farm. To many people today work of any kind is 

 a burden. No home garden can be a success unless work is put on it. 



A well-kept home garden on the average farm or vacant city lot makes 

 life more pleasant and breaks the monotony of dwelling too much inside 

 of the house. That is why a garden should be located close to the house. 

 Either fence the chicken lot or the garden. On my farm I fence the 

 chicken lot. Then, if I want the chickens in the garden I can have them 

 there in short order. I let them out in the evening before they go to 

 roost, before and after the growing season. They can have all the range 

 they want. 



We have found that this pays on our small farm; on larger farms a 

 different system might be more profitable. In the fall and winter up to 

 New Year's, on the average farm, hens are on strike. In giving them a 

 fresh pasture in the fall, we get almost as many eggs as in the spring, 

 and sell them at a higher price. During the growing season we feed the 

 chickens over the fence what we can't use ourselves. The little chicks 

 can have the run of the garden to pick up worms and bugs. They won't 

 do any damage while small, and when they grow larger the fence won't 

 let them through. 



The home garden needs rotation just as much as any other part of the 

 farm. That is the reason I don't have a fenced garden, although if a 

 garden is fenced the space along the fence may be used for small fruit, 

 rhubarb, asparagus, horse radish, and winter onions. 



It is difficult for me to say how much land the home garden should 

 contain. The size of the family influences this, and also the care given 

 the garden, for some can get more out of a square foot than others out 

 of a square rod. If possible, have the garden patch longer than broad. 

 This means much in getting around with a horse. Plant the stuff in rows, 

 not in beds, for this will save a good deal of backache. 



