Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 237 



deep. Mark its outside measurement on the ground and then 

 excavate this space twelve inches deep on the west side and six 

 inches deep on the east side, so that when the frame is put in it will 

 have the desired slope. It is then prepared with stable manure in 

 the usual way. 



The hotbed last year gave us all the cabbage, cauliflower and 

 tomato plants we needed, and we gave plenty away to our neighbors. 

 Besides this, it gave us early lettuce and radishes in the spring and 

 the same late into the winter. 



Do not think this garden has been all smooth sailing and en- 

 couragement, for it has had its usual backsets and dark days. In- 

 sects have been our "bugbear;" they have attacked us by daylight 

 and by dark, while we were asleep and they awake and at work, 

 and have been fought by every device known to bug warfare — in 

 front, on the flank and in the rear, and it has been only by the 

 most strenuous and constant fighting with them that we have at 

 times saved such vegetables as simlins, cucumbers, cabbage and 

 other plants subject to the bug attacks, which practically includes 

 the entire list, but especially the vine or running plants. This is 

 a puzzling feature of gardening to beginners, but our experience is 

 that it "stumps" the oldest of them. 



No information, as is sought to be imparted in this article, is 

 replete unless an approximate cost data accompanies it. It at 

 least makes it more intelligible and useful. 



The seed for this garden, including the three bushels of Irish 

 potatoes, cost $10.60, while the labor was done by members of the 

 family in the early morning and late evening hours. But to bring 

 it to a money cost, we believe that the time of one good man a half 

 day each week, at $1.50 per day, would cover it fully, or about $15 in 

 money, making a total cost of $25.60. 



Now what is the credit side against this expenditure for 

 $25.60? An abundant supply of fresh vegetables all summer for a 

 family of eight; a winter's supply of potatoes and root vegetables 

 in the cellar, and on our pantry shelves a winter's supply of the 

 following canned vegetables: Asparagus, spinach, lambs-quarter^ 

 peas, beans, corn (cut and on the ear), okra, tomatoes, pieplant, 

 eggplant, cauliflower, beets, Swiss chard, simlins, and okra and 

 tomatoes for soup. 



The supply of root and canned vegetables, the result of this 

 garden, could hardly be bought at retail for less than seventy-five 

 dollars. 



