THE FARMER'S VEGETABLE GARDEN. 145 ' 



labor. Two or three crops can be grown in the same row if late 

 beets, parsnips, celery, etc., follow lettuce, radish or other extra 

 early crop; or one can plant equash, pumpkins, etc., with early 

 potatoes, etc., to occupy the ground after they are gone. A little 

 applied good sense will save labor and increase receipts. Always 

 use the head to save the hands in the garden. 



Early vines, such as melons, cucumbers, etc., can be started in the 

 garden under glass-covered boxes made to fit a single light of win- 

 dow glass, minature hotbeds, which will force the plants, protect the 

 same from frost, bugs, etc., also gain a month or more on their season . 

 I wish every boy in Minnesota would try this plan and grow melons 

 next year in abundance. Peas, pole beans, etc., should be supported 

 with wire poultry netting. Two or more crops can be grown suc- 

 cessfully the same season, getting a crop started on one side of the 

 support and harvesting on the other. Like the boxes, these can be 

 stored and used for several years. 



Tomatoes are much improved if grown on a trellis, or the ground 

 is thoroughly mulched with clean straw. Mulch is as valuable in 

 the vegetable garden, during the hot dry season, saving nitrogen 

 and moisture, as it is about the small fruits and trees. 



The asparagus row should not be forgotten. Open a wide and 

 deep trench with the plow, partly fill with well prepared compost, 

 plow on some earth. Mix well with cultivator or disc harrow. Make 

 an open row with shovel plow. Use two-year old plants about every 

 twelve inches in the row, and cover with plow six inches deep. Cul- 

 tivate as you would corn and protect the roots with covering of 

 barnyard manure in the fall. Spread this about the plants in the 

 spring, working the same into the soil with the corn cultivator; 200 

 roots will plant a row the length of this garden and supply the 

 fainily, also your neighbors, with material for a table luxury two 

 months each year, when other vegetables are gone from the cellar 

 and not grown in the garden. 



Celery can be grown and blanched quite easily by the thick, level 

 method of setting, and is certainly a health giving and delicious 

 vegetable. This state spends thousands of dollars for celery com- 

 pound every year. Why not save the money and grow our celery? 

 It is always better to take care than to take medicine. 



Salsify, or vegetable oysters, is another delicacy which should be 

 found in all gardens, almost equal to the genuine bivalves in flavor 

 and more healthy. It will keep in the ground all winter or in the 

 cellar packed in sand. 



The vegetable garden should also contain a few hills of new vari- 

 eties of potatoes, field corn, etc., on trial, which if valuable can be 

 used for seed in the field the next season. With no risk we should 

 be generous in all our planting, both in variety and quantity in the 

 vegetable garden, enough and to spare some for our good neigh- 

 bors who can't grow a garden; more to can and jug for winter use, 

 which is preserved with flavor almost equal to fresh stock. 



Test the possibilities of the one acre garden. It will surprise 

 your family and your neighbors, save doctor bills, add the 

 same to your bank account, etc. If troubled with cut worms in the 



