220 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE ONION 



The onion is a subject well suited to the garden specialist. Its 

 requirements are a clean, well-tilled and prepared soil, early planting and 

 intense cultivation. The man who understands its nature and needs and 

 will give it the attention it deserves at just the right time can coin money 

 enough for his needs and to spare for himself and a family of children, who 

 should be his partners in this work. 



THE POTATO 



The potato is deserving the attention particularly of the man who 

 wants a specialty. It is a staple article of food that is popular with 

 Americans, whether they be Irish or otherwise. The man who can make 

 a "hit" in securing a crop of these tubers from year to year had better 

 stick to the business, even though he may suffer occasional partial failures. 

 There is a big, wide-open market for the potato right here at home, and at 

 the prices obtained for this product last year on the Lincoln market there 

 is sure to be an increased activity among our potato growers in its pro- 

 duction. Success with the potato depends largely upon the three factors 

 of soil, seed and cultivation. Special study should be given to the building 

 up and maintenance of soils adapted to potato production. 



THE FRONT YARD. 

 C. S. Harrison, York. 



The most important part of the farm is often the most neglected. 

 This should always give a favorable introduction to the whole place. 

 What would you think of a horse which had a perfect body and a fine silver 

 mounted harness if his head didn't match the rest of him? His face is 

 scarred, his ears are cropped, and he has on an old, worn-out bridle which 

 is in strange contrast to the rest of the harness. You would say the head 

 was not a fair introduction to the horse. Here is a palatial residence with 

 a tumble-down porch — that isn't fair. It is an offense to the public. It 

 pays to keep things in shape. 



A nurseryman, with some friends, rode by a place well adorned with 

 trees. It had just been sold for $16,000. An estimate was made of the 

 extra price it brought on account of the trees. After comparing notes the 

 opinion was that the trees added $2,000. "Yes," said the nurseryman, 

 "You are doubtless correct. Fifteen years ago he paid me $25 for those 

 trees." Pretty good interest on the money, was it not? While the house, 

 the barn, the fences, cribs, granary, and all other improvements begin to 

 depreciate as soon as completed, the ornamentals you plant begin to 

 increase in value. You take a couple of picea pungens — Colorado blue 

 spruce — they will cost you $5 a pair. Give them room to throw out their 

 branches in symmetrical form and they will grow into shapes of wondrous 

 beauty. There they stand, like sentinels on guard in that lawn of yours, 

 adorned in the most resplendent robes of mingled silver and sapphire. 



