144 MINNEAPOLIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Dedicate an acre of the best land on the farm, near the house 

 buildings, to the garden, making the same 10x16 rods. Enclose this 

 with a good pig-proof fence; outside of this an evergreen hedge. 

 As I propose to establish a three year's rotation, divide it into three 

 equal fields, each 3V^ rods wide. The first season plant one field to 

 sweet corn, one to potatoes or some root crop, one to vegetables. 

 Sow common red clover with the sweet corn the last time it is culti- 

 vated, and this is quite sure to grow. The stalks should remain 

 standing in the ground to protect the clover during the winter and 

 early spring. 



The second season the potatoes will be dropped out, except a few 

 early ones. The sweet corn, which should b^ of several varieties, 

 from extra early to the latest, will be planted where vegetables were 

 grown last season (sow clover seed with the corn as before), the 

 vegetables to follow potatoes. The clover should be plowed down 

 in June when in full bloom, and this field be cultivated or 

 harrowed occasionally during the summer to sprout and destroy 

 all weed seeds in the soil, and at the same time make the soil condi- 

 tions most favorable for the vegetables next season. This is better 

 than a summer fallow. Any field to be used for a root crop the 

 next year should be prepared by this method. It will save nearly 

 all the expense and labor of hoeing and weed pulling, also give 

 nearly double the crop. Try it, and be convinced. 



The third year the rotation is fully established, which is clover, 

 sweet corn with clover seeding, and vegetables with ground pre- 

 pared for planting. 



I presume it is safe to say all have a good supply of garden seeds 

 on hand early in the year, secured from some reliable grower in 

 Minnesota. Some will be needed in March to sow in boxes in the 

 house, to be transplanted into cold frames or hotbeds, where they 

 will become stocky for permanent planting early in May. 



I am much in favor of very early planting, especially for all such 

 things as frosts do not destroy. I often cover my early planted 

 beans, potatoes, tomatoes, etc., when frost is threatened, with a hoe, 

 using earth for protection. This is quickly done, and the covering 

 is easily removed with no injury to the plants. 



The ground will not need plowing. Go over it with harrow to 

 smooth and dry the surface. Now, remember this is a farm garden, 

 where the annual rental for an acre of land is worth no more than 

 two day's labor, and our effort is to economize time, save labor at the 

 expense of land, use horse power and our common corn tools. 



Use a corn marker to make rows with, 3\^ feet apart, always the 

 long way of the ^eld. Sow seeds with a garden drill — ^you cannot 

 afford to be without one. The cultivation can be done very largely 

 with the two-horse riding corn tools, in the morning before going 

 into the corn field. This should be repeated every week or after 

 every rain. Frequent shallow and level cultivation is important in 

 garden and field. 



Use a skeleton hoe and destroy all weeds when very small. Some- 

 times this can be done, where some thinning is needed, with a Breed's 

 weeder, or a similar light, home-made harrow, saving much tedious 



