Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 233 



early spring vegetables. I have only a small plot of ground in town, 

 and, of course, use all of it. I use the fence on all sides for my bean 

 poles, and as fast as one vegetable is used I put another in its place. 



HOW TO MAKE A GARDEN SERVE THE TABLE THE 



WHOLE YEAR. 



(Mrs. Samuel "W. Ravenel, Old Franklin, Mo.) 



In every vocation of life, in every feature of economics, whether 

 governmental, commercial, social or domestic, economy is the 

 recognized sheet-anchor of success. The government recognizes 

 it, the contractor or tradesman pays close attention to it, each re- 

 garding it as an absolutely necessary attribute of a successful re- 

 sult. Then why should not the careful and practical housekeeper, 

 the only true home maker, also recognize and practice a like prudent 

 management in the affairs over which she is sole mistress and on 

 which the economic welfare of her household depends? She un- 

 doubtedly should, and the very initial point, the one that most 

 particularly concerns her, is the relation of the vegetable garden 

 to the home, the pantry, the kitchen, and finally, in the natural 

 course of events, the table. It is at the table where the members 

 of all well-regulated families meet for pleasure and refreshment 

 three times in every twenty-four hours — first, as the morning sun 

 rises to remind man of his daily toil and to fit him for its duties ; 

 again, as twelve times the brazen tongue of time tolls the hour, to 

 refresh him in his allotted task ; and again, as the vesper bell speaks 

 the evening hour, to reward him for a well-spent day and to fit 

 him for his well-earned eight hours of rest. Thus is carried out 

 the proverbial eight hours for rest and recreation, eight hours for 

 toil and labor and eight hours for sleep and the natural recuperation 

 of one's energies. 



And now comes the economy of the garden, and how it affects 

 the economics of the home, especially the table. 



In the first place, the garden must be arranged with a view 

 to utilizing the beneficial effects of the rays of the sun, a twin 

 necessity with soil fertility, the two God-given helps to the garden, 

 in order that the growing plants may get the quickest and richest 

 benefits of its life-producing light and warmth. 



As a general rule, the rows should run north and south, as most 

 of the rays during the day will then shine into and permeate to the 

 roots of the plants as needed for sprouting, and then later for pro- 



